Beatles enthusiasts gathered outside the legendary Abbey Road Studios this past weekend to recreate the cover of the fab four's album of the same name.
Almost forty years after it was released, fans made the pilgrimage to the now famous pelican crossing to mark the event, with four lookalikes recreating the cover shot of George, Paul, Ringo and John striding across the pelican crossing, the BBC reports.
The Beatles' former tour manager Tony Bramwell turned up to mark the event, "Other than Paul and Ringo, I'm the only person alive who was here on that day. It's great to see that the whole thing carries on. Through the musical genres and revolutions of the last 40 years the Beatles are still number one."
Background to the iconic shot
With the Beatles no longer functioning together as a coherent unit, Abbey Road was the last album the band recorded together, although it was released before Let It Be saw light of day in 1970.
An original idea for the album title had been Everest, featuring a cover image of the Himalayas, however by autumn 1969 the plan had changed and the album was to be called Abbey Road with a simple photograph outside the studio, so at 11:30am on August 8, photographer Iain Macmillan was given around ten minutes to snap the now iconic shot.
If you look closely in the background (above John Lennon) there is an American tourist talking to a policeman in the parked van. He witnessed the four "kooks" walking back and forward across the crossing but hadn't realised who they were or that he had been photographed until a year later, subsequently having a hard time convincing his kids it was him on the Beatles album cover.
The Volkswagen "Beetle" in the background was also parked there entirely naturally as it belonged to someone who lived in flats across the road. For years after the number plate from it was repeatedly stolen.
Want to see what's happening on the famous pelican crossing today?
Take a look on the Abbey Road webcam.
10:05 AM | 10/08/2009
More Photos Of:
Latest News
-
Bee Gees' Robin Gibb RIP (round-up) Muse carry Olympic torch, Mick Jagger plays with Foo Fighters & Arcade Fire, Jack White new record attempt, Citizens session, Crowded House drummer dies... Daily Hot List
A round-up of all the news, views, interviews and cool music things online today (21 May)
-
Column - Robin's Reign: the remarkable career of the Bee Gees' Robin Gibb
Following the Bee Gee's death last night, Dorian Lynskey looks back at the singer and songwriter's multifaceted work
-
The Cult: 'Nirvana's arrival was like a nuclear bomb for rock bands' - Q311 extract
As the band release a new album today (21 May) they recall how Kurt Cobain and co made them split the first time - get our current issue for the full interview
-
Q's Week that was... Gaz Coombes, sports star who can sing, Great Escape, Donna Summer RIP, T In The Park, Zulu Winter, Niki & Dove & more
Here's what we've been up to this week...
-
Column - How Donna Summer helped change dance music forever
Following her death yesterday (17 May), Paul McGee looks at the Queen Of Disco's creative legacy
-
Donna Summer RIP, Black Sabbath respond to drummer quitting, Van Halen 'hate each other', Adele wins Ivor Novello award, Charlatans vs Wu-Tang... Daily Hot List
A round-up of all the news, views, interviews and cool music things online today (18 May)
Advertisement
User Comments
Post A Comment
Post A Comment