Wait... Paul is Dead?

I came across this amazing article from TruTv about how the current Paul McCartney isn't the original! I had heard about the rumors as a child but always dismissed them as just that... rumors. I knew that Lennon had a sick sense of humor and figured this was one of his masterpieces. After reading these conspiracy theories, however, I'm beginning to rethink the entire thing! Below are some of my favorite parts of the article... can't wait to get my dad's opinion on this one!

"Paul McCartney (1942-1966?)"

"In October of 1969, three weeks after the Beatles' celebrated Abbey Road album was released, WKNR-FM's Russ Gibb took a call from a man who identified himself only as "Tom." The Detroit deejay listened as the caller carefully laid out clues hidden in Beatles' songs and album art, which he said indicated Paul McCartney had died on November 9, 1966, in an automobile accident. Listeners began deluging New York City radio stations with "evidence" and soon the rumor spread around the world. Was this a Beatles' publicity stunt, a fan feeding-frenzy fueled by clues left as an inside joke by John Lennon—or was Paul really dead?"

"How Paul Allegedly Died"

"Piecing together clues from songs, films and album covers, conspiracy buffs have come up with this scenario: During the early-morning hours of November 9, 1966, Paul argued with his bandmates in the studio while recording songs for their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. He left in a huff just before 5 a.m. While driving to a friend's house, Paul picked up a female hitchhiker who couldn't control her excitement when she realized who was behind the wheel. She lunged to hug Paul, causing him to lose control of his Aston Martin. It smashed into a stone fence and burst into flames, killing them both. Paul was decapitated and burnt to a crisp, making a positive ID difficult. Despite no evidence to support either the story of the fatal crash or of a cover-up, the rumors persisted."

"The Need for a Cover-Up"

"The theory of why a cover-up of Paul's alleged death was necessary goes something like this: Because of all the money the Beatles contributed to England's tax coffers, their continued success was vital to the financial health of the nation. So the British government, in cahoots with the surviving members of the Beatles, their producer George Martin, manager Brian Epstein (pictured above), recording engineer Geoff Emerick and road manager Mal Evans, conspired to cover-up Paul's death. It was speculated that in return they were given a huge sum of money and guaranteed success in whatever future endeavors they engaged. They all denied any conspiracy."

"Will the Real Paul Please Shake Your Hair?"

"In order for McCartney's death to be kept under wraps, the Beatles would need a look-alike to sub for him. It's said they found the perfect candidate in an actor named William Shears Campbell, the winner of a McCartney look-alike contest who resembled the singer so much that he was supposedly on the Beatles' payroll as a stand-in to throw off fans and the press. The name may ring a bell from the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" lyric on the album of the same name: "So let me introduce to you / The one and only Billy Shears / And Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Pictured: Paul and his double—or Paul doubled?"

"The Press Covers the Death Rumors"

"The press was interested in the rumors of Paul's untimely demise. A November 7, 1969, Life magazine cover story approached the issue in a light-hearted manner, rather than as an investigative piece. The article quoted Paul, who paraphrased Mark Twain: "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." He then wryly added, "However, if I was dead, I'm sure I'd be the last to know.""

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Clues"

"The cover of the groundbreaking album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, has multiple indications that Paul McCartney may not have survived. The Beatles, wearing their new hippy attire, stand in the middle of the cover overlooking what appears to be a flower-covered grave. To their right are wax mannequins—borrowed from Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum—of the younger Beatles sadly looking down toward the "grave." "

"The Drumhead-Reflection Cipher"

"The ornate drumhead in the center of the cover that says "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" may be the most deliberate clue of all. When you hold a straight-edge mirror perpendicular to the center of the drum, in the middle of the words "Lonely Hearts," the reflection reads, I ONE IX HE ♦ DIE ("One one nine he die," or November 9 he die). The diamond points to McCartney."

"The Doll"

"Also on the Sgt. Peppers cover, a doll of a girl sits on the lap of an old woman. "Welcome the Rolling Stones" is printed on her sweater. Were the Beatles insinuating that since Paul's death, the Rolling Stones had surpassed them to become the world's greatest rock band? On the doll's right leg sits a toy Aston Martin (the type of car that Paul drove) and at its left side is a bloody driving glove."

"Back Cover Clues"

"The Beatles stand together against a vivid red background, representing blood, with the album's song lyrics superimposed over the photo. Paul stands with his back to the camera, as if he does not want to be closely examined, while Harrison's thumb points to the opening line of the "She's Leaving Home" lyric that reads: "Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins..." November 9, 1966, was a Wednesday and 5 a.m. was the purported time of McCartney's car crash."

"I Am the Walrus"

"Magical Mystery Tour was conceived as a television movie and album. It features both visual and musical clues starting with the group in disguise—with Paul dressed as a walrus. Allegedly, in the Nordic-Viking culture, the walrus is a symbol of death."

"John: 'The Walrus was Paul'"

"On the album, The Beatles, which has come to be known as the White Album thanks to its white-on-white cover, John sings a song he wrote called "Glass Onion," an unambiguous line from which states: "And here's another clue for you all: / The walrus was Paul.""

"White Album Backmasking Clues"

"John Lennon began experimenting with backmasking (adding backward voices and music) in earnest on the White Album. When played backward, one of the songs, "Revolution 9," contains a voice that seems to say, "Turn me on, dead man" several times. And what sounds like "Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him" is heard on the "I'm So Tired" track."

"The Let It Be Album Cover"

"Let It Be was the second-to-last Beatles album to be recorded, but the last to be released. On the cover, Paul is the only Beatle whose face is partially obscured (by a microphone). He is also the only one not photographed in profile and with a white background. Paul's background is blood red. "

"28 IF"

"In the background on the Abbey Road cover is a Volkswagen with the possibly cryptic message, "28 IF," on its license plate. Proponents of the Paul-is-dead school take this to mean that had Paul McCartney lived, he would have been 28 years old. Life magazine quoted Paul (the real one or the substitute?) as explaining, "On Abbey Road we were wearing our ordinary clothes. I was walking barefoot because it was a hot day. The Volkswagen just happened to be parked there.""

"Maxwell of MI5"

"The theory continues: An officer—known only as "Maxwell" from British intelligence unit MI5—was assigned to keep an eye on the group to make sure that they kept their mouths shut about the tragedy. The song, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," on the Abbey Road album, refers to Maxwell and his license to kill. This is one of many examples of a Beatles' lyric being employed in the service of the conspiracy theory."

"Maxwell and the John Lennon Murder"

"Conspiracy lore says that in 1980, John Lennon was about to make public the cover-up of Paul's death when he was assassinated by Mark David Chapman—and that Chapman was hypnotized and conditioned to kill Lennon by MI5's Maxwell."

 Wow right?? Read the whole article here if interested... it's really a well put together piece! Part of me thinks this is just the band having fun with people but then again it's kind of a creepy/morbid joke to be playing! Well I guess no matter what the truth is, one fact remains: Paul McCartney (the real and/or the fake) can SING. Here's my favorite McCartney song: