‘Abbey Road’ Biographer Reveals Paul Made Everyone Use the Crosswalk
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — A new biography about the six-frame photoshoot for the Beatles’ final recorded studio album asserts that Paul McCartney insisted the Fab Four use the zebra-stripe crosswalk and move single file while crossing Abbey Road.
“The photographer, Iain Macmillan, came to the shoot with a series of wild designs and playful sketches to promote the band’s bubbly, carefree image. One sketch had the band up in a tree. Another had them jaywalking on their hands. Another had all four seated in lotus position, blocking traffic,” said the biographer, Derry Anderson, whose book “Come Together: The Story of the ‘Abbey Road’ Photoshoot” drops later this month. “Paul shut it all down. He said he wanted the band ‘all walking, all in sync, and we’re using the fucking crosswalk!’ Apparently, it was like pulling teeth to get him to hold the cigarette.”
At first, McCartney claimed not to remember that sunny August morning in 1969, but eventually broke down and confessed to having wanted even more restrictions on the band.
“I had us holding hands and looking both ways, yeah? The album was going to be called ‘Safety First.’ I had John and George in helmets looking left, me and Ringo in helmets looking right. But John didn’t go for it. So I said okay, single file, bored stare, no hands in pockets,” said the singer-songwriter, with a little wiggle of his head. “And then John does what? Sneaks his hands in his pockets! I swear, it was like corralling little school children. I tried giving John a timeout, but he just crossed the street and kept walking.”
Drummer Ringo Starr managed to shed some objective light on the ideological clash between laid-back photographer and high-strung bassist.
“I remember John and Paul were at each other’s throats that morning. Paul wanted to have Linda in the shoot, so of course John wanted Yoko. George and I just sat on the curb watching [girls] and listening to them argue,” said the veteran rocker. “The night before, Paul called everyone up saying to wear a dark suit and dark tie—a sort of a reference our Ed Sullivan days. And then I was the only one that did! John, of course, revolted and wore all white. George said screw it, I’m wearing jeans. It was a bloody mess from the start.”
At press time, Starr added that McCartney turned up for the shoot and had forgotten his shoes.
The post ‘Abbey Road’ Biographer Reveals Paul Made Everyone Use the Crosswalk appeared first on HARDTIMES.
