Paul McCartney says he’s taking LSD

PAUL’S T.V. STATEMENT

A couple of weeks ago widespread headlines and front-page stories in Britain’s Sunday newspapers drew attention to part of an interview given by Paul to America’s Life magazine. In the course of this interview Paul had answered honestly a straight question directed to him on the subject of taking the drug LSD. When the newspaper men tackled him in an attempt to draw further comment on the topic Paul was very careful to make it plain that his experience of the drug had been a very personal thing and he was anxious to avoid all possibility of other people experimenting.

On the evening of Monday, June 19, 36 hours after the press had reported and examined the original Life magazine statement, Independent Television News sent an interviewer to Paul’s home in St. John’s Wood where they filmed a follow-up conversation in which the Beatle further clarified his feelings. The film was screened throughout the UK via Independent Television at nine o’clock the same evening.

In view of the importance of this further statement THE BEATLES MONTHLY BOOK prints below a complete verbatim transcript of the television interview.

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REPORTER: Paul, how often have you taken LSD?

PAUL: Er, four times.

REPORTER: And where did you get it from?

PAUL: Well, you know, I mean, if I was to say where I got it from, you know, it’s illegal and everything, it’s silly to say that so I’d rather not say it.

REPORTER: Don’t you believe that this was a matter which you should have kept private?

PAUL: Well, the thing is, you know, that I was asked a question by a newspaper and the decision was whether to tell a lie or to tell the truth, you know. I decided to tell him the truth but I really didn’t want to say anything because if I’d had my way I wouldn’t have told anyone because I’m not trying to spread the word about this but the man from the newspaper is the man from the mass medium. I’ll keep it a personal thing if he does too, you know, if he keeps it quiet. But he wanted to spread it so it’s his responsibility for spreading it. Not mine.

REPORTER: But you’re a public figure and you said it in the first place. You must have known that it would make the newspapers.

PAUL: Yes, but to say it, you know, is only to tell the truth. I’m telling the truth. I don’t know what everyone is so angry about.

REPORTER: Well, do you think you have encouraged your fans to take drugs?

PAUL: I DON’T THINK IT WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW, I DON’T THINK MY FANS ARE GOING TO TAKE DRUGS JUST BECAUSE I DID. BUT THE THING IS THAT’S NOT THE POINT ANYWAY. I WAS ASKED WHETHER I HAD OR NOT AND FROM THEN ON THE WHOLE BIT ABOUT HOW FAR IT’S GOING TO GO AND HOW MANY PEOPLE IT’S GOING TO ENCOURAGE IS UP TO THE NEWSPAPERS AND UP TO YOU, YOU KNOW, ON TELEVISION. I MEAN YOU’RE SPREADING THIS NOW AT THIS MOMENT. THIS IS GOING INTO ALL THE HOMES IN BRITAIN AND I’D RATHER IT DIDN’T, YOU KNOW. BUT YOU’RE ASKING ME THE QUESTION AND IF YOU WANT ME TO BE HONEST I’LL BE HONEST.

REPORTER: But as a public figure, surely you’ve got a responsibility to not say any…

PAUL: No, it’s you’ve got the responsibility. You’ve got the responsibility not to spread this now. You know I’m quite prepared to keep it as a very personal thing if you will too. If you’ll shut up about it I will!

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A few hours before the ITN newscast Paul repeated his desire to emphasise the point that the last thing he wanted was to encourage or even condone the taking of LSD amongst Beatles’ fans or anyone else. He said he did not under any circumstances wish to advocate the use of the drug for anyone else and he hoped people would understand this.

From The Beatles Monthly Book, July 1967

BEATLE PAUL AND LSD – WAS HE RIGHT TO OWN UP?

PAUL McCARTNEY’S public, and unrepentant, announcement that he has taken LSD, has produced the expected punditising in the press, on radio and TV.

In question are the wisdom of Paul’s revelations and whether they could influence others to follow his example. There has also been much theorising on the extent to which LSD has been accepted by Britain’s hip generation.

The MM Opinion Poll interviewed 100 youngsters throughout Britain on the subject. We put four questions to them: 1. Was Paul right to admit publicly that he had taken LSD? 2. Could Paul’s admission influence you to try LSD? 3. Should the use of LSD be legal or illegal? 4. Do you know anybody who takes, or has taken, LSD?

