Sarah Brown
The Beatles' story is inextricably linked with drugs. From their early days on Benzedrine and Preludin, to the flower-power era with cannabis and LSD, and onto harder drugs like cocaine and heroin in the late 1960s. While there is no definitive evidence that The Beatles took magic mushrooms, the band was widely known to use psychedelics, which helped inspire their music. Paul McCartney, for instance, claimed that he once saw God during a drug trip while he was still part of the band.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Beatles' use of psychedelics | The Beatles were known to use psychedelics, including LSD, magic mushrooms, and DMT. |
| Drug use in the 1960s | The Beatles' drug use spanned from their early days with Benzedrine and Preludin to the 1960s with LSD, and harder drugs like cocaine and heroin. |
| Paul McCartney's experience with DMT | Paul McCartney claimed he saw God during a DMT trip while he was still a part of the band. |
| George Harrison's experience with mushrooms | It is believed that George Harrison experimented with mushrooms in the late 1970s and wrote the song "Soft Hearted Hannah" about the experience. |
| Fan experiences with psychedelics and The Beatles' music | Many fans have shared their experiences with psychedelics, including LSD and magic mushrooms, while listening to The Beatles' music, claiming it enhanced their appreciation and created profound responses. |
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What You'll Learn
Paul McCartney's experience with DMT
While there is no clear evidence that The Beatles took magic mushrooms, the band was known to experiment with psychedelics, particularly LSD, which influenced their music. Paul McCartney, in particular, has been vocal about his experience with hallucinogens.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, McCartney described a profound experience he had with the hallucinogenic drug DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) during his time with The Beatles. He took the drug with art dealer and gallery owner Robert Fraser, and described the experience as follows:
> "We were immediately nailed to the sofa. And I saw God, this amazing towering thing, and I was humbled. And what I’m saying is, that moment didn’t turn my life around, but it was a clue. It was huge. A massive wall that I couldn’t see the top of, and I was at the bottom. And anybody else would say it’s just the drug, the hallucination, but both Robert and I were like, ‘Did you see that?’ We felt we had seen a higher thing."
McCartney likened this experience to a thrilling moment he had while grieving the death of his first wife, Linda McCartney, in 1998. While spending time in the countryside, he saw a white squirrel, which he interpreted as Linda "come back to give me a sign".
McCartney's experience with DMT reflects a broader context of psychedelic experimentation in the 1960s, when hallucinogens like LSD and magic mushrooms gained popularity, influencing music and culture.
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George Harrison's experimentation with mushrooms
During a period of songwriting turmoil, Harrison chose to revisit psychedelics, and his trip to Hawaii in the late 1970s provided a prolific songwriting period. While in Hawaii, Harrison penned several songs, including "Soft-Hearted Hana," which was inspired by his experience with magic mushrooms. The song, from his 1979 self-titled album, marked a shift in Harrison's musical style, showcasing a comedic side and a stream-of-consciousness approach influenced by his hallucinogenic experiences.
In an interview, Harrison recalled his encounter with mushrooms:
> "I hadn’t had any psychedelic drugs for almost ten years, so I thought maybe I should have it to just see if it reminds me of anything. You have to be careful with mushrooms because they’re so good. [...] I nearly did myself in; I had too many. I fell over and left my body, hit my head on a piece of concrete – but they were great."
Another notable song influenced by mushrooms is "Here Comes the Moon," which Harrison wrote while in Maui, watching the sunset. The song serves as a sequel to The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," showcasing Harrison's continued connection to his former band.
Harrison's experimentation with mushrooms and other psychedelics contributed to his musical innovation and exploration of his inner subconscious, leaving a lasting impact on his solo career.
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The Beatles' use of LSD
The Beatles' story is inextricably linked with drugs. From their early days with drugs like Benzedrine and Preludin, the band moved on to the flower-power era with cannabis and LSD, and eventually harder drugs like cocaine and heroin as the 1960s ended.
