Everyone is looking in the wrong place. There are some other good sites, like the Sage of Quay & a.d. Clarke. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Billy turned out to be a pretty good musician and he was able to perform almost better than Paul. [38] In Canada, Polydor Records exploited the rumour in their artwork for Very Together, a repackaging of the Beatles' pre-fame recordings with Tony Sheridan, using a cover that showed four candles, one of which had just been snuffed out. Someone, knows the truth.Eh, Beatle Bill? Pepper recording session and drove off angrily in his car, distracted by a meter maid ("Lovely Rita"), not noticing that the traffic lights had changed ("A Day In The Life) crashed, and was decapitated ("Don't Pass Me By"). For that matter, George Harrison was replaced with Billy Shears too, on his trip to India! Some rights reserved CC BY-ND 4.0. But how did such an out-there rumor take hold? The stomp your feet and rattle your jewelry comment by John was famously spoken during concert. [71] In one telling, this theory contended that the album had been recorded in late 1966 but then mislaid until 1975, at which point Lennon, Harrison and Starr elected to issue it in McCartney's memory. Open your eyes you sheeple! He notably says that the entire Sgt. In his anger, he failed to notice the traffic light change and he spun out of control, smashing into a light pole at full speed, thus decapitating him.". After Campbell killed off his fake George, He wanted to stick to his original role as being just Paul, so he and Harrison came to an agreement. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. The only problem was that he couldn't get along with John, at all.". [59] In Winn's description, the family portrait used for Life's cover shows McCartney no longer "shabbily attired", but "clean-shaven and casually but smartly dressed".[58]. It would have been easy to replace Paul in the 1960s. "In case they were exposedthey could be open to those charges" they put clues everywhere? According to Gadfly Online,the night was very icy, which may have put the rumor in the heads of some London journalists, who were always keen for a Beatles story. Another distorted part of history. He supposedly looked enough like PM to sit in with the other Beatles for photographs, sometimes even fooling the photographers. If M15 is actually involved in the switch they could stop the criminal charges in Britain but in the US and the rest of the world they could be open to those charges plus many others. (Officially pronounced dead VS. Ontario Provincial Police), has anyone dared to ask the Question what Canada has to do with the British Pop Band, The Beatles? Paul's leaving would have ended them. William Shears Campbell is the Billy Shear people were going after to support the Paul is Dead theory. [8] Others contended that the man's name was Bill Shepherd,[43] later abbreviated to Billy Shears,[44] and the replacement was instigated by Britain's MI5 out of concern for the severe distress McCartney's death would cause the Beatles' audience. [64] Titled McCartney, and recorded without his bandmates' knowledge,[65][66] it was "one of the best-kept secrets in rock history" until shortly before its release in April 1970, according to author Nicholas Schaffner, and led to the announcement of the Beatles' break-up. Nothing ever came to light explaining where he was or what happened to him. Does anyone even think about why the thing was done in the first place. Richard on 2020-05-30 13:24:28 0000 The old "too many people involved" lark. [10] On 10 October, the Beatles' press officer, Derek Taylor, responded to the rumour stating: "Recently we've been getting a flood of inquiries asking about reports that Paul is dead. The article addressed a rumour being circulated on campus that cited clues from recent Beatles albums, including a message interpreted as "Turn me on, dead man", heard when the White Album track "Revolution 9" is played backwards. It is the rumor that Paul McCartney, the principal singer-songwriter alongside John Lennon in the Beatles since their formation in the late 1950s, is dead, and has been since a gruesome car accident sometime around the end of 1966. The WKBW DJs concluded that the "Paul is dead" hoax was fabricated by Lennon. Both changes are, supposedly, explained by the . Forget Paul. John Lennon Talks to Billy Shears - YouTube Billy wasn't the only impostor, but he seems to have been used the most frequently, especially on stage (as opposed to interviews, etc.). That's something an "imposter" would not do. [13][14] With the birth of his daughter Mary in late August, McCartney had withdrawn to focus on his family life. I've looked into this theory for quite some time now.. Hope this helps ease some of those conspiracy questions you Beatle fans have and hopefully no harm done either. [69] The rumour was also cited in the hoax surrounding the Canadian band Klaatu,[70] after