WI: The Beatles, 1963-67

Yes, this isn't a new idea...;)

What happens to the music world in general if The Beatles break up in '67? Suppose, frex, Lennon ODs. Is there a chance one of the survivors (McCartney:eek: ) dies in a drunk driving wreck? I'm picturing Ringo joining another band in short order (Blind Faith, by another name?)

Does this help, frex, the Dave Clark Five? Or The Monkees? ( :eek: )

Or does it not matter much?
 
The Beatles made their impact in 1964 by opening the floodgates for the British Invasion. By 1967, progress to classic rock was well under way. Their absence would have done little more than make room for somebody else on the charts. Conversely, survivors could go solo early or join other groups and fill some of the gaps. The world would miss A Day in the Life, Hey Jude, Let It Be, etc.

The Monkees and Dave Clark Five saw little chart action after 1968, as they never moved into later classic rock so they would have faded as in OTL.
 
Conversely, survivors could go solo early or join other groups and fill some of the gaps. The world would miss A Day in the Life, Hey Jude, Let It Be, etc.
I'm thinking there would be some number of tribute songs if either (or both) Lennon & McCartney die. (I'd personally miss "Let it Be", which might butterfly "Let it Bleed".)

I'm also thinking this butterflies Sgt Pepper's--or is that done already? (Clearly I'm not a Beatles fan.;) )
The Monkees and Dave Clark Five saw little chart action after 1968, as they never moved into later classic rock so they would have faded as in OTL.
Give them one or two more hits than they got OTL?

More to the point, I wouldn't stop with them...

I have a suspicion this butterflies Smile, too. (Provided Brian Wilson doesn't get hit by a bus TTL.:eek: )
 
Yes, this isn't a new idea...;)

What happens to the music world in general if The Beatles break up in '67? Suppose, frex, Lennon ODs. Is there a chance one of the survivors (McCartney:eek: ) dies in a drunk driving wreck? I'm picturing Ringo joining another band in short order (Blind Faith, by another name?)

Does this help, frex, the Dave Clark Five? Or The Monkees? ( :eek: )

Or does it not matter much?

For music in general, not too much difference - The Beatles had already put the wheels in motion for many other bands to innovate beyond them. You may possibly have concept albums delayed a little due to the non-appearance of Sgt Pepper, but it's a logical development that someone would have made eventually.

For the Beatles themselves, it depends on if you're talking about a breakup with all members going their own paths or a fatal OD/Accident killing one of them.

For the former, Paul would go progressive-pop, John maybe into a proto- psychedelic punk, Ringo would get a gig somewhere, and George might link with Eric Clapton in some kinda alternate Blind Faith?

If one of the Beatles dies, that's a heavy weight for the other 3.. and addiction might creep in there as a coping mechanism.
 
For music in general, not too much difference - The Beatles had already put the wheels in motion for many other bands to innovate beyond them. You may possibly have concept albums delayed a little due to the non-appearance of Sgt Pepper, but it's a logical development that someone would have made eventually.
Logical in hindsight; at the time?
For the Beatles themselves, it depends on if you're talking about a breakup with all members going their own paths or a fatal OD/Accident killing one of them.

For the former, Paul would go progressive-pop, John maybe into a proto- psychedelic punk, Ringo would get a gig somewhere, and George might link with Eric Clapton in some kinda alternate Blind Faith?

If one of the Beatles dies, that's a heavy weight for the other 3.. and addiction might creep in there as a coping mechanism.
As said, I'm picturing an OD & at least one accidental death following on (or resulting from) the grieving, leaving two ex-Beatle survivors.

I'm picturing *Blind Faith (by another name) picking up one of them, in part for his Beatles cachet. The other? A modestly successful solo career, until R&R tastes change & he's left to oldies touring & living on royalties? Or he turns entirely to songwriting for other artists?

TBH, I imagine Ringo joining *Blind Faith, because I've a low regard for his solo songwriting talents, & I incline to saving Paul, because I liked him (& honestly don't care if George fell under a tram or something:rolleyes: ). As writer, tho, I like the meanness of Paul being the one killed.:eek: (Yeah, go dystopic.;) )

So does Clapton's "My Guitar Gently Weeps" memorialize John's death? Does a variation on "Let it Bleed"? Does some (OTL minor) artist cut a tribute that becomes a hit?
 
The Sergeant Pepper album was released in May, 1967, so the tragedy could have come later and that would be their last album.
 
(Re: Concept albums still happening, but later without Sgt Pepper)

Logical in hindsight; at the time?

Definitely at the time.

You had Frank Zappa AND Brian Wilson both experimenting with "modular recording" by late 1966. (Recording sections, then editing them into albums)

The Who had already recorded & released "A quick one" on their 1966 album - a rock "mini-opera" that ran to about 10 minutes.

Then there's The Nice (formed in the first half of 1967) introducing jazz & classical forms into rock and the Moody Blues start recording 'Days of Future Passed' in May 1967.

The trend was there, and it's quite possible that one of the above artists albums becomes the flag-bearer for album-rock instead of Sgt Pepper.
 
Definitely at the time.

You had Frank Zappa AND Brian Wilson both experimenting with "modular recording" by late 1966. (Recording sections, then editing them into albums)

The Who had already recorded & released "A quick one" on their 1966 album - a rock "mini-opera" that ran to about 10 minutes.

Then there's The Nice (formed in the first half of 1967) introducing jazz & classical forms into rock and the Moody Blues start recording 'Days of Future Passed' in May 1967.

The trend was there, and it's quite possible that one of the above artists albums becomes the flag-bearer for album-rock instead of Sgt Pepper.
I had a notion about Wilson & the Beach Bores, but not the rest. Thx.

I'd give The Moody Blues the nod, myself. (And give 'em half a dozen hits at the expense of The {defunct} Beatles.;) )
 
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