Paul McCartney and Mal Evans fly to San Francisco

About

Paul McCartney and Mal Evans embarked on a trip on April 3, 1967, starting from London and making stops in Paris, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Although the recording of the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album was unfinished, Paul decided to take a ten-day break in the United States to surprise his girlfriend Jane Asher on her 21st birthday. At the time, Jane was touring the US with the Old Vic Company and performing Romeo And Juliet.

To travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco, they used a Lear Jet, which they utilized for the duration of the trip which lasted until April 11, 1967.

We left Denver in Frank Sinatra’s Lear Jet, which he very kindly loaned us. A beautiful job with dark black leather upholstery and, to our delight, a well-stocked bar.

Mal Evans – From his diary – From Here, there and everywhere (thetimes.co.uk), March 20, 2005

While in San Francisco on April 4, they visited the Fillmore Auditorium where Jefferson Airplane was rehearsing. Following the visit, they accompanied Marty Balin and Jack Casady (from Jefferson Airplane) to the Oak Street apartment they shared with the band’s road manager Bill Thompson. There, Paul played them an acetate of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, and they also attempted to jam. However, Paul struggled with playing the band’s right-handed guitars. He can be seen in a photo playing a Rickenbacker 360/12 guitar, which possibly belonged to Paul Kantner. At the end of the evening, Jack Casady escorted them back to their hotel.

The next day, April 5, Paul and Mal travelled to Denver to meet Jane.

The Jefferson Airplane was practicing at the original Filmore in San Fransisco in the afternoon when in walked the Beatles assistant Mal. He was in a suit and tie and very British when he said “Master Paul McCartney would like to visit with you”. I said “show him in”. He went out and came back with Paul McCartney leading the two of them back in. He sat right down with us and talked a bit. Then we invited him to Jack and my apartment in the Haight Ashbury. So we went to our apartment and Jack and Jorma kept trying to get Paul to jam with them but he didn’t really want to. So he came over to my side of the apartment and we sat and started to talk. I said “so what’s up with the Beatles?”. Paul casually pulled a cassette from his pocket and said ” I happen to have a track from the new album”. I pulled out my cassette player and popped it in. Out came A DAY IN THE LIFE. Imagine the first time hearing that song……and I was sitting there with Paul McCartney hearing it….I was stunned and knocked off the universe. I just praised the heck out of it…and him…and the Beatles and knew that it was part of a magnificent wave of new music led by the Beatles.

Marty Balin – From Marty Balin on Facebook, April 2019

MONDAY APRIL 3:

Soon after midnight I finished packing and took my bags round to Paul’s to be ready for early take-off. Paul went to bed at 3.30 a.m. and left me with Martha and Thisby. Painters arrived very early — they’re working on Paul’s house while we’re away, then two Air France chaps to take us to the airport. Spent a few hours at Orly Airport, Paris, between flights. Party of Americans swarmed about for autographs. Paul bought me a camera bag to go with the Pentax I got from George. During flight from Paris to Los Angeles Paul remembered he’d forgotten to bring with him photograph of the “Sgt. Pepper” LP cover which he wanted to show Jane. Ah, well! Too late now! Slight visa problem for Paul at L.A. airport but it was all sorted out in half an hour. Waited for chartered Lear Jet. Then heigh ho for San Francisco.

TUESDAY APRIL 4:

Today San Francisco had its first snow for 42 years! Colder than we expected. We went shopping — bought some records and took pictures of the famous Golden Gate. Went along to flat where Jefferson Airplane group were rehearsing for big Light & Sound Show. Paul played guitar with them.

Mal Evans – From The Beatles Monthly Book, July 1967

Last updated on March 25, 2023