Paul McCartney has recalled the time John Lennon tried to convince him to drill a hole in his skull as part of a practice called trepanning.
The act dates back to at least 6500 BC and was done for many reasons, including letting out evil spirits, treating health problems such as migraines and mental health issues, and releasing pressure from the brain.
According to the Beatles star, Lennon had become interested in trepanning in the ’60s. “John was a kooky cat,” he told GQ. “We’d all read about it. The ‘ancient art of trepanning’, which lent a little bit of validity to it because ancient must be good.”
He explained: “All you’d have to do is just bore a little hole in your skull and it lets the pressure off – well, that sounds very sensible. ‘But look, John, you try it and let me know how it goes.'”
Asked if Lennon had really suggested they drill holes in their skulls, McCartney replied: “Yeah, but this is the good thing about John and I – I’d say no. And he knew me well enough that if I said no, I meant no and I’m not frightened of being uncool to say no.
“And I wouldn’t go so far as to say, ‘You’re fucking crazy,’ because I didn’t need to say that. But, no, I’m not gonna trepan, thank you very much. It’s just not something I would like to do.”
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The interviewer then asked if Lennon would have done it if McCartney had gone along with his suggestion. “Who knows?” the bassist replied. “I don’t think so. I don’t think he was really serious. He did say it, but he said all sorts of shit.”
McCartney also discussed group masturbation sessions that he and Lennon took part in and whether the rest of the Beatles had watched George Harrison lose his virginity.
Meanwhile, the 76-year-old musician released a video for his new single ‘Fuh You’, which features on his latest solo album, ‘Egypt Station’.