Shirley Temple was the only celebrity to insist on hearing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" before giving the band permission to use her likeness on their album cover. Actress Mae West, upon learning of the Beatles’ request, said, “What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?”
Leo Gorcey, who starred in the Bowery Boys films, wanted $400 for his likeness, thus taking himself out of the mix. “John, of course, got far-out, as usual,” said Paul. “He put Hitler and Jesus [on the list]” Along with Gandhi, Hitler and Jesus were not included on the cover. “Take Gandhi out,” said one EMI executive. “We need the Indian market. If we show Gandhi standing around with Sonny Liston and Diana Dors, they’ll never forgive us in India.”

On Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 7:50:03 PM UTC-7, Bruce wrote:
> Shirley Temple was the only celebrity to insist on hearing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" before giving the band permission to use her likeness on their album cover. Actress Mae West, upon learning of the Beatles’ request, said, “What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?”
> Leo Gorcey, who starred in the Bowery Boys films, wanted $400 for his likeness, thus taking himself out of the mix. “John, of course, got far-out, as usual,” said Paul. “He put Hitler and Jesus [on the list]” Along with Gandhi, Hitler and Jesus were not included on the cover. “Take Gandhi out,” said one EMI executive. “We need the Indian market. If we show Gandhi standing around with Sonny Liston and Diana Dors, they’ll never forgive us in India.”

I'm guessing that Aleister Crowley is another of John's "far-out" choices.

A lot of heavy metal bands later took up the Crowley banner. I see nothing to admire in that heroin casualty myself.

On Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 7:50:03 PM UTC-7, Bruce wrote:
> Shirley Temple was the only celebrity to insist on hearing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" before giving the band permission to use her likeness on their album cover. Actress Mae West, upon learning of the Beatles’ request, said, “What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?”
> Leo Gorcey, who starred in the Bowery Boys films, wanted $400 for his likeness, thus taking himself out of the mix. “John, of course, got far-out, as usual,” said Paul. “He put Hitler and Jesus [on the list]” Along with Gandhi, Hitler and Jesus were not included on the cover. “Take Gandhi out,” said one EMI executive. “We need the Indian market. If we show Gandhi standing around with Sonny Liston and Diana Dors, they’ll never forgive us in India.”

I'm guessing Aleister Crowley was another of John' "far-out" choices. He was sick freak (who advocated the consumption of feces) in whom I see nothing to admire. However, lots of heavy metallists later took up the Crowley banner.

Aldous Huxley also seems like a John choice. After all, Huxley was into drugs. (Huxley's grandfather Thomas was a good friend and defender of Charles Darwin.)

There are some inspired choices on the cover, too -- Aubrey Beardsley and Poe, for example.

I wonder if it's ever been determined who among the Beatles made each choice for the Pepper cover.

On Monday, May 29, 2023 at 12:15:44 PM UTC-7, Norbert K wrote:
> On Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 7:50:03 PM UTC-7, Bruce wrote:
> > Shirley Temple was the only celebrity to insist on hearing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" before giving the band permission to use her likeness on their album cover. Actress Mae West, upon learning of the Beatles’ request, said, “What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?”
> > Leo Gorcey, who starred in the Bowery Boys films, wanted $400 for his likeness, thus taking himself out of the mix. “John, of course, got far-out, as usual,” said Paul. “He put Hitler and Jesus [on the list]” Along with Gandhi, Hitler and Jesus were not included on the cover. “Take Gandhi out,” said one EMI executive. “We need the Indian market. If we show Gandhi standing around with Sonny Liston and Diana Dors, they’ll never forgive us in India.”
> I'm guessing Aleister Crowley was another of John' "far-out" choices. He was sick freak (who advocated the consumption of feces) in whom I see nothing to admire. However, lots of heavy metallists later took up the Crowley banner.
>
> Aldous Huxley also seems like a John choice. After all, Huxley was into drugs. (Huxley's grandfather Thomas was a good friend and defender of Charles Darwin.)
>
> There are some inspired choices on the cover, too -- Aubrey Beardsley and Poe, for example.
>
> I wonder if it's ever been determined who among the Beatles made each choice for the Pepper cover.

Beardsley's incredible black ink (Japanese woodcut-inspired) drawings were an inspiration for Klaus Voorman's cover for the Beatles' Revolver.