The Beatles were widely known to use psychedelics, which helped inspire much of their music. For example, songs like "Revolution 9", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", and "A Day in the Life" are said to have been influenced by the band's psychedelic experiences.
Paul McCartney, in particular, has been open about his experiences with psychedelics. In an interview with the British Sunday Times, McCartney shared that he once saw God during a drug trip while he was still a part of the band. He described seeing "a massive wall that I couldn't see the top of, and I was at the bottom." He also referenced taking Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) with associates, including the art dealer and gallery owner Robert Fraser, and feeling like they had seen a "higher thing".
While there are no specific mentions of the band consuming magic mushrooms, it is possible that they experimented with a variety of psychedelics, given the nature of drug exploration in the 1960s and the band's known interest in psychedelic experiences.
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The band's early use of Benzedrine and Preludin
The Beatles' first experience with drugs was with the stimulant Benzedrine, which they first took in June 1960. Band member George Harrison later commented:
> Ellis had discovered that if you open a Vick’s inhaler you find Benzedrine in it, impregnated into the cardboard divide.
Paul McCartney had been prescribed a nasal inhaler by a doctor, who showed him how to use it, but also told him that he could "unscrew the bottom and eat the Benzedrine".
The Beatles were introduced to Preludin, or "prellies", in Hamburg. The drug was popular in Europe in the late 1950s and early 1960s and was especially easy to obtain in Hamburg's red-light district, St. Pauli. Preludin was a German slimming pill that suppressed appetite and gave the band the energy to take their stage shows "to new, often chaotic, levels".
The Beatles continued to take Preludin when they played all night in the drunken clubs of the Reeperbahn in Hamburg. John Lennon told Playboy magazine in 1980:
> I was the one that carried all the pills on tour, well, in the early days. Later on, the roadies did it. We just kept them in our pockets loose. In case of trouble.
The band were often given the pills by waiters, along with other pills, but Lennon remembered Preludin because "it was such a big trip". The pills helped the band to stay awake and work long hours.
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The influence of psychedelics on their music
The Beatles' story is inextricably linked with drugs, from their early days on Benzedrine and Preludin, to their experimentation with psychedelics such as LSD and magic mushrooms, and later, harder drugs like heroin and cocaine.
The band members were widely known to use psychedelics, which helped inspire much of their music. Paul McCartney, for instance, claimed that he once saw God during a drug trip while he was still a part of the band. In an interview with the British Sunday Times, McCartney described seeing "a massive wall that I couldn't see the top of, and I was at the bottom." He believed that he and his associate had seen "a higher thing."
In addition to LSD, it is speculated that The Beatles also experimented with magic mushrooms, a different type of psychedelic with varying effects. While there is no direct evidence, the prevalence of psychedelic mushrooms in Britain and their musical content suggest their influence. For example, the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is often associated with psychedelic experiences.
Some listeners have shared their own experiences with psychedelics and The Beatles' music, reporting profound insights and a deeper appreciation for certain songs and albums, such as "Sgt. Pepper" and "Magical Mystery Tour."
Overall, the influence of psychedelics on The Beatles' music is undeniable, shaping both their creative process and the impact their songs had, and continue to have, on listeners.
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Frequently asked questions
The Beatles' story is inextricably linked with drugs, from their early pre-fame days on Benzedrine and Preludin, to the flower-power era with cannabis and LSD, and onto harder drugs including cocaine and heroin as the 1960s ended. While there is no definitive proof that the Beatles took magic mushrooms, it is speculated that George Harrison may have experimented with them in the late 1970s.
The Beatles were widely known to use psychedelics, which helped inspire much of their music. Paul McCartney, for example, claimed that he once saw God during a drug trip while he was still a part of the band.
Some of the Beatles' songs that are believed to be influenced by psychedelics include "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "A Day in the Life", "Sgt. Pepper", and "Magical Mystery Tour".
