On May 26, 1967 the Beatles released what some critics have called one of the most influential Rock albums of all time, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" [SPLHCB]. In order to appreciate this influence, one must bear in mind that Rock and Roll was one of the more mainstream forms of music at the time. A significant aspect of this influence upon the Rock n Roll genre [and Pop Culture in general] concerns the layers of occult symbolism and themes embedded within the album's art work, lyrics and the music itself. While this type of thing may have been done here and there previously, SPLHCB set a new standard in this area and raised the bar quite a bit higher. And for 50+ years, fans have ranged from vaguely curious to obsessive, trying to decode it all. But it wasn't until fairly recently that someone purportedly involved with the group has come forward to acknowledge and comment upon all of this out in the open. That person is William Shepherd, aka "Billy Shears" aka "Sgt. Pepper."
Although "The Memoirs of Billy Shears" was first published in 2009, very few people I have spoken with have even heard of it. Which is interesting when you consider how long it has already been out and the fact that Gregory Paul Martin, son of the "5th Beatle" Sir George Martin, wrote the forward AND recorded the audio version. Now in it's 4th printing, the 2023 version has even more footnotes packed into its 666 pages.
The sheer vastness and depth of information contained within the book should speak for itself to any inquisitive Beatles fan - but I will add to the above comment about Gregory Martin, that this book was first published on 09.09.09. Besides the obvious occult numerology contained within that date, it also happens to be the same date that the entire Beatles remastered catalog was re-issued, according to Billy and Wikipedia. You don't have to buy into ANY "Paul is Dead" conspiracies to notice the basic genius in releasing a book like this simultaneously with the re-issuing of the band's catalog. Obviously, it's going to help sell WAY more of the albums. So on the most cynical level, it could be viewed as a brilliant and highly entertaining form of advertising. But more importantly, the shared date of 09.09.09 indicates to me that the money behind the Beatles re-issue campaign is also behind the Billy Shears books - of which there are several supplementals, as well as high end websites. If this was all "not ok" with BeatleCorp, I would think they would have put a stop to the "Memoirs of Billy Shears" [TMOBS] campaign, which is clearly profiting off of the Beatles, years ago.
The idea that the Beatles Corporation would be behind the publishing of such a book raises a lot of very important questions - which TMOBS provides quite a bit of response to. It is not my intention to address all of the information contained within this dense book, but to instead focus mostly upon the album SPLHCB. For a much wider view, see the work of Mike Williams, at www.sageofquay.com.
***CAUTION***
TMOBS is certainly unique. Although it seems to self identify as a "novel," I would also classify it as a work of powerful BLACK MAGIC. Some might view a blog like this as a form of advertisement - an observation I cannot honestly discount completely. But I also don't think the insight this book provides into the inner-workings of social engineering by way of entertainment is something that can be totally ignored without consequence. An autopsy is unpleasant, but with the right approach and protective equipment, can provide vital insight into things. If one views the reading of "Memoirs" as a sort of gruesome, but necessary autopsy, perhaps one can both appreciate the caution required while also respecting the vital information yielded in the process.
[Notice Paul's likeness depicted on the left, "Revolving" OUT of the picture on the cover of the Beatle's 1966 album "Revolver." Was this an early clue anticipating Paul's "exit?"]
WHO IS BILLY SHEARS, WHO IS SGT PEPPER, AND IS PAUL DEAD?
For those new to all of this, there has been a persistent rumor going clear back to 1966 that "Paul is Dead." That is, Paul McCartney, bass player and lead singer of the Beatles. Well, how can Paul be DEAD if he continues to release music and perform as of the day I typed this out?
According to TMOBS, Paul McCartney, along with a passenger named Donna, died in either a car accident or some sort of Satanic ritualistic manner [both?] on September 11, 1966. At some point, he was either decapitated or his head was brutally smashed in some way. This was something he apparently foresaw and had repeated nightmares about [and sang, in code, about in songs such as "Eleanor Rigby," which appeared on his last album "Revolver."] Those close to him knew about it, as did the other Beatles and those around them, and others high up within the industry. A man was chosen in advance to replace him, someone with similar looks and the talent to do it convincingly. That man's name is William "Billy Shears" Shepard, a.k.a. Sgt Pepper.
It is not required for you to immediately believe the above to appreciate the information contained in this blog. But it is necessary to be basically familiar with this "myth" in order to understand what is being referred to and communicated within the various songs, statements, and quotations referred to below. And while I do quote the book extensively here [where italics are used], I won't always stick strictly to the quotes in order to communicate the basic point. This is not an easy thing to communicate, and even the book itself doesn't lay it all out in a totally linear manner. I am just one of many people attempting to interpret certain aspects of it in a manner that is perhaps a little easier to digest in one sitting. You can always go to the book yourself to verify, get it in the proper context, and form your own opinions.
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The album included costume cutouts. Sargeant's stripes, SGT Pepper drum skin badge, fake mustache. My mustache covered a plastic surgery scar. The others wore fake mustaches to see us all as equally altered.
