Lust for Noise: Helter Skelter (The Beatles)

With each new take, the band got closer and closer to the maelstrom that McCartney had in mind.

“We told the engineers to turn up the sound of the drums and make it as loud and terrible as possible.”McCartney recalled: “Then we called and said, ‘No, it’s still too normal.’ Should be noisier and dirtier.”. Chris Thomaswho replaced George Martin as producer, recalled: “It was a very unmanageable session. While Paul was overdubbing, George set fire to the ashtray and ran around the studio holding it over his head, imitating Arthur Brown!”. (George’s feat was inspired by “Fire,” a song from Arthur Brown’s “Mad World” that became a British hit that summer.)

Last take, no. 21 was recorded at 2:30 am and was correct.. It all ended with a flurry of reviews and Ringo’s immortal cry: “I have blisters on my fingers!”. “It wasn’t a joke”McCartney said. “He pounded the drums so furiously that by the end of the take, his fingers were really bleeding. We worked really hard on this song.”.

“Helter Skelter we did it while we were freaking out in the studio,” Ringo said. “Sometimes you really need to let yourself go.”

Despite 50 years of life, Helter Skelter is still able to surprise. On WHITE ALBUM comes after Lennon’s dark ballad “Sexy Sadie” and processed guitar intro looks like a live electric sawstarting a ruthless rhythm that seems to make a hole in the studio floor. The song has a hypnotic, spiraling flavor.

, which pulls you into its viscous whirlwind. And for the rock scream experts McCartney roar at minute 2’35” remains one of the most exciting moments can be listened to on vinyl from the 60s.

L’menacing atmosphere of Helter Skelter became even darker the following year when Charles Manson, the leader of the sect he founded, became obsessed with him – as with all of the WHITE ALBUM – to the point that he considered it a coded prophecy of an imminent apocalyptic race war. Over time, the association’s disapproval of Manson faded, and the song was picked up by many bands, including U2, oasis, Motley Crew, Aerosmith AND stereophonics. Since 2004, it has been one of the highlights of the band’s concerts. Paul McCartney

and stay The Beatles’ most rocking song. “That’s exactly what I wanted to do – raucous, loud rock-roll with the Beatles”; McCartney said. “And I think it’s great”.

Text edited by Bill DeMain.

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