Recently, I became somewhat fascinated by the "Paul McCartney is dead" theory, having never heard the whole story of what some people believe. Apparently, a rumor began that in 1966 Paul had been involved in a fatal car wreck, and that he was replaced by Billy Shears Campbell, who looked so much like him, that it was hard to tell them apart. It is said that the photo of the Beatles on Abbey Road represent a funeral procession, with John in White as the preacher, Ringo in black as the mortician, George in worker's clothes as the grave digger, and Paul, barefoot and out of sink with the rest, indicating that he was the corpse.
Many "hints" were put out through the years, and there are those who still refer to what was most likely just a hideous publicity stunt, as subliminal suggestions that the Beatles secretly wanted to reveal the truth, but were so afraid of public opinion over their fabrication that they only hinted at the truth through backmasking on records, and morbid album covers that had meanings that were hidden, but could be deciphered by people who understood those hidden meanings.
Even more strange is the fact that Billy Shears Campbell, who was a musician that won a Paul look alike contest, and actually body doubled for Paul, disappeared after 1967! There are some who have posted on YouTube about the supposed dental and cosmetic surgery done on him to make him even more like Paul. Judging from one photo I saw of him- actually used ON the Sgt. Pepper album cover, he would have had to do a lot of surgery, as Billy looked a whole lot more like George than he did Paul! The startlingly close copy will shock you, though, if you haven't seen it! It is pretty obvious that Paul did change quite a bit in a few years, but it seemed dramatic during the supposed replacement period, which I guess gives credence to the conspiracy theory.
I'm kind of surprised that no one seems to have come up with the speculation that Paul wasn't killed, but was seriously injured in 1966, and had to have plastic surgery and dental work HIMSELF in order to restore those good looks that made him "The Cute Beatle" in the eyes of his adoring fans! After all, actors like Montgomery Cliff were impacted by car wrecks and their adverse effects on their appearances. There is, however, one theory that he actually decided to quit the Beatles and live in anonymity as John Halliday, who became the custodian of John Lennon's boyhood house! While the guy does look a lot like Paul, the nose is completely wrong, being much too short. Even John Lennon has his supposed counterfeiters, Mark Staycer, who is said to have replaced him, and Collin Unwin, who though he doesn't really look that much like Lennon to me, is supposed to be the real John, who didn't die! (People must have a lot of time on their hands!)
Another thing they bring up is an eye color change that they say is impossible. Well, I can debunk that one, since mine have changed color dramatically from when I was a child. People with dark hazel eyes, which can appear brown, often deal with their eyes lightening, and changing because of things like being in salt water. Mine looked brown when I was young, but as I aged, the green overtook the brown coloration, and though they still change, and are still technically hazel, most of the time they are a much lighter, greenish color! If I remember right, Paul's eye color had been listed as hazel on one of the albums I had back in the early 60's.
The most impressive thing I've seen so far, though, IS the incredible resemblance of Billy Shears Campbell to Paul McCartney, even if it was plastic surgery. It is so strong that even side by side you can hardly tell them apart. Ringo Starr supposedly did an interview where he admitted that it was true. Perhaps it's time for a DNA test to prove if Paul is Paul or Faul, as they call the supposed fake Paul. I suppose the fun of the controversy will linger for the rest of Paul's (or Faul's) life.
Anyway, when I was looking through my archives for something to shoot, this reminded me of the Abbey Rd. shot! "Paul", the woman in the shot, IS in sink with the others, but the "preacher" in white is not.
