Paul McCartney Tramples Grave of Record Exec That Rejected The Beatles

Just like the swallows returning from Capistrano, Salmon swimming upstream and Bears hibernating, you can count on Paul McCartney’s yearly trampling of the grave. Every January, McCartney rides his horse through the St Gilbert church in West Hampstead toppling the headstone of the record executive that turned down The Beatles.

In January 1962, The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records. The A&R boss at Decca, Dick Rowe turned them down in what is considered one of the biggest mistakes in music industry history. Rowe decided to reject the band, selecting Brian Pool and the Tremeloes instead.

Mark My Words

The reason McCartney seeks revenge is because Rowe did not just politely pass on the band. He insisted on mocking and ridiculing the band. After The Beatles finished their audition, Rowe dropped his trousers and took a poo on the studio floor. “There” said Rowe, “That’s what I think of your group. Actually, I would sign that turd on the floor before I sign this horrible band.” Rowe then proceeded to attack McCartney by saying, “Thank the lord that your mum is dead so she doesn’t have to listen to this rubbish. Mark my word lads, you four will be digging ditches in a year. This rubbish will never catch on.”

Paul McCartney Tramples Grave of Record Exec That Rejected The Beatles

McCartney vowed revenge. “I believe that event is what drove me so hard to make The Beatles a success” said McCartney. Rowe became an object of ridicule and he tried to regain face by signing other bands to Decca. He even tried to sabotage The Beatles by starting the Paul is Dead rumor and introducing Yoko to John Lennon.

Rowe passed in 1986 and Paul has been making the yearly graveyard visit ever since. The Rowe family still continued to haunt McCartney however, as his son, ‘Little Dicky’ was involved in the deal that allowed Michael Jackson to buy The Beatles song publishing.

See You Next Year

McCartney posted a video on social media of him riding his horse, “Prickly Pete”, through the cemetery and toppling Rowe’s headstone. You can hear Sir Paul laughing maniacally as Prickly Pete takes a poo on the grave. Paul then states, “There you go Dickie, that’s what I think of you. See you next year.”