The Beatles Song That Is Intended To Shut Up The Who

The Who, the English group capable of rivaling the Rolling Stones, inspired Paul McCartney to write “Helter Skelter” as the “nastiest, sweatiest” tune he could create, aiming to outdo the iconic rock band.

Paul wanted “Helter Skelter” to be more powerful and louder than The Who’s “I Can See for Miles.” In 1985, Paul revealed his motivation after reading a review. He said:

“The Who had made some track that was the loudest, the most raucous rock ‘n’ roll, the dirtiest thing they’d ever done.
“And we decided to do the loudest, nastiest, sweatiest rock number we could.”

Upon listening to “I Can See for Miles,” Paul was disappointed by its sophistication. “I heard their record and it was quite straight, and it was very sort of sophisticated,” he said. The track, compared to what he envisioned, seemed almost tame.

Paul’s bandmates were eager to support his vision. The “Helter Skelter” sessions were intense and drug-fueled, according to engineer Brian Gibson. The Beatles indulged in various substances during the recording process, discarding a 27-minute version before settling on the shorter, final cut. Paul’s vocal performance was raw and unrestrained, complementing the song’s chaotic energy.

John Lennon played bass and saxophone on the track, which famously ended with Ringo Starr screaming about the blisters on his fingers. George Harrison and Paul provided guitar parts that aimed to surpass The Who’s “I Can See for Miles.” “Helter Skelter” might even be considered one of the earliest heavy metal tracks ever released.

Paul’s determination to create a track that could stand up to The Who’s most intense work resulted in a song that became one of the Beatles’ most iconic tracks. The Beatles’ determination to push their musical boundaries may have paved the way for one of the first heavy metal tracks ever released.