There are so many things that we encounter on an almost daily basis that we never stop to think about some of the more interesting facts about them. From our favourite movies to food and makeup, we will attempt to bring you some random information that you will most definitely be able to use as a future party trick.
This week, we bring you some facts about the world’s biggest boy band. No, not One Direction, The Beatles!
1. McCartney showed Lennon how to tune a guitar.
True story, this is how Lennon and McCartney met. Poor John had no idea to tune a guitar but that all changed when an old bandmate from the Quarrymen introduced him to McCartney who chatted with John for a few minutes before he tuned his guitar. McCartney famously wore a white jacket with silver flecks with a pair of black drainpipe trousers.
2. Lennon and McCartney used to practice in the bath.
Lennon would often walk the short walk to Paul’s house to practice but when they discovered the acoustics were better in the bathroom, they took to using the bath for jamming sessions.
3. So many Penny Lane street signs were stolen, the council were forced to paint it on the walls.
McCartney immortalised Penny Lane when he wrote the song of the same name but it also drew a lot of attention to just another ordinary road in Liverpool. According to Time magazine, town officials got so sick of replacing the street signs that they began to paint the name on to the walls.
4. Layla was written about George Harrison’s wife.
George Harrison had struck up quite a friendship with Eric Clapton but that all changed when Clapton fell madly in love with his wife. He wrote Layla for Boyd who left Harrison and married Clapton two years later. Clapton later penned Wonderful Tonight for the former model. Boyd wasn’t the fondest of Wonderful Tonight: “For years it tore at me. It was the most poignant reminder of all that was good in our relationship, and when things went wrong it was torture to hear it.”
5. Paul McCartney was deported from Germany in 1960
When the band were trying to get off the ground, they spent a lot of time in Germany practising and touring. While there, McCartney and then-drummer Pete Best got arrested for nailing a condom to a wall and lighting it on fire. McCartney and Best were promptly booted out of the country.
6. The Beatles had two-left handed members.
Both George Harrison and Paul McCartney were left handed.
7. If you listen carefully…
At 2:58 on Hey Jude recording (not the live version below), you can hear Paul McCartney faintly saying “oh f**cking hell” after he made a mistake.
