Episode 18 – Beatles ’68 pt2

It was a long road to Rishikesh, but in the spring of 1968 The Beatles had finally arrived. Eager for a much-needed holiday and in search of spiritual regeneration, they found themselves in India on the foothills of the Himalayas with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for an extended seminar in transcendental meditation ("TM"). TM was an effective alternative to the abuse of drugs and alcohol, and enthusiasm for it was shared by fellow members of the pop elite such as singer/songwriter Donovan, Mike Love of the Beach Boys and actress Mia Farrow (along with her sister, Prudence) who joined the boys on their trip. For the musicians in the camp, hundreds of songs were written over their respective stays, all the while sharing stories, verses, inspiration and encouragement with one another. Techniques such as Donovan's finger-picking guitar style were a revelation, and the songs written during this period would seed their way into countless recordings for years to come. It's only natural for a trip like this to bring people closer together, and it would for a time...but the quest for inner peace would also bring about an introspective transformation in each of its disciples. The John, Paul, George and Ringo that went to India were not the John, Paul, George and Ringo that returned, and in learning about themselves by looking inward, the four boys who had been so close for so long had begun to truly grow up, and to grow apart...