a January 1977 review of their debut album 3:47 EST sparked rumours that the group were in fact the Beatles. But the theory gets even weirder; the Beatles and their management, realizing the huge financial losses that might result from announcing the death of one of the members of the biggest band in the world, decided to cover up his death. And maybe Ringo did really commit suicide after telling Neil Aspinall he was going to do so, and Ringo was also replaced by a look-alike. Embarrassed by his fat lip he began to grow a moustache. [37] According to a report in Billboard magazine in early November, Shelby Singleton Productions planned to issue a documentary LP of radio segments discussing the phenomenon. I have not read the book "The Memoirs of Billy Shears" but have listened to enough interviews about the book that I find it harder to believe that Paul was NOT killed in '66. Billy Shears is just a ficticious name. Wasn't Paul's name William Campbell. According to Gadfly Online: "As the story goes, on an evening in November 1966 (probably the eighth, a "stupid bloody Tuesday"), an argument took place between McCartney and the other Beatles at Abbey Road Studios. Legally speaking Was he on a "moped", or a SCOOTER? With all the evidence you've presented I'd be a fool to keep the charade going. William Shears Campbell, better known as Billy Shears, does indeed "disappear " from records in 1966 and no traces of him can be found after Paul's alleged death. If you are interested give me an email will@williamshears.com. Listening to this show was another student, Fred LaBour, who wrote for the Michigan Dailystudent newspaper. [42], In LaBour's telling, the stand-in was an "orphan from Edinburgh named William Campbell" whom the Beatles then trained to impersonate McCartney. And this would had be kept secret. The Billy Shears story goes that in 1965 William Campbell Shears entered and won a Beatle Look-a-Like competition organised by Brian Epstein who was looking for Beatle doubles just in case one of his boys got killed. Amusingly, though, during the height of the BeeGees' popularity in the seventies, Barry Gibb lost a Barry Gibb look-alike contest! Paul Ramon, Carl Harrison and Long John Silver! .. Look at the film footage of The Beatles' appearances on Ed Sullivan when "Yesterday" was performed. No William Campbell ever won a Paul look-alike contest. The line is preceded with "Well, here's another clue for you all". Paul did not die but he did leave the Beatles, youtube John Halliday aka Paul McCartney, he just lived a normal life, also, on the St Pepper's album, they the name 'The Beatles' to '5 Beatles' John is NOT DEAD!!! The phenomenon was the subject of analysis in the fields of sociology, psychology, and communications during the 1970s. It was Paul the first time, but Billy the second time. Now, on with my original comment. And if you all believe Epstien had enough money and power to pay off and keep the police,Gov officials etc etc. Then in June of 1967 the album Sgt. Billy and the Rest are the best. Mr. Starr alleges that the group did send out a lot of hidden messages through the years to prepare the population for the truth. Glad most people here are awake to the false reality which surrounds us. Billy/the new Paul had to have loads of plastic surgery, had to learn all of the real Pauls history . These pictures from 1966 show the great resemblance between Paul McCartney on the left, and William Shears Campbell on the right, at the time of McCartney's alleged death. Okay, I confess. The Beatles on the left wearing all black and are a younger version than the older psychedelic Sgt. [9] Psychologists Ralph Rosnow and Gary Fine attributed its popularity partly to the shared, vicarious experience of searching for clues without consequence for the participants. assassination of President John F. Kennedy, was replaced by a person named Melissa Vandella, "McCartney Dead; New Evidence Brought to Light", "WKBW: Paul McCartney Is Alive And Well Maybe, 1969", "The Life and Death of Paul McCartney 1942-1966: A Very ", "Paul is Dead: The Conspiracy Theory That Won't Go Away", "Separating Fact from Fiction: Paul Is Dead", "THE DAY PAUL MCCARTNEY MET LINDA EASTMAN", "The 70 Greatest Conspiracy Theories in Pop-Culture History", "True Westerners: Fred Labour Too Slim of Riders in the Sky", "Paul McCartney still isn't dead. Except that he might be a little uncomfortable. It sucks being lied to since.. forever. It was thr real Paul's eyes. [17], On 12 October 1969, a caller to Detroit radio station WKNR-FM told disc jockey Russ Gibb about the rumour and its clues. In the years since, LaBour has admitted that it was he who confected many of the 'clues' believed by conspiracy theorists to cryptically point to Paul's death. Ringo Starr didn't give an exclusive interview to the Hollywood Inquirer, and Paul McCartney is not dead: WNDR is an entertainment website that does not publish factual