When the Beatles visited India in the 60s for some yoga and meditation, one of the places they went to was the holy Hindu city of Varanasi. Sited alongside the sacred Ganges, it is the place where Hindus go on pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The bustling city is a Mecca (oops, wrong religion) for rituals on milestone occasions like Birth, Marriage and, most importantly, Death.
The Beatles, needless to say, witnessed the cremations at close range, next to the temple and mounds of burning wood. Unfortunately, their fans were also there, pushing and shoving to get a better view of their idols.(the Beatles, of course, not those in the temple). Of course the inevitable happened. While trying to avoid an over-eager fan, Ringo slipped and burnt himself on the flames. (He finally managed to reach high C, btw)
Well, as the saying goes,
"Out of the Prying Fan and into the Pyre."
(Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire)
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Dedicated to the amazing Beatles and the overcrowded city of Varanasi where I watched a never-ending "production line" of corpses going through ceremonial washing, wrapping, cremation, ash-collection and ash-scattering.
Showing posts with label Beatles^^^^. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beatles^^^^. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Thursday, March 17, 2005
First Cut is the Deepest^^^^
At last, the true story how Heather McCartney lost her leg.
Very few people know that Paul McCartney was an amateur magician and Heather was his assistant. While he was not composing or performing with the Beatles, he use to do his magic show at charities and parties and always got a polite applause so as to not hurt his feelings.
Unfortunately, Paul really began to believe that he was great and requested his professional illusionist friend David Copperfield to watch and comment on his illusions. Paul did his usual boring tricks and as a grand finale, did the “sawing the lady in half” illusion.
David honestly told him that all his tricks were quite standard and to be a good magician he had to do the tricks differently.
“What do you mean?” asked Paul angrily
“Say, for example, can you saw Heather in the upright position rather than the normal reclining position?” asked David
“Of course, I can saw her upright”
“No you cannot, Heather will not be able to squeeze into half the box while upright” said David.
“Nonsense”
“I challenge you to do it”
“No problem. Heather come here! Put the box upright and get in.”
“I dare you”
“Just watch me. Hand me the saw”
Paul proceeded to do the illusion and we all know what happened to poor Heather's leg. Paul felt so guilty that he gave up magic and he eventually married Heather when his wife Linda died.
You will not find this incident in any Beatles archives, but Paul wrote a song about it. You see, he called the fateful challenge as the “I saw her standing” dare.
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Dedicated to the Beatles who revolutionised pop music and made our lives so much richer. Also to to the great magicians -- Houdini, David Copperfield -- who earn an honest living with their illusions instead of the "psychic" charlatans who give people false hope and con them of ther money.
Very few people know that Paul McCartney was an amateur magician and Heather was his assistant. While he was not composing or performing with the Beatles, he use to do his magic show at charities and parties and always got a polite applause so as to not hurt his feelings.
Unfortunately, Paul really began to believe that he was great and requested his professional illusionist friend David Copperfield to watch and comment on his illusions. Paul did his usual boring tricks and as a grand finale, did the “sawing the lady in half” illusion.
David honestly told him that all his tricks were quite standard and to be a good magician he had to do the tricks differently.
“What do you mean?” asked Paul angrily
“Say, for example, can you saw Heather in the upright position rather than the normal reclining position?” asked David
“Of course, I can saw her upright”
“No you cannot, Heather will not be able to squeeze into half the box while upright” said David.
“Nonsense”
“I challenge you to do it”
“No problem. Heather come here! Put the box upright and get in.”
“I dare you”
“Just watch me. Hand me the saw”
Paul proceeded to do the illusion and we all know what happened to poor Heather's leg. Paul felt so guilty that he gave up magic and he eventually married Heather when his wife Linda died.
You will not find this incident in any Beatles archives, but Paul wrote a song about it. You see, he called the fateful challenge as the “I saw her standing” dare.
--------------
Dedicated to the Beatles who revolutionised pop music and made our lives so much richer. Also to to the great magicians -- Houdini, David Copperfield -- who earn an honest living with their illusions instead of the "psychic" charlatans who give people false hope and con them of ther money.
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