In answer to Question 1, 57 said Paul was wrong to admit he had taken LSD, 37 thought he was right, three were uncertain and three didn’t believe his admission and felt it was all a publicity stunt.

Some of those who felt Paul was wrong were pretty forthright. “Whatever possessed him to do it baffles me,” said 19-year-old Tom Key, of Ambergate, near Helper, Derbyshire. “The fact that he went rambling on about God convinces me that LSD pickles the brain.” “I’m sure he didn’t intend to colour kids’ minds with his story of divine solace — but it could have that effect,” said Sue Ball (19), of Derby. “If just one little moddie is tempted to touch LSD, or any drug, because of what McCartney said, then it was wrong. If he wanted to get close to God why didn’t he move in with John Lennon?”

Said Jim Gilbeany (19), of Edinburgh: “Paul’s old enough to know what he’s doing — and that’s what makes his confession frightening. I’m convinced he now regrets what he said. I know I’m sorry for him.” Patrick Tennent (19), of Clifton, Bristol, felt it might be “a bit of exhibitionism” while Barbara Slater (20), of Handsworth, Birmingham, said it had “ruined Paul’s, up until now, good image. It could be detrimental to his future career.”

Some, like Marion Shergold (13), from Southsea, could see no reason for Paul to lie when asked about LSD. Margaret Anderson (18), of Newcastle, thought his admission “showed moral courage.“

The answers to Question 2 should confound the prophets of doom — 96 out of our 100 youngsters were certain they couldn’t be influenced to try LSD themselves.

Two were not quite certain about it and two (both from Liverpool) said they might try it if offered as a result of Paul’s admission. Some of the 96 emulated their elders — those who feel others might be perverted by TV or films while denying that they could be themselves — and felt Paul might influence impressionable fans.

Alan Storey (18), of Middleton, Manchester, felt Paul could only influence “nut cases,” but Jean Wood (19), of Mottram, Cheshire, believes “teenagers who follow the Beatles’ ideas might be influenced.”

Thomas Murphy (19), of Glasgow, adopted a tough line: “I don’t believe that fans try to imitate pop stars who take drugs. Paul McCartney has ruined himself in the eyes of millions of people by showing that he is really a weak character who can’t live with reality without looking for an artificial way to escape.”

In reply to Question Three, there was overwhelming belief that LSD should be illegal — 76 out of the 100, with 18 disagreeing and six uncertain.

The suspicions of some newspaper columnists that there is an aura of glamour about drugs for teenagers were certainly allayed.

Phrases like “an evil which should be banned” and “all drugs are a canker” were frequently used. Kathy Reid (19), of Edinburgh, felt that drugs should be punished. Some, like Simon Leeman (20), of Bristol, made the point that little is known as yet, about any side effects from LSD.

Most of those who did not think the drug should be illegal explained that this was not because they were particularly in favour of LSD.

Said Rita Wickett (20), of Handsworth, Birmingham: “It is of value in medical research and even if it was illegal it wouldn’t stop addicts taking it—they’d obtain some somehow.”

“You cannot legislate for the idiots of the world,” was the view of Jack Potter (16), of Leigh Park, Hampshire. “More people would want to try it just because it was banned,” was the somewhat cynical reaction of Barry Waddilove (19), of Hyde, Cheshire.

Despite the Sunday papers, LSD users are hardly lurking in every coffee bar, according to the answers we got to Question Four which asked if our subjects knew anyone who used the drug. Of our 100 youngsters, 89 did not know of anybody. Four were uncertain and seven said they did know users.

The uncertains, incidentally, were those who knew people who claimed that they had used LSD but did not believe them. “I knew somebody who said he had taken it and even described ‘trips’,” reported Raymond Vaughan (16), of Splott, Cardiff. “But he was a bit of a nut anyway so he could have been making it up.”

Roger Smith (18), of Derby, voiced a popular view with: “I doubt if more than a few people in this country use it. It’s probably been grossly over-exposed in the papers.” Said John Glancy (15), of Edinburgh: “I’ve never heard of anyone in Scotland who takes it.”

“Take LSD?” retorted Sheila Kiddle (21), of Portsmouth. “Of course not. My friends are all sane.”

To sum up: the vast majority of Britain’s teenagers believe that LSD is evil and that Paul McCartney was wrong to admit he had taken it.

And they have no intention of trying it for themselves. They’ve got too much bloody sense.

From Melody Maker – July 1, 1967