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4.05am
5 February 2013
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Had a thought recently. The idea came when I read someone here referring to the Beatles as ‘the boys’. Well they certainly weren’t boys, even at the peak of their fame but I do get it–it’s a sticky, catchy and endearing phrase that probably has roots as far back as the British press of the early 60s. However they were very young men! They were young and their lives were turned upside-down with a perceived persona of ‘the boys’ forced down their throats at every public moment for what, two or three years? At least ’63 and ’64… probably ’62, ’65, and ’66… all the way up until they ended touring. So anywhere from 2 to 5 years. If it were a prison sentence one might consider suicide! Interviews and retrospective accounts indicate the pressure was massive… can any of us really even come close to relating? Anyway that led me to wonder this: What did all that pressure, that constant wearing of the “John, Paul, George and Ringo–the boys!” collective mask do to their personalities… even permanently?
I’m certainly not a psychologist and my guess is most of us here aren’t, so no absolute ‘diagnoses’ can be made, but it’s still an interesting question. It seems to me John carried that imp-ish, jovial moptop persona the rest of his life… George had an aura of naivete to him… Paul, well, Paul has always been the most stable as far as I can tell so I can’t say much here… Ringo, pretty much the same (and he was older) and yet there seems to be a lot of child in his public personality as well. What do you think?
And in the end.. the lungs you slake are equal to some arctic waste.
12.08pm
14 February 2016
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I don’t think fame changed them very much. (Yes, they changed to become famous, but being famous didn’t change them.)
Their whole shtick was that they were genuine. They didn’t mess around with false personalities just to appeal to the masses. (They did appeal to the masses, but they didn’t have to change themselves to do it.)
Well, those are my thoughts on the subject.
I am you as you are you as you are you and you are all together.
4.59pm
6 July 2016
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I disagree @Evangeline. I think that level of fame must have an effect on a person and lets not forget few have experienced such a level. George said they had to pay with their nervous systems. Imagine complete strangers wanting to grab you, tear your clothes or take a clipping of your hair. Imagine sheer pandemonium of the US tours. It must have been beyond scary. They couldn’t go out and do normal things. Lennon started to believe he was Jesus towards the end so it must have affected him. It still always amazed me how much patience they had with fans and the media though. So perhaps that’s what you mean. They didn’t outwardly show that fame affected them which is incredible I think especially when you look at modern day celebrity melt downs.
Pivotal Moments in Beatles History No.118: Yoko helps herself to one of George's digestives.
5.52pm
14 February 2016
Offline Did John ever confess to trying to become a Jesus figure? I think he would’ve went a peace-preaching even if he hadn’t become a superstar.
We’ll never really know how it affected them inwardly, but from a personality stand-point, they didn’t become different people. Yes, their personalities developed over time according to different situations. (As everyone’s does) but they never lost who they truly were.
I guess I wasn’t focusing on the ‘mental’ part of the question enough.
I am you as you are you as you are you and you are all together.
6.14pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline On 18 May 1968, @Evangeline, John summoned the others to a meeting at Apple.
“I have something very important to tell you all,” he’s reported as having said. “I am Jesus Christ. I’m back again.”
He wanted a press release announcing this ‘truth’ to be issued that day. But they adjourned for lunch, and the others weren’t too keen on Apple issuing a statement that John Lennon was the second coming. They thought it could cause a bit of bother with John’s history with Jesus.
John did have those days!
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
8.22pm
24 July 2016
Offline If you want to know about how fame can kill, just ask Kurt Cobain, the man who was so famous that he took his own life (although some believe that Courtney killed him or that he overdosed on drugs (someone once told me that Dave Grohl killed him, although he was joking around)).
Maybe you should try posting more.
8.24pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline HMBeatlesfan said
If you want to know about how fame can kill, just ask Kurt Cobain, the man who was so famous that he took his own life (although some believe that Courtney killed him or that he overdosed on drugs (someone once told me that Dave Grohl killed him, although he was joking around)).
How do I ask him if he took his own life?
I apologise if offended but I could not resist.
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8.34pm
1 November 2013
Offline 
With an Ouija board.
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8.40pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Starr Shine? said
With an Ouija board.
I was hoping to quickly find a Calvin and Hobbes sketch as they do exist but nothing came up quickly and I didn’t have determination.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
8.42pm
24 July 2016
Offline meanmistermustard said
How do I ask him if he took his own life?
The same way you ask Jim Morrison why he didn’t play bass.
Maybe you should try posting more.
9.18pm
5 November 2011
Offline I think Paul has quite the superiority complex, and that might be part of what came along with being in such a successful group. He could have had it even before The Beatles, but I think being so famous probably made it bigger. Another thing could be always wanting to be in control. It doesn’t seem that he was as stubborn in the early days as he was in the later years of The Beatles and with Wings. That could be part of his superiority complex being so large (everybody should do what he wants because he is Paul McCartney ).
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9.43pm
14 June 2016
Offline @Starr Shine? said
With an Ouija board.
Actually it would be “A Ouija board,” because you pronounce it with a consanant beginning. It’s similar to how it’s “An Honor,” not “A Honor,” because you pronounce it with a vowel beginning.
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"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
9.54pm
5 November 2011
Offline William Shears Campbell said
Actually it would be “A Ouija board,” because you pronounce it with a consanant beginning. It’s similar to how it’s “An Honor,” not “A Honor,” because you pronounce it with a vowel beginning.
If you’re going to start correcting every petty mistake Annadog makes, you’re going to be very disappointed when she doesn’t take your advice in the future (because I know I am).
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
10.02pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline We’re not here to face the grammar police, or to be them.
If something needs clarifying because of a mistake, or is amusing, by all means, but “an” vs. “a”…
Please, Beatle people…
"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
10.10pm
5 November 2011
Offline Ron Nasty said
We’re not here to face the grammar police, or to be them.
Yes, but I think it could be beneficial, if a pattern is seen in somebody’s posts, to politely PM them and help them better understand the beautiful English language. I know that being corrected on here sure helped my grammar when I first joined this forum. It could be annoying to correct every mistake you see, however, as you don’t know if it is intentional or not (unless you have noticed a pattern).
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
10.46pm
14 June 2016
Offline Sorry @Ron Nasty, that was just driving me crazy. Also my mom is a first grade teacher, so I get nitpicky sometimes. Anyway
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"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
11.06pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline Little Piggy Dragonguy said …the beautiful English language.
*cough cough*.
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12.23am
5 November 2011
Offline William Shears Campbell said
Sorry mja6758, that was just driving me crazy. Also my mom is a first grade teacher, so I get nitpicky sometimes. Anyway
I find this a strange excuse for having to correct every petty mistake somebody makes. Maybe if she was a high school or college English teacher/professor, I would get it, but first grade? First graders have horrible grammar and spell most words wrong. You would think that would make you more understanding. 
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
12.30am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline What is it that people are not understanding about
?
If you want to discuss grammar, move it to another thread. You can always reference or link to what’s been said here, but please stop derailing the thread.
Move it elsewhere!
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
1.17am
5 November 2011
Offline I like how you can contribute to a thread being derailed, but when somebody responds to your post, it is wrong of them.
P.S. If you want to be a mod so badly, maybe ask Joe????????????
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
