Why did The Beatles cross the road?

 

The most famous photo in the history of pop music was what artists call a 'happy accident'. 

In August 1969 completed the final recording sessions for an album provisionally entitled Everest - the name of a cigarette brand. 

With the release looming EMI management demanded a cover - fast. 

An initial discussion came up with some fabulously impractical proposals. One was to fly the band Mount Everest so that the biggest band in the world could be photographed on the biggest mountain.

But nobody wanted to fly back to India - so Ringo had a 'why don't we do it right here?' proposal. The following Friday (August 8) all four Beatles came to the (then) EMI studio for a very unusual morning photo session.

How did they keep the plan a secret?

By only telling those directly involved.

Studio staff were not informed but quickly worked out that something unusual was happening. They can be seen standing at the other entrance to the building 

Who suggested the zebra crossing?

According to photographer Ian Macmillan, Paul McCartney then came up with the visual concept of the four Beatles crossing Abbey Road outside the studio. There was a practice run through - with young EMI staffers standing in- before The Beatles arrived on the morning of Friday August 8.