articles. [1] At the time, Barrow was the press officer for the Beatles and was responsible for fielding calls from fans and the media. While John, George, and Ringo are all looking to the side, Paul is looking frontward. I killed Paul and took his identity. And as someone else mentioned, wouldn't the real Billy Shears have had family and friends somewhere? No mention of the hoax in any of these later interviews. My husband, he didn't believe me for the longest time. "We felt guilty about the deception" added Ringo Starr. Harrison would replace Yoko and Shears could go back to being just Paul, who was the richest of his personas. Shears and Paul's ends of their noses are different and the cheekbones on Paul are somewhat larger. Billy likely was killed to be kept silent. We're meeting today on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' Sgt. Of course they don't always happen. If Billy Shears legally but silently changed his name to Paul Mccartney years ago it wouldn't be considered fraudulent would it? In many ways the identity of Billy Shears is clear enough. In 1967, that all changes suddenly with the emergence of Penny Lane. Paul suddenly unleashes a chromatic downward scale that stays in time, rhythm and has its own distinctive melody. We stuck a vinyl copy of Sgt Pepper on the turntable and asked Steve to tell us all about it. I am sad. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Oh, and then there is the DVD Paul McCartney Really is Dead-The Last Testament of George Harrison. Who the hell would ever hold (or attend) a Paul McCartney look alike contest? Unless they got someone to replace Billy Spears so that Billy could replace Paul. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles withdrew from touring and shifted musically. Billy Shears is only mentioned in the title song and, implicitly, as the singer of the segued-into "With a Little Help from My Friends", and even more implicitly, in the title song reprise. I do find it fascinating as to how it was all orchestrated with the untimely demise of the real Paul McCartney. John also says the line, "I buried Paul," at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever." The One-and-Only Billy Shears: An Interview with William Campbell on So the smoke screen worked. If he never plays "Yesterday" publicly again, let us all have that moment live in our hope, anyway. According to the theory or rumour, McCartney died in a car crash, and to spare the public from grief, the surviving Beatles, aided by Britain's MI5, replaced him with a McCartney look-alike, subsequently communicating this secret through subtle details of their albums. Stories fronm rescue personnel? ", The Truth About The Paul McCartney Car Crash Myth. Billy was introduced by name on the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. [45] In this latter telling, the surviving Beatles were said to be wracked by guilt at their duplicity, and therefore left messages in their music and album artwork to communicate the truth to their fans. Every time he sells a 99 Flake he gives the game away by asking if you want Strawberry Sauce Forever! So he did what he does best and retired and died two weeks later. There are differences in the Bass playing of early Paul and 1966 forward till today Paul. Lennon later said that the words were actually "Cranberry sauce", and that the words "number nine, number nine" in "Revolution 9" (from the "White Album") became "turn me on, dead man, turn me on, dead man" when played backwards. He then persuaded the remaining Beatles to stay together and accept William Campbell Shears as a replacement. The Replacement For Genius: The Musical Excellence Of Billy Shears Campbell 1 yr. ago Motherfu- I thought he was a real guy that just happened to fall into this theory. Did they see no way around Fail playing his bass with the wrong hand? Pepper album. [75], During the 1970s, the phenomenon became a subject of academic study in America in the fields of sociology, psychology and communications. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in May. Also, Paul starts to dominate the A-side of the rest of the Beatles hits and he started to out shine the others. Think of the millions of royalties being given to an imposter. Rumors about McCartney's supposed death and replacement have been circulating for decades. FACT Paul McCartney did have a minor accident on 26th Dec 1965 when he fell off a moped, split his lip and chipped a tooth. To spare the public from grief, the Beatles replaced him with a man named William Shears Campbell, who was the winner of a McCartney . Paul was always the most diplomatic of the Beatles and often served as their de facto spokesman both on and off stage. And have you ever wondered what on earth the purpose was of writing and recording "Revolution 9," backwards it says "Turn me on, dead man." "[44] He cited a 2009 Wired Italia magazine article that featured an analysis by two forensic research