Could this be the end of Abbey Road?
TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: A place of pilgrimage for many, many Beatles fans could be in jeopardy. The Abbey Road Studios, where the group recorded most of their hits — and where they crossed a certain sidewalk — might be sold and re-developed. Paul McCartney is hoping the site can saved. Marketplace’s Stephen Beard reports from London.
Stephen Beard: The Beatles were going to name their last album Everest, but they couldn’t be bothered to go on a photoshoot to the Himalayas. So they popped outside the studio, had themselves photographed in the crosswalk, put that on the album cover and called it Abbey Road instead.
Thirty years later, the future of the studio is in doubt. The private equity firm that bought the record company that owns it is in trouble and reportedly ready to sell.
Paul McCartney told the BBC he’s hopeful the studios can be kept going:
Paul McCartney: But I do know that there are a few people that have been associated with the studio for a long time who were talking about mounting some bid to save it. And I hope they can do something, it’d be great.
Not everyone is rooting for the survival of this pop music shrine. Local drivers complain about the constant traffic jams as Beatle fans from around the world come to pose in the middle of Abbey Road.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
