Paul McCartney Once Let a Man Claiming to Be Jesus Christ Watch the Beatles Record: ‘Last We Ever Saw of Jesus!’
During their years as one of the most famous rock bands in the world, the Beatles went from fresh-faced young pop stars to the voice of the “free love” generation.
As they grew and expanded their horizons, their fans also became less straight-laced. One of their most highly acclaimed albums was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band. It not only showed a new era in their remarkable talent, but it also captured the era’s interest in an unconventional and chemically enhanced experience.
While they were recording the album, they encountered a fan who claimed to be someone very special. Whether he was who he claimed to be or not, his unusual declaration earned him the chance to watch the magic one night, as the groundbreaking music was created.
The Beatles’ rise to the top
According to Biography, the band that would change the music world forever started in 1957 in Liverpool, England. 16-year-old John Lennon met 15-year-old Paul McCartney, and the two music-loving teens decided to work together. By the time they signed their first music contract in 1962, they had formed an unforgettable band and made a name for themselves as the Beatles.
Their popularity was meteoric, and when they released their first single, “Please Please Me,” in 1963, it shot to the top of the charts in the UK. The following year, the Beatles came to the US, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. Their performance was seen by more than 70 million people, and overnight the band became an international sensation.
‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band’ was a turning point
According to US News, the albums the Beatles released in the UK didn’t always match up with those in the US. It wasn’t until the 1967 release of Sgt. Pepper that the two areas started getting the same albums simultaneously. The band was very prolific, churning out at least one and often two albums every year for most of their time together. And although all their work was in demand, Sgt. Pepper represented a turning point for the band.
The New York Times reports that the band was in so much demand that they had been touring relentlessly for three years, and they were ready to get off the road and focus on making music. The result was Sgt. Pepper, which had a different sound from their other work. It came out during the Summer of Love, when the Baby Boomers were discovering drugs and freedom.
The album made it clear that the Beatles were also exploring the world of free love and mind-expanding drugs, and it captured the era for many people. It became their most popular and critically acclaimed album.
The day Jesus showed up
According to Rolling Stone, when the band was working on recording the album, their fame was causing problems for McCartney. Fans frequently showed up outside his home, sometimes camping out, hoping to spend time with the star. McCartney usually ignored them or sent them away, but one day a man arrived at his front gate with a claim that caught his attention.
“This guy said, ‘I’m Jesus Christ.’ I said, ‘Oop,’ slightly shocked. I said, ‘Well, you’d better come in then.’ I thought, ‘Well, it probably isn’t. But if he is, I’m not going to be the one to turn him away.'”
He not only brought him inside, but he also gave him a cup of tea. That evening, the band was scheduled to record some music, so McCartney brought the man with him to the studio. Perhaps he thought he would feel at home with Lennon, who also claimed to be Jesus once during an acid trip.
The band members never saw the mysterious man again after that night. The album they were recording would go on to wow the world, but they could also say that Jesus showed up for a sneak preview.
