Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

O.K. This is taking things TOO far!!! This is getting a little ridiculous!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003030798,00.html

GEEEZ!

"The more things change the more they remain the same." While the Rolling Stones are still rock'n and smoking on stage (in non smoking halls) photos of the The Beatles are being altered to make them PC.

So would someone be of the opinion, then, that the cancer stick in Macca's hand was somehow an "integral part" of the pic, part of the overall "artistic vision," and should therefore remain?

As a photographer, I'd probably not have considered removing the offending cigarette after the fact, but would most likely have requested that it be discarded before taking the shot in the first place, as at best, it only serves as a distracting element in the original shot.

But would anybody care to dispute the opinion that, considering G Harrison's death from cancer, Linda McCartney's death from cancer, and after taking one hard look at Keef and Ronnie, that avoiding "glamorizing" smoking *might* not be such a bad idea? (though, obviously, smoking is of course coolandhipandsmartandsexy...) Had the smoke been in Harrison's hand rather than Macca's, would it then have been more acceptable to remove it, considering what smoking did to him...?

"As a photographer", you would have been fired on the spot....especially in those days.
Let's not have any non-smoking zelot type talk on here. Messing up the picture was bad enough.

Messing up the picture? So the cigarette was an IMPORTANT aspect of the shot to you? Wow.

I'm not a zealot; just a pragmatist. I hate to see people die needlessly, and can't think of a single good reason to glamorize the cause. And "zealot" has an "a" in it.

This isn't about "glamorizing" smoking so much as it's about changing one of the most recognizable and famous photos of our times because Paul had a cigarette in his hand at the time!
It's history! LEAVE IT ALONE!!!

Tim....well said and thank you for not missppelling any words.

Wasn't that album originaly going to be called "Everest". The inspiration coming from the brand of cigarettes the Beatles smoked?

Plus I always thought the cigarette was part of the "clues" in the "Paul is dead" rumour, supposedly pointing to the ground, thus meaning Paul was buried.

Kinda ironic all of this.

I almost forgot, what about the marijuana plants on the Sgt. Pepper album? Are they next?

I am not endorsing pot or cigarette smoking, mind you. These two photos of the most widely copied album covers in history, serve as a historical reference to the times in which they were photographed. Attitudes were different to smoking (tobacco & pot) when these photos were taken.

"Sanitizing" the picture only serves to deface a work of art that represents this historical perspective. "Sanitizing" also further blurs the unfortunate reality that results from the sustained use of these substances, especially in the tragic example of Mr. Harrison.

My appeal is to leave the the photo untouched for these reasons:

One: It does not deface this particularly great work of art & lead to the sanitizing of other album covers deemed offensive. I shutter (no pun intended) to think which Beatles album might be next.

Two: We can fully conclude that a habit once considered glamourous & acceptable, has tragic consequences years later. Thus this album photo, left in original state, is a greater testimony against smoking then any PC "sanitization" could ever be.

Hope this clears the air (no pun intended).


O.K. maybee I did intend that last pun

The presence of a cigarette in the Abbey Road photo simply reflects "A Day In The Life" of The Beatles. I'm with Tim on this one. This photo is of historical significance and by altering it we are rewriting history. Years from now people will be debating whether something was taken from one photo or cleverly added to another. This time was what it was. I feel that there is more to be gained from a study of what "was" as opposed to a consideration of what "might have been." It will be interesting to see what develops.