It is no secret that the Beatles were a rock and roll phenomenon. With a career that spanned three decades, the Liverpool band is renowned for their vast influence and iconic songs. While the band was seen as a kind of glowing example of good behaviour, the truth is that they are just people. Like any other, they also experimented with various drugs throughout their peak era in the late 60s and early 70s. But what drugs were the Beatles using during the Get Back sessions?
It is important to note that the Beatles never publically revealed what type of drugs they used. But it is widely accepted that John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney all experimented with drugs, notably LSD, during their musical career. Ringo Starr, the fourth band member, participated in the drugs under the influence of his bandmates, but never actively pursued it himself.
In the context of the Get Back, one of the band’s last albums, it is believed that heroin and cocaine were the drugs of choice. Cocaine had been declared as the “new drug for the 70s” and although it was not as widely utilized as LSD, John and George were known to have used it, although the extent of their use remains unclear.
Heroin is listed in the same breath as cocaine due to its use during the Get Back period. It is believed that the band was using it to keep up with the gruelling pace of the sessions, that lasted for weeks. Although heroin contains an addictive element, the band’s use of it was not long-term, which meant that there were no real repercussions on their career and personal lives.
Moreover, the band’s drug use during the Get Back period did not necessarily influence their music. Although they had experimented with drugs prior, the Get Back sessions remained largely unchanged, showcasing the band’s talent and later highlighted in their songwriting across their albums.
However, there are still numerous theories that suggest the Beatles’ drug use impacted their performance. One journalist, David Sheff, stated that the band member’s drug use was ‘a likely factor’ in their true decline. Sheff added that the band’s use of drugs became a symbolic ‘symbol of the times’, hinting at how the once shining Beatles began to fall out of favor.
The late George Martin, producer of the band, could not comment on the drug use as he never witnessed it. But he surmises that the drugs had a detrimental effect on the band, noting there was a hint of chaos in the studio as they moved from project-to-project.
Overall, as with any subject, it is difficult to suggest whether the Beatles’ use of drugs had an impact on their work during the Get Back period. Whilst the debate still rages on amongst fans, it is certain that the band’s drug use certainly had some effect, intentional or not.
The Impact on the Writing Process
Throughout their career, the Beatles have been renowned for pioneering creative techniques and pushing the boundaries of rock-and-roll. And while the band had begun experimenting with drugs way before the Get Back period, it is worth noting how it may have influenced their songwriting.
John Lennon has stated that the Beatles would often come up with ideas on psychedelics. He suggested that LSD, in particular, had an impact on how he wrote and inspired him to create a different form of expression. For instance, “It’s All Too Much” was born from an acid trip and utilised LSD’s surreal nature as a basis for its composition.
Meanwhile, Paul McCartney has been less vocal about the use of drugs during the Get Back sessions. Nevertheless, it is likely that some psychedelics may have been used, particularly as it is generally accepted that the skill and complexity of the Beatles’ writing rose during this period.
In addition, towards the end of the band’s life, Lennon in particular was heavily experimenting with cocaine and heroin to fuel himself through the exhaustion of being in the band. And while it was not as influential as psychedelics, it should be acknowledged that these drugs may have had an impact on the music during the Get Back period.
The Impact on the Recording Process
As well as the writing process, the Beatles’ use of drugs during the Get Back period may have impacted their performance while in the recording studio. Interestingly, some of the Beatles’ greatest works were done while under the influence of drugs.
For instance, “She Said She Said” was completed while Lennon was under the influence of LSD. Similarly, Harrison wrote “It’s All Too Much” during an acid trip, and the same technique was used for songs such as “Daytripper” and “Paperback Writer”. In each case, the band was able to produce music with a new level of creativity and originality.
The band were also heavily involved in experimenting with cannabis during the Get Back period. While it is difficult to suggest that it influenced the band’s performance, it is clear that their use of the drug helped them to increase their creativity; songs such as “Getting Better” and “ Tomorrow Never Knows” highlighting this.
Not to mention, the band was also able to utilise drugs as a form of relaxation. Under the influence of marijuana, the band was able to go into recording sessions feeling energised and free of tension which allowed them to express their creativity more naturally.
The Impact on the Dynamics of the Band
The Beatles were renowned for being one of the tight-knit bands in the industry. Before the Get Back sessions, the band had known a dynamic that was the envy of many. Yet it is during this period that drug use began to cause divisions in the band.
John Lennon and George Harrison in particular were passionate about drugs and go about publically discussing them. McCartney and Starr, however, did not follow suit and found it difficult to understand the the fascination with them. This was most noticeable during the Get Back sessions, with the two sides often clashing over the issues of drugs.
The drugs also had a secondary effect on the band. With their drug-fuelled lifestyle, the band began to lose focus in the studio and oftentimes could not complete the tasks they set out for the day. This ultimately led to friction within the group, as the time wastage caused tempers to flare in the band.
The Public Opinion
During the 1960s, and in particular during the Get Back sessions, drug use was becoming much more widely accepted and much more prolific in society. This meant that the Beatles were not the only band experimenting with drugs at the time, despite their image in the public eye.
The rise in drug use led to countless rumors about the Beatles in the media. This was in contrast to the musical scene at large, which was positive about drug use. Journalists, fans, and even the public at large found excuses to cast aspersions at the band, tarnishing their otherwise flawless image.
However, despite the public outcry, the Beatles remained popular and continued to sell records. This may suggest that the band’s use of drugs could be seen as a mere footnote in comparison to their overall legacy.
The Beatles’ Final Thoughts
By the end of the Get Back sessions, the Beatles had become a shell of their former selves. With the band divided on various issues, and the media frenzy reaching a fever pitch, the band members all expressed various opinion on the use of drugs.
John Lennon for starters was an avid supporter of drug use during the Get Back sessions. He openly discussed his use of drugs with the press and frequently cited psychedelics as being influential in his songwriting. George Harrison, while not as outspoken as John, was also an avid user of psychedelics and soberly stated that he felt it was crucial in allowing him to explore new boundaries.
Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney on the other hand both rejected the use of any drugs. McCartney would often distance himself from the use of drugs and never made any comment about its effects on the band, while Starr simply followed the others without ever taking on an opinion on the matter.
At the end of the day, we will never truly know how much
