THE BEATLES HELTER SKELTER REACTION (first heavy metal song) 

“They were AC/DC before AC/DC.” The Beatles were everybody before everybody were anybody.

There is a reason why The Beatles are regarded as the best....

This is why I chuckle when people try to call the Beatles a “ boy band”. They were a “ whatever genre they want” band

The Beatles didn't bother with "styles" as they matured. They made music, and everyone after them scrambled to keep up.

And so The Beatles are the greatest band of all time, again.

One word describes the Beatles