consultants who compared selected photographs of McCartney taken before and after his alleged death by measuring features of the skull. Oddly enough the other three's names have never been revealed, if they ever had alternate names in the first place. Look at all the staged shootings these days that have been proven hoaxes. Rumours declined after Life magazine published an interview with McCartney in November 1969. In a later interview, he said that he was purposely confusing listeners with lines such as "the Walrus was Paul" a reference to his song "I Am the Walrus" from the 1967 EP and album Magical Mystery Tour. I've always liked the prospect of happy endings. The real Paul *does* have a faint scar on his upper lip from the above-mentioned motorcycle accident. The replacement, originally called William Campbell or, more recognizably, Billy Shears, according to Salon, and known as "Faul" to true believers of the theory, has, if the story is true, written some of the Beatles' greatest work, fathered four children with Paul's first wife, Linda McCartney, went on to establish the mega-popular band Wings, and had success with 20 solo albums, all under the moniker of the tragically deceased songwriter he replaced on the fly. In 2008, he joked that his success as a musician had extended his fifteen minutes of fame for his part in the rumour to "seventeen minutes". [20] The number plate of the white Volkswagen Beetle in the photo containing the characters LMW 281F (mistakenly read as "28IF") was identified as further "evidence". The list could go on. Paul is Paul. Persons whom have not honoured their contracts or whom have had doubts seem to have died or mysteriously disappeared. Wouldn't having William Spears Campbell and the real Paul in the same room saying here we both are, both alive and well no story here have put and end to it all. "Suddenly I was half the man I used to be, theres a shadow hanging over me, oh I believe in yesterday" the clues are there. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The only problem was that he didn't get along with John." According to Worldtruth.tv, William Shears Campbell known as Billy Shears disappeared from the records in 1966 and found after Paul's so-called death. I knew if I put it on he wouldn't be able to help himself Before I knew it he was scrambling for album covers with his jaw dropped and eyes wide. His classic song "Yesterday" hints that maybe Paul was being chased by self-created demons. The rumour began circulating in 1966, gaining broad popularity in September 1969 following reports on American college campuses. Afterward, a college kid did a story on clues he thought he found in the album cover and songs, this created a distraction that John jumped on when he later wrote 'Glass Onion", in 1968. " According to LiveScience, in 1969, at the peak of the phenomenon,McCartney said: "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Strangely, nothing was ever heard of William Campbell again. Also, when you play that one part in "I Am the Walrus"backwards where it sounds like complete rubbish, you hear the demonic chanting of "PAUL IS DEAD! Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in the US. Of course anyone with two good eyes should be able to tell theyre not the same people Sargent Peppers Is quite a departure musically and full of Luminati influences. I love this conspiracy. There have been many references to the legend in popular culture, including the following examples. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and was replaced by a look-alike and sound-alike. That's because William Campbell is McCartney. There are dozens of people involved in a death, certainly in the case of an accident, Police, Ambulance and hospital staff, fire brigade, Breakdown men, registrars, NHI and loads more including family, friends, business colleagues, studio staff and, of course, the Inland Revenue responsible for the collection of income tax and death duties. Listen to Tina Foster's interviews. "[8], In late September 1969, the Beatles released the album Abbey Road as they were in the process of disbanding. To spare the public from grief, the Beatles replaced him with a man named William Shears Campbell, who was the winner of a McCartney look-alike contest and who happened to have the same kind of. William Campbell has this faint scar on his upper lip, PM doesn't. Maybe, just maybe John lost both legs in a horrific car accident in 1966, and unwilling to travel for his job found a way to trademark a popular singer's name, with both entities profiting. [8] In the interview, McCartney said the rumor was "bloody stupid" and went on to say: Perhaps the rumour started because I haven't been much in the press lately. According to Tony Barrow, who wrote about it in his book "John, Paul, George, Ringo and me," the rumours about McCartney's death started circulating in September 1966. Nonsense. And guess what? I'm a Beatle Now; and to