The Band Everybody Thought Was The Beatles: Klaatu

_____________________________________________________________

Almost everybody has heard of the “Beatlemania” phenomenon, but when The Beatles disbanded in 1970 fans were desperate for more Beatles content. So much so, that in 1976 a psychedelic rock band named Klaatu was accused of being the fab four in disguise.

______________________________________________________________

Part I: Who was Klaatu?

Klaatu was a Canadian rock trio formed in 1973 by John Woloschuk, Dee Long, and Terry Draper. The band’s anonymous 1976 release “3:47 EST” was controversial due to listeners believing the album was The Beatles undercover. Klaatu then earned the nickname “Canadian Beatles.” The accusations by journalist Steve Smith happened to be Klaatu’s rise and fall of fame because after they achieved fame or stardom, they unveiled their anonymity and disbanded. Many people believed this theory due to similarities musically and lyrically.

Part II: Who were The Beatles?

The Beatles were a rock band formed in 1960 by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The band gained worldwide fame in 1964 after their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. You’ve probably heard some of their songs before, “Let It Be,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Come Together” are just a few among many of their chart-topping hits.

Part III: Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft and Sub-Rosa Subway

Released by Klaatu, the song “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” was the one songs Beatles fans focused on when trying to prove their argument. The introduction to this song is the sound of crickets, then the sound of something crushing sticks as it walks closer to the microphone. Nature sounds continue as a mellotron begins to play a chord. The mellotron was also used in the introduction to The Beatles’ 1967 release “Strawberry Fields Forever.” A French horn plays a melody behind the vocals. The French horn was also the first orchestral instrument to get a solo in The Beatles’ discography. A drumbeat that sounds like those of Ringo Starr drumbeat enters the mix, but this might not have anything to do with the theory since Ringo revolutionized rock drumming. The lyric “please interstellar policeman” reminds me of “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles in 1967. In that song, John Lennon sings “Mister City policeman sitting Pretty little policemen in a row.” Klaatu could have been referencing The Beatles here with “policemen.” Overall, this song sounds very inspired by The Beatles’ psychedelic phase in 1967.

Another Klaatu song also released on “3:47 EST” was “Sub-Rosa Subway.” This song was another one Beatlemaniacs turned to when proving their claim that Klaatu was The Beatles in disguise. The song reminds me of the Beatles’ song “Eleanor Rigby.” In Klaatu’s song “Alfred Beach worked secretly Risking all to ride a dream.” In The Beatles’ song “Lives in a dream... Father McKenzie... Look at him working.” When Klaatu speaks of dreams, a person’s name, and said person is working, you instantly remember the song from The Beatles that came a decade prior. An incredible overdriven rhythm guitar comes in and plays chords in between the horn section’s parts. Mostly, this song is more reminiscent of The Beatles’ 1966 album “Revolver” than the two psychedelic albums from 1967. This is because The Beatles used much more electric guitar in 1966 than in 1967.

Part IV: Conclusion

Despite all the rumors, it is confirmed that Klaatu was never The Beatles in disguise. Klaatu never wanted to be The Beatles, the band simply wanted to make their own music. So, are we supposed to hate Klaatu for copying The Beatles or should we appreciate their music and treat it as if the theory never existed?