The focal point is the drum. We…hid a date on the drum skin. Hold a mirror up to the words “lonely hearts” to indicate the date. Holding a mirror half way down those words makes it possible for the world to see how I live as Paul. (Looking through the bent back tulips) I ONE IX HE <> DIE pointing to me…with a diamond. IX = 9, I ONE = 11…Paul McCartney’s expiration date, 11 September 1966, 11-9-66 or 11-9. We left years off in casual writing then, I wanted to add the year to the drum skin but could not make it look right...Mal Evans, Peter Blake, and I worked together with the year as part of the drum clue…I ONE IX 1966…in the mirror it looked like LONELY IBEE I said, “Lonely Hearts!” We wrote it out in capital letters and could see that it resembled I ONE IX <> HE DIE. That is how I came up with the full title and decided to have me on the cover standing above the pointer. I said Joe Ephgrave (Epitaph Grave) designed the drum skin. It is a clue...Americans saw 11/9 as Nov 9, 1966. The night John met Yoko, which some saw as the death of the Beatles for those who blamed her. It was not Yoko, it was me…the absence of Paul…Drum “X” also equals “Xd out Paul.”
ALBUM ART VISUALS
If you are like me, you probably spent a lot of time staring at the album cover and artwork for SPLHCB while listening to it. As a child, I didn't know who many of the people depicted on the cover were, but there was a distinct mixture of both creepiness and nostalgia I got from it. Whether it was the dead looking wax Beatle mannequins, the haunting faces of old people I did not recognize, or just the general vibrant life gone past it depicts. And yet, it must have appeared strikingly new and fresh to those who are old enough to have purchased it when it first came out.
The Sgt Pepper cover depicts a funeral gathering with several symbolically significant characters attending to bid farewell, or welcome, to Paul McCartney. My original plan was to have all who died already on the cover...who would welcome Paul into their spirit world…to greet Paul. Then we decided to add our list of heroes.
Six weeks before Paul died, [Bob] Dylan had an accident on a motorcycle. Newspapers called it a near death experience. John insisted on including the hero who almost died.
The reason Stuart Sutcliffe [original Beatles bass player] was in the crowd and not Pete [Best, original Beatles drummer] is because Stu had already died.
Marilyn Monroe was there because she had already been murdered by then, apparently by government operatives. It was not a suicide as they claimed.
John loyally wanted Hitler there to greet Paul. “How do you know where Paul is?” John asked, meaning he could be in hell.
Draw a line from TE Lawrence [of Arabia] through my heart to the far side, you may see a hookah. Connects to Arabia. Our first choice was Ghandi from India, but we didn’t want to offend Indian fans. Same with Jesus. Look for more lines through the heart and where they lead.
["Wax" Beatles, meant to represent the "old" Beatles with original Paul, which are now "out of date"]
John’s comment in the London Evening Standard, March 1966, that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus” prompted a cardboard Jesus idea. They decided it was unwise, in light of people burning their records and such...This album overtly launched the drug revolution...The intention [with religious figures] was to make drugs/religion incompatible, so fans would have to choose one. Choosing drugs would distance them from Christianity/religion.
Gloomy wax figures made them [the Beatles] look dark, down, and out of date - especially in contrast to the bright and lively present “pallbearer” group. [the "new" Beatles with Billy] The idea for the wax Beatles was from Tweedledum's lines to Alice [from "Alice in Wonderland"] “If you think we’re wax-works, you aught to pay, you know. Wax-works weren’t made to be looked at for nothing.” Notice [wax] Paul’s head, it is small like his frame. My head is more elongated, more oval...
All wax eyes look down at the gravesite below, except John. What John looks at can be discovered by placing your square across the cover for a straight line that intersects all others crossing through my chest. Continuing that line through me, you’ll be looking at the breasts of Diana Dors, UK sex symbol.
Carl Jung’s shadow from his glasses looks like a 3rd eye. A ray from his 3rd eye through Paul’s heart points to the 3rd eye on a statue from John’s house.
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Palm above the head = sign of death. Paul-M. Off to the side is Paul-M substitute. (Wax substitute)
Centered on the bottom - see statue of Shiva, the destroyer. 2 hands pointed down to Paul’s grave. One pointing to the wax Paul, and one to me, to whom Paul’s head is figuratively affixed. Beheading that mystical boy, who bestows that new head on another. Confers the rule of that head that I wear like a crown, to the replacement Shiva destroys, enhancing me, transforms me into a mystery idol.
I am the wild card with the likeness go the ace of spades, being the substitute for Paul. Hold a ruler from Oscar wild’s head to my heart and see where it goes. It goes to the card that has gone wild on Shirley’s lap. Look through the wild card to see the wild card. Extending that line takes you to the driving glove.
Car rolling off of Shirley Temple represents the “fatal car crash” that caused the head injury, represented by the split headed doll [#1 in the image above]. Turned off tv = news black-out…Ruby slippers on the Shirley Temple doll. The red emphasizes the blood dripping down Shirley’s clothes and her bloody driving glove. Wizard of Oz allusion.