think that to this day his nuts are still in a vice. Billy Shears was Ringo Starr's alias on The Beatles 1967 album Sgt. Again, dealing with grief through jokes. You got me. When the album is turned 90 degrees to the right, it appears that Paul is on a morgue slab or looking up from a coffin. What IF faul was knighted for his lifelong dedication to the lie? The truth will out and now it finally has. All four Beatles were concerned for their safety as demonstrations were publicly going on with people burning Beatle albums and pictures. [70], LaBour later became notable as the bassist for the western swing group Riders in the Sky, which he co-founded in 1977. Makes you wonder who Linda thought she was married to. [4] Analysing their lyrics for hidden meaning had also become a popular trend in the US. When the Beatles were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Paul did not show up due to personal conflicts with his business scheduling, or so he says. I'm going to name my new album Billy Shears III. According to them there is a secret phone number hidden in the stars making up the title on the sleeve of the Magical Mystery Tour album. well sorry i am CONVINCED and why did Ringo come out and say that Paul did pass away in 1966, Hello, I am a film maker and making a documentary about this conspiracy (partly because my name is William Shears..). And the infamous "photo of him" is Paul disguised so people would not recognize him on the street. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, often credited as a concept album. Anyone that cared at all for James Paul McCartney should look. Has not changed. It was the 1st June 1967, the day on which the Beatles released their much anticipated masterwork album, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. .a clear reference in theorists minds to the dates of Pauls death in Roman numerals I ONE = 11 (i.e November) and IX = 9. This material may not be reproduced without permission. There is only one Paul. Did Paul McCartney Die in 1966? | Snopes.com They were, are and will always be the greatest, most talented band that ever was or will be. Duh. and our Because he is not Paul McCartney and the real Paul would never ever have gone and done something like that behind the other Beatles backs..yeah-yeah-yeah, right! I must come out. Did he ever meet Paul. I would rather be a little less famous these days. -As for the badgeIt's actually OPP, Ontario Provincal Police, and there is an Ontario Flag on it. Mirkin, David (2005). He was a natural left handed player who didnt need to constantly look where his fingers on the guitar were, this one still checks his fingers. [58] His next visitors were a reporter and photographer from Life magazine. How could the Remaining Beatles, especially John not feel the sense of betrayal and abandonment towards his deceased best friend Paul. A significant part of my life revolved around the Beatles. Paul McCartney 'replaced by body double after death' claims bizarre ", While Beatles fans will continue to debate why Paul McCartney wasn't wearing shoes on the Abbey Road cover, this fictitious interview with Ringo Starr should be immediately dismissed as a hoax. It is an idea that has captured the imaginations of cryptic-minded listeners and stoned truth-seekers for more than five decades. The 'Paul McCartney is dead' myth. At that time of night, WABC's signal covered a wide listening area and could be heard in 38 US states and, at times, in other countries. To all the sane people out there that know that Paul never dies and that he is alive and well still making music,don't bother saying anything to the comspiracy brigade as You Can't Argue With Stupid!!! And dont even get me started on the truth about what happened in Toronto. The original Paul was reconstituted from his cryogenically stored parts (possible co-mingled with Ted Williams) in 2002 and was one of the (CIA funded) terrorists who piloted the second plane on 9/11. Reading this book also provided me with satisfaction and closure to what I always believed that Paul passed on and another took his place. "[8] WKNR fuelled the rumour further with its two-hour programme The Beatle Plot, which first aired on 19 October. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.. A disclaimer states that all stories published by the website are for "entertainment purposes only.". Can reports of his belief in an early death be substantiated? He actually came back with the rest of the Beatles, but to avoid being caught by Campbell who tried to kidnap him, he disguised himself as Cynthia, when John realized, he decided to help George escape by getting a divorce, but in order to fake Cynthia, after George had left, he convinced Yoko to pretend to be Cynthia and hired William Shears Campbell to replace Yoko. [60], In November 1969, Capitol Records sales managers reported a significant increase in sales of Beatles catalogue albums, attributed to the rumour.