Why Ringo Starr Named His 'Sgt. Pepper's' Character 'Billy Shears'
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most experimental album by The Beatles. It was so different from their previous albums that The Beatles weren’t even the same people. They all took on the persona of a fake band led by Sgt. Pepper, with Ringo Starr adopting the name “Billy Shears.” However, Billy Shears has a connection to The Beatles that led to many fan conspiracy theories.
One of the most famous music conspiracy theories ever is the “Paul is Dead” theory. The conspiracy suggests that Paul McCartney died in a car accident in 1966 and The Beatles had replaced him with a look alike. The cover of Abbey Road contains multiple “clues” that supposedly confirm Paul’s death.
One essential part of this theory is who replaced McCartney. The theory suggests manager Brian Epstein held a competition for a Paul look alike. After Paul was killed, Epstein paid the police and journalists to keep things under wraps while introducing the new McCartney, William Campbell Shears, a.k.a Billy Shears.
Source: Ross Tanenbaum/cheatsheet.com
