When you think back to the Beatles and re-listen to the many great albums they produced over the years in which they became the most successful band in the history of popular music, it's often John Lennon's voice which shines through the most. Lennon had something that none of the other band members quite matched - he possessed a sharpness of mind and charisma which emerged in both his musical ability and his political activism, notably his outspoken criticism of the Vietnam War which - if you believe conspiracy theorists - ultimately led to his assassination. To what extent his copious consumption of LSD had on creating this mindset of peace and love is perhaps debatable, but it's impossible to deny the influence of the psychedelics in the music, not least with songs like Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. When the Beatles weren't tripping out they were throwing back amphetamines like they were going out of fashion - all that touring can be tiring otherwise...
