The immediate question with something as outlandish and outrageous as this, is how exactly does one approach it? And the answer, is an equally obvious one.
That would be with a grain of salt and then some. On a purely dark comedic sort of level, this shit (and I do mean shit in the most literal sense of the word) is pure gold.
Whether the Beatles themselves had anything to do with the "Paul Is Dead" rumors which initially began spreading like wildfire in 1969 around the time of the release of Abbey Road or not (and my own suspicion is that they didn't), there is no question that these stories, however briefly, created quite a weird firestorm at the time.
Honestly, you really had to be there.
As a teenager, I can even recall myself buying into the whole "Paul Is Dead" conspiracy theory, fueled by the numerous "clues" placed on Beatles album covers and even within the songs themselves.
Personally, I have no idea who exactly came up with the whole thing (and again, I don't think it was the Beatles themselves).
But at the time it was pure genius. Whether by joke, accident or design, the various "clues" placed on Beatles albums dating back as far as Rubber Soul are actually quite convincing for a minute when they are added up — at least if you were a very impressionable twelve year old boy back then, as I was.
If you play back the very end Of "Strawberry Fields Forever" for example, it really does sound like John Lennon says "I buried Paul." Lennon has since claimed the line was actually the rather innocently nonsensical "Cranberry Sauce".
The thing is, if John was really grieving over Paul, how do you explain a song like "How Do You Sleep" — because if I'm not mistaken, Lennon sounds quite royally pissed at Paul in that one.
Article comments
1 - marthamydear
I just saw the film at a free screening. Anyone in the audience over 30 was laughing and shaking their heads. However I object to the fact that this movie is an uncredited rip-off of two books that detail the true origins to the "clues" about Macca's supposed death- "The Walrus Was Paul" and Turn Me On Dead Man." Pick up one of these two books and don't give this jerk a penny. I hope he gets sued.
2 - Davido
I'm over 50 and remember all too well the "Paula Is Dead" hoopla. I never bought it then. What a croc!
3 - Greg Barbrick
I don't know. "The Girl Is Mine" with Michael Jackson, Give My Regards To Broad Street, the marriage to Heather Whatsername?
Are you sure this isn't a Paul imposter?
4 - Glen Boyd
I'd bet you my copy of Duran Duran's Arena to your Band On The Run that he was no imposter...questionable artistic choices notwithstanding of course.
-Glen
5 - JC Mosquito
I almost bought this at my local WallyMart tonight, til I remembered that Paul only went missing for years, finally coming back just in time to replace his replacement and record the wunnerful Flaming Pie album.
6 - Glen Boyd
Ha! Yeah he's made a few good ones since too..."Memory Almost Full" and that Fireman record are both pretty decent. Not bad at all for a dead guy...
-Glen
7 - Glen Boyd
By the way, you're telling me the DVD distributor actually got this into WalMart?
Having worked for smaller indie type labels in the past, I'm fairly stunned if that's true...WalMart is notorious for being pretty picky about what they'll actualy stock. That is, unless you're just trying to sell me a story similar to the one presented in this film...
-Glen