Why did The Beatles cross the road?

 

The most famous photo in pop music history was what artists call a 'happy accident'. 

In August 1969 completed the final recording sessions for an album provisionally entitled Everest - the name of a cigarette brand. 

With the release looming, EMI management demanded a cover - fast. 

Mad plan

An initial discussion came up with some fabulously impractical proposals. One was to fly the band to Mount Everest so that the biggest band in the world could be photographed on the biggest mountain.

But nobody wanted to fly back to India - so Ringo had a 'why don't we do it right here?' proposal. The following Friday (August 8), all four Beatles came to the (then) EMI studio for a very unusual morning photo session.

How did they keep the plan a secret?

By only telling those directly involved.

Studio staff weren't informed but quickly realised something unusual was happening. They can be seen standing at the other entrance to the building 

Who suggested the zebra crossing?

According to photographer Ian Macmillan, Paul McCartney then came up with the visual concept of the four Beatles crossing Abbey Road outside the studio. 

There was a practice run-through, with young EMI staffers standing in, before The Beatles arrived on the morning of Friday, August 8.

Fashion choices

The clothes were chosen randomly, but John, Paul and Ringo all happened to be wearing suits by designer Tommy Nutter. There has been endless discussion of the significance of George's 'double-denim', John's white suit (associated with death in some cultures) and shoeless Paul.

Some even saw a 'clue' in the fact that he is holding a cigarette in his 'wrong hand'. In later releases, they removed the cigarette, but that hasn't stopped speculation by those convinced he died in 1966.