THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY EP SEVEN

EPISODE SEVEN

The Beatles’ next big step follows on from George’s immersion in Indian music and philosophy, and leads them to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the pioneer of Transcendental Meditation, which offers a new gateway of understanding. “We’d been into drugs,” says Paul, “and the next step is… you’ve got to try and find a meaning.”

They first meet Maharishi in London and then begin their introduction to his teaching in Bangor, North Wales, in a collection of would-be students that also includes Mick Jagger. George recalls a telephone suddenly ringing—and, in his recollection, being answered by John. The call relays something unthinkable: at only 32, Brian Epstein has died.

In footage from the time, with TV lights harshly shining into their faces, they have to answer questions from the media.

“We loved him and he was one of us,” says John. In a later interview, he talks about the thoughts that were coursing around his mind:

“I didn’t really have any misconceptions about our ability to do anything other than play music,” he says. “I was scared, you know. I thought, we’ve fucking had it now.”

Brian’s sudden absence leaves a glaring void. But amazingly, The Beatles determinedly begin their next project: “Magical Mystery Tour,” a TV movie and collection of songs that furthers 1967’s madcap spirit. “We knew we weren’t doing a regular film,” says Paul. “We were doing a crazy, roly-poly sixties film.”

In the UK, it’s premiered the day after Christmas in black and white and a largely hostile press seizes its opportunity. “They all had their chance then to say, ‘They’ve gone too far,’” says Ringo. “‘Who do they think they are? What does it mean?’” Time and technicolour has since cast everything in a much more favourable light.

Early the following year, the four of them deepen their experience of meditation by travelling to Rishikesh, India, where they receive more teaching from Maharishi in the foothills of the Himalayas, and open a new creative chapter. Amazing footage—much of it shot by The Beatles themselves—shows them resting, taking stock, and looking ahead. “We sat in the mountains eating lousy vegetarian food and writing all those songs,” says John. “’Back In The USSR,’ ‘I Will,’ ‘Dear Prudence…’”

Their lives then speed on. As they pour these new compositions into a record simply titled “The Beatles,” aka the “White Album,” they launch Apple, their attempt at mixing business with pleasure and providing help to artists, filmmakers and other musicians. And John begins his life-changing relationship with Yoko Ono. Inevitably, her constant presence by John’s side initially perplexes the other three. “She and John had a very intense romance when they got together,” says Paul. “She was a very strong woman. A very independent woman. And John always liked strong women.”

Cracks are beginning to show in their internal bond.

Feeling “unloved and out of it,” Ringo temporarily leaves.

When he comes back, he revels in “being more of a band again” and “lots of group activity.”

George, by contrast, recalls him, Paul, and John working in separate studios, and the way that “people were accepting it was individual.” But in creative terms, all is mostly still well. The double set they release to the world in November 1968 perfectly captures its time and is a bold step on from “Sgt Pepper,” a “fine little album,” says Paul, which is quite an understatement.