#28may1968

50 Years Since The Esher Demos? 

On 28th May 1968, artist and Beatle fan Michael Herring had an amazing day. 

This story has passed into something of Beatles legend (with some well known discrepancies and disputes over the truth of the account) but what could be likely is that Michael Herring witnessed the recording of the Beatles’ Esher Demos - the demo sessions conducted at George’s Kinfauns home which later became The White Album. On that day 2 records were made - a good quality one (which was used for the Beatles Anthology Esher demo tracks, but I believe is otherwise unreleased) and a poorer quality recording, which I think was on John’s portable recorder and forms the basis of the widely available bootleg. 

On 28th May, 1968 Michael Herring rolled right up to John’s front door: 

John opened the door and said exactly these words: “Well then, what’s it about?”,’ he recalled.

Mr Herring said he won Lennon over by joking: ‘John, I wish you could be me so that you know what it feels like to meet you.’ He was promptly invited in for breakfast.

Mr Herring sat down to eat with the singer and Yoko Ono – who ‘never spoke a word and was just mumbling into a cassette recorder’ – and then his luck got even better.

Impressed with Mr Herring’s knowledge of Yoko’s artwork, Lennon invited him to the band’s rehearsals for the White Album, which would be released later that year.

The top two photos here at taken by Michael Herring in the back of John’s car as they drove over to George’s home, Kinfauns. Michael Herring says when they arrived George was sitting on the lawn, playing guitar. 

‘George looked up and said, “Who’s this, then?”’ Mr Herring, 67, recalled. ‘John said, “This is Michael. He’s an artist. I found him in me garden.” 

Michael Herring spent the day at Kinfauns with the Beatles, later meeting Ringo as well and getting their autographs. 

There is an addendum to this story where Michael Herring claimed to have witnessed a letter from Paul being delivered announcing he’d quit the band, c/o “The Eastmans”. This of course can’t be true as Paul didn’t quit in 1968 and his association with Lee Eastman (Linda’s father) wouldn’t happen until later in 1968 at the earliest - he’d only just met Linda. 

Nonetheless, Michael Herring may have witnessed the legendary Kinfauns (Esher) demos being recorded, at least in part. The Beatles must have still been on their India kick, as he said no drugs or alcohol were consumed. The Beatles played and rehearsed all day, only taking a break to eat a veggie curry. 

The symbol under John’s signature, by the way, is the Hindu & Buddhist symbol for well being. Something he’d brought back from India possibly.