REVEALED: How a Dodgy Dentist's LSD Trip Changed Music History Forever
Latest News from the Fab Four: Dental Drugs, Dream Collaborations, and Sam Mendes Cinema
George Martin's unlikely love affair with "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
The morally dubious dentist who altered The Beatles' sound forever
Paul McCartney still has a "sneaky feeling" about working with Bob Dylan
Another day, another Beatles revelation from the psychedelic past, dear readers. One could be forgiven for thinking we'd heard it all about the Fab Four by now, but like an old attic filled with dusty memorabilia, the Beatles saga continues to yield fascinating trinkets worthy of our attention.
Today's most eyebrow-raising tale concerns a dentist with questionable ethics who quite literally changed music history through an act that would have the General Dental Council reaching for their disciplinary handbook. John Riley, a cosmetic dentist trained in Chicago who set up shop in Swinging London, managed to accomplish what countless record executives failed to do – he altered the Beatles' creative trajectory with a single cup of coffee.
It appears that Harrison and Lennon, along with their wives, attended a dinner party at Riley's house, where the dentist slipped LSD into their after-dinner coffee without their knowledge. While drugging unsuspecting guests is typically frowned upon in polite society, this particular instance ended up having rather profound consequences for popular music.
"People who have taken [LSD] will know what I'm talking about, and anybody who hasn't taken it won't have a clue," Harrison later explained in an interview. "It transforms you. After that, I didn't need it ever again. That's the thing about LSD. You don't need it twice."
When the interviewer asked if he only took it once, Harrison chuckled, "No, I took it lots of times, but I only needed it once."
The Beatles' subsequent experiments with psychedelics led to their transformation from mop-topped pop idols to avant-garde innovators. Their music began incorporating elements of Eastern philosophy, experimental recording techniques, and surrealist imagery – a stark departure from their earlier "boy meets girl" love songs.
As Cynthia Lennon, John's first wife, dryly noted: "When you go for dinner with your dentist, you don't imagine a professional man would do something like that." Quite right, Cynthia. One expects a cleaning and perhaps a gentle reminder about flossing – not a consciousness-expanding trip that alters the course of Western music.
The relationship between Riley and his famous patients predictably cooled after the incident, with Lennon reportedly livid about the unwanted chemical intervention. The Beatles found someone else to look after their gnashers, but the dentist's influence may have been immortalised in the song "Doctor Robert," with lyrics like "If you're down, he'll pick you up. Take a drink from his special cup."
Speaking of cups, one wonders if Allen Ginsberg was onto something when he quipped that the 1960s were essentially "one long coffee break." In this case, it seems the coffee came with rather more than the promised after-dinner mint.
Meanwhile, in more contemporary Beatles-adjacent news, Sir Paul McCartney continues to tease fans with the possibility of a collaboration with another musical titan, Bob Dylan. During a Reddit AMA, McCartney revealed, "I've always had a sneaky feeling to collaborate with Bob Dylan, but it's never happened. It's intriguing, but..." The ellipsis there is doing quite a bit of heavy lifting, isn't it?
Fans immediately began speculating about the potential supergroup, with one quipping that the two legends could create "the banger of a Christmas song" that would have "boomers losing their minds and collective savings." Others, however, pointed out that Dylan has historically been rather particular about his collaborations, with one fan suggesting, "Anyone who knows Dylan can tell you: the more you want to collaborate with him, the less likely it will happen."
This wasn't the first time Sir Paul has mentioned wanting to work with Dylan. He expressed similar sentiments in 2008, along with a desire to collaborate with David Byrne. At this point, one wonders if Dylan is sitting somewhere in Malibu, nursing a whiskey and deliberately ignoring his telephone.
George Martin, the legendary producer often dubbed the "Fifth Beatle," has posthumously revealed the song that cemented the band's legacy in his mind: "I Want to Hold Your Hand." According to recently surfaced comments, Martin considered this track the breakthrough moment when the band officially "made it big."
"For the first time, we knew we'd made it big," he recalled about receiving a call during a recording session informing them that the song had hit number one in America. While topping the charts in multiple countries was impressive, cracking the American market was the ultimate prize, establishing the Beatles as not just another British band but as global cultural icons.
It's a rather charming revelation, considering the song's relative innocence compared to the band's later, more experimental work. One can imagine Martin, with his classical training and initial skepticism about the scruffy Liverpool lads, gradually falling under their spell.
"I fell in love with them, it's as simple as that," Martin confessed, describing their undeniable charisma. He recalled how, during their first meeting, he wasn't particularly impressed with their musical abilities – even suggesting they needed to sack their drummer, Pete Best. Yet something about their presence captivated him. "They were the kind of people that when you're with them, you are all the better for being with them, and when they leave you, you feel a loss."
It's a sentiment many Beatles fans can likely relate to, even decades after the band's dissolution.
In cinema news, rumors continue to swirl about Sam Mendes' upcoming quartet of Beatles films, each focusing on a different band member. Anna Sawai, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning star of "Shōgun," has poured cold water on speculation that she'll be playing Yoko Ono, stating simply, "I think a rumor is just a rumor."
While casting remains officially unconfirmed, industry whispers suggest that Paul Mescal will portray Paul McCartney, with Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson taking on the role of John Lennon. The films, slated for release in 2027, mark the first time Apple Corps Ltd. has authorized the use of the band members' life stories and music in scripted features.
One can only hope that Riley the dentist gets his own scene in the Lennon film, perhaps portrayed by someone with appropriately questionable bedside manner – Steve Buscemi, perhaps?
Meanwhile, the enduring power of Beatlemania was on full display at the Garfield Ridge Library in Chicago, where fans of all ages gathered for a "Meet the Beatles" listening party. The event featured trivia, memorabilia displays, and live performances of Beatles classics.
"You wouldn't believe how many people still hold the Beatles close to their hearts," said Children's Library Associate Patti Tyznik. "It's amazing to see generations come together over this music."
Sisters Dolores Majia and Patricia Salinas, whose family originally hails from Mexico, spoke about how the Beatles' appeal transcends cultural boundaries. "Even if someone didn't grow up with them, they know who they are," Dolores noted. "Their music is just everywhere."
Perhaps most heartwarming was the presence of nine-year-old Michael Augustyniak, a young Beatles enthusiast who declared Paul McCartney his favorite band member and "Michelle" his favorite song. His grandfather, Daniel Hope, observed, "It doesn't matter how young or old you are – everyone knows their songs."
As we approach George Harrison's birthday on February 25th, it seems an appropriate moment to reflect on his contributions to the band. Often overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney's songwriting partnership, Harrison nonetheless created some of the Beatles' most enduring hits, including "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something."
And in a world increasingly defined by division and discord, there's something rather comforting about the Beatles' continued ability to bring together grandparents and grandchildren, to bridge cultural divides, and to remind us of a time when four lads from Liverpool changed the world – with a little help from their friends, their talents, and, apparently, one morally ambiguous dentist with access to LSD.
Until next time, dear readers, let it be.