On our album cover, it singles out Paul and most unpredictably The Rolling Stones...Shirley Temple’s shirts says “welcome The Rolling Stones good guys.” Now “the good guys” were calling “the bad guys” good.
This alludes to the fact that the Beatles were originally presented as sort of "clean cut" and somewhat conservative - summed up by the "Wax Beatles" on the cover. "Good guys," if you will. Whereas the Rolling Stones were manufactured to play their opposite. The "bad guys." Billy seems to indicate that this "script" was flipped with the release of SPLHCB. Also note - "Ruby Tuesday" is the same "Stupid Bloody Tuesday" John refers to in "I am the Walrus." That is, it was on a Tuesday that he was informed of Paul's death. [Ruby = red = blood]. According to Billy, both songs refer to the same thing.
["W. C. Fields was originally chosen for the title role of the Wizard (after Ed Wynn turned it down, considering the part "too small"), but the studio ran out of patience after protracted haggling over Fields' fee." - wiki]
Dorothy enters another dimension, aided by a wizard. Paul goes to another dimension and helps us back here at home. Wizard uses false appearances to make people think he is great and powerful, when he is just another guy from Kansas. We used false appearances to seduce our audiences. If you follow the [ruby] slippers through my heart, which is the way of discerning reality on the album, the line goes through WC fields. He was the original wizard choice for the 1939 version [of "the Wizard of Oz" film].
We have Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller) looking at my butt, a joke about my role as Queen of Hearts, standing in for Paul, in the heart of that album cover...It all passes right through me, representing the departed Paul. All is centered in his heart. I am there as the Queen standing in for the king. Think of both Pauls as one. That is Paulism. I am not Paul since he is dead, but his spirit continues through me.
"Paulism" is a phrase used in TMOBS several times, and I assume it's simply a way to refer to this alternate reality - which Billy seems to be stating is the ACTUAL reality we have not been aware of or have not totally acknowledged. But I don't pretend to have that particular concept completely understood. The book presents some very abstract information, and is intentionally ENCODED on many levels.
A straight line from Burroughs crosses my heart and goes to my fingers. He wrote “Dead Fingers Talk.” Continuing that Burroughs line goes to yellow hyacinth flowers that spell "Paul?" To have you ask if he is bur-roughed in the ground below flowers made to look like his bass.
Paul’s rugby trophy looks like an “I” after the “L” forming: “Beat Lies”. Below “lies” is the word “Paul.” Spelled in yellow hyacinth: “Paul Lies” dead, and we lie to cover it up. Paul’s name is in the flowers, shaped into a 4-string bass. One of the strings is missing to symbolize the loss of “the late Paul”...We wrote PAUL in a hyacinth arrangment as Paul’s bass guitar. Paul’s band ended with him. All could read BEATLES in those flowers since it too had died.
The street that Donna appeared to be headed for was Leso. There is an “O” at the end. BEATLESo…intentional and obvious misalignment of the first word. Be AT Leso…Leso is a street in Mesocco, Switzerland. About 666 miles south-east of London. Leso is Italian for “Injured.”
I looked Leso street up online, and it does appear to exist in Mesocco, Switzerland. Exactly how far it is from London, I did not attempt to calculate.
We don't find out much about Donna, the lady who supposedly died in the car with Paul on 9.11.66. She is made out to be a fan in some scenarios, and someone simply needing a ride in others. Although TMOBS makes it clear that Paul's head was badly bashed, or altogether removed - the exact manner in which he died seems to be buried within somewhat of a riddle.
Shirley Temple's bloody "driving glove" referenced earlier is a clue I am not sure what to make of - but seems to connect her more specifically to the alleged car crash.
[That's] Billy’s back, not Paul’s on the back of the album...On Sgt Pepper I stand with my back to the audience because I am the conductor...We were the first [band] to provide lyrics on the cover.
When I said [publicly] “OPD” is “Ontario Police Dept” that was as honest as I could be without revealing the true meaning. Investigators discovered there is no such dept, it encouraged the conspiracy buffs while it could point to something which was correct generally. From “A” police dept. We conspicuously displayed the patch to the side. The police explanation also worked because of the “Sargeant” title. We intentionally bent the OPP patch to make the final P look like a D. A mechanic from the garage of the Ontario Provincial Police gave the patch to John after a Toronto concert, 17 August…My uniform has an “OPD” patch. [officially pronounced dead] Omitting P and D from Shepard leaves Shear. 20 years before SPLHCB was released, another Billy Shears is said to have passed away [the year Crowley died] but promised to return in 20 years. IF he died, he must have risen. Although I am the Billy Shears from SPLHCB, it doesn’t mean I am the only one in the music world. [Crowley dies at 72. 7 + 2 = 9)
Billy makes it obvious that he is knee deep into the occult and numerology, allocating the number "9" to himself often. He also speaks quite a bit about Aleister Crowley and hints that there is some sort of relation between "the Master Therion" and himself. When I said I believe TMOBS to be a work of Black Magic, I was serious.
CLICK HERE for part 2.
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