6: WC FieldsĪn American writer, comedian, and actor, WC Fields was the epitome of the all-around entertainer, whose career spanned both the silent film era and the talkies. 5: Karlheinz StockhausenĪ German composer who pioneered the use of electronic music in the 50s and 60s, Stockhausen remains a godfather of the avant-garde, whose boundary-pushing music influenced The Beatles’ own groundbreaking experiments in the studio, starting with their tape experiments of Revolver’s “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Paul McCartney (No.64) introduced Stockhausen’s work to the group, turning John Lennon (No.62) into a fan Lennon and Yoko Ono even sent the composer a Christmas card in 1969. He died of a drug overdose in August 1966. Pepper’s cover, he had been arrested for obscenity, further making him a countercultural hero not only for The Beatles, but also the Beatniks and Bob Dylan (No.15). Lenny Bruce revolutionized comedy in the 50s and 60s, ushering in a personalized style that influenced many later comedians. The film also featured a cover version of the “White Album” song “Honey Pie.” 4: Lenny Bruce In 1978, Ringo Starr (No.63) returned the favor when he appeared in West’s final movie, 1978’s Sextette. However, after The Beatles personally wrote to her explaining that they were all fans, she agreed to let them use her image. She was, after all, one of the most famous bombshells from Hollywood’s Golden Age and felt that she would never be in a lonely hearts club. Mae West initially refused to allow her image to appear on the artwork. Love is the law, love under will.” 3: Mae West 2: Aleister CrowleyĪ hugely prolific occultist and author who formed his own religion, Thelema, Crowley’s central tenet was, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. In August 1967, two months after the album’s release, The Beatles had their first meeting with the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi, at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane, where they were invited to study Transcendental Meditation in Bangor, North Wales. His prominent position in the top left-hand corner reflects George Harrison’s (No.65) growing interest in Indian philosophy. The author of the 1894 book The Holy Science, which attempted “to show as clearly as possible that there is an essential unity in all religions,” Sri Yukteswar Giri was guru to both Sri Mahavatara Babaji (No.27) and Paramahansa Yogananda (No.33). Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover…Ĭlick here for an interactive version of the Sgt.

To paraphrase the song, you might have known the band for all these years, so here we introduce to you, everyone else that featured on the Sgt. Those that made the final cut remain a fascinating cross-section of cultures, importance, and each individual Beatle’s own interests. Also notable by his absence is Elvis Presley, who, Paul McCartney later said, was “too important and too far above the rest to even mention.” Looking to avoid any serious controversy, Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler were deemed unsuitable for inclusion, while other choices, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Gorcey, were removed for different reasons. Those chosen from a collective list drawn up by John, Paul, George, Peter Blake, Jann Haworth, and London art dealer Robert Fraser.

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