'Paul is Dead': Anniversary of Paul McCartney Death Rumor

by Jordan Yerman | November 9, 2009 at 09:54 am

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November 9 is observed as the anniversary of the "Paul is Dead" rumor, which purports that Beatles mainstay Paul McCartney was killed in a car accident on November 9, 1966, and was replaced by a lookalike named William Campbell. There all sorts of supposed clues out there that Paul McCartney is actually dead, and the Beatles have been subtly letting us know for the past 43 years, instead of just saying nothing, which, if a band was trying to pass off a double as Paul, is exactly what they'd have done. My favorite is the Abbey Road album cover:

In the procession across the street, John represents the Preacher (or God), Ringo represents a Pall Bearer (or undertaker), Paul is the Deceased, and George is the Grave Digger.

Paul’s eyes are closed and he is in his bare feet, both representative of a corpse.

Paul is out of step with the other Beatles - his right foot is forward, the others are leading with their left foot.

Paul is smoking with his right hand. Paul played the bass as a lefty. This shows that an imposter was brought in for the photograph.

An ambulance, or a morgue wagon, is parked on the right side of the street.

The car in the background appears to be headed directly at Paul.

The VW bug that is parked on the left side of the street has a license plate that says ‘28IF’. Paul would have been 28 when this album was released, IF he would have lived. (pictured right)

The license plate also says ‘LMW’ which stands for ‘Linda McCartney Weeps.’

My other favorite is that the cover of Rubber Soul is photographed from Paul's point if view... from his grave.

Other "clues" include the Revolver album cover, in which Paul is the only Beatle not facing forward, and the suggestion that "Yellow Submarine" was about Paul McCartney's coffin, and not Ringo Starr singing about a submarine that's yellow.

Speculation that McCartney died in an automobile accident in November 1966 has touched off a world wide controversy in pop music circles.

The furor prompted Apple Corp Ltd., the Beatles London office to issue a brief statement from Paul: "I am alive and well and unconcerned about the rumors of my death. But if I were dead, I would be the last to know."

Paul is, of course, alive, and showing up at sporting events. He also plays gigs. If he were really someone other than Paul, do you really believe that one of his ex-wives wouldn't have said something about it?