Abbey Road rehearsal
 |
| The Abbey Road zebra crossing. |
Extract from the new ebook by Kevin Harrington, “Who’s The Redhead On The Roof….?”
“Towards the end of the recording sessions I was asked, along with Steve Brendell, to meet on a Sunday morning at EMI Studios. Iain Macmillan, the photographer, wanted to take a few shots of four people walking across the zebra crossing outside the studio on Abbey Road to show the boys what the album cover idea would look like. To make up the foursome, two studio porters were drafted in as well. I know a photo exists of the four of us but I am not in a position to publish it.”
“Iain then proceeded to show the boys the photo for the forthcoming album cover and a week later the iconic album cover picture was taken. This time Ian brought a step ladder with him, and fortunately a policeman happened to pass by on his beat and kindly stopped what little traffic there was on this early Sunday morning a couple of times whilst the boys crossed the road. It was all over in 30 minutes or so.”
Kevin’s story has been incorporated into our main story about the Abbey Road photo session.
Kevin Harrington started out as an office boy for NEMS in 1966, went on to work for Tony Bramwell at Saville Theatre, and then became an assistant of The Beatles at Apple and at the recording sessions from the White album (singing along on “Bungalow Bill“) through Abbey Road and beyond. He has written an account of his days with the Beatles and through George Harrison‘s “All Things Must Pass” sessions. His ebook is a light and entertaining read from someone who was there at the time. It’s available from Amazon UK and Amazon (US) now.
 |
| Here he is, holding up the lyric sheet for John to sing, Kevin was also the one
pushing the piano with Mal at the very start of the “Let It Be” film. |
The story doesn't tally. As everybody knows, the Abbey Road cover shoot took place on August 8th, 1969, a Friday…
Kevin Harrington wrote his ebook from memory, and the facts weren't checked by him or anyone else before publication. He also misspelt Iain Macmillan as Ian McMillan and placed the Abbey Road recording sessions too early in 1969. This is due to the tricks your memory plays on you and not due to a fabricated story.
True, Roger. When I was a child I saw both the Help! and Let It Be films. Both were on BBC TV around Xmas 1979, and for years I could have sworn I saw Ringo in a red jacket playing his drums in the middle of a a field. Of course Ringo wore a red coat during the windy rooftop gig. While he played his kit on Sailsbury Plain during Help! It was a bit of both films mixed together to make memory. That's how it happens sometimes…
Cas if you read it again, Kevin is talking about the set up shots that were shoot for the boys to look at on a sunday, before the friday actual shoot
Kevin showed me the photo the other day! He is telling the truth :>)