Abbey Road Photo

On this date (August 8) in 1969, photographer Iain MacMillan took six photos of The Beatles on a zebra crossing outside EMI Studios. The photo shoot took 10 to 20 minutes.

This photo (below) was picked for the cover of their 11th studio album "Abbey Road." The Beatles 12th (last) studio/live album, "Let It Be," was released after "Abbey Road," but it was recorded before it.

It has been theorized that the "Abbey Road" cover represents a funeral procession for the "death" of The Beatles, which would break up the following year: (from left) George Harrison (the gravedigger); Paul McCartney (the deceased); Ringo Starr (the funeral director); and John Lennon (the priest or an angel).

Also, this album cover is filled with clues regarding the "Paul is dead" conspiracy. The theory is that McCartney was killed in a car accident on November 9, 1966, and was replaced by a look-alike/sound-alike named William Campbell. The rumor began circulating in 1966 and gaining broad popularity in September 1969 due to a radio DJ in the United States. It caused many fans to search for "death clues" on album covers and in The Beatles song lyrics.

During the 1979-1980 school year (age 18/19) at prep school, I created a 30-minute-long cassette tape with all of the lyrics that I could find within Beatles songs to prove Paul is "dead." I played it for several of my dormitory mates. They freaked out.

Here is the link to a story from 2017 that outlines some of the many clues that point to the "death" of Paul McCartney.

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/i-buried-paul-your-guide-to-the-convoluted-conspiracy-that-paul-mccartney-died-in-1966

August 8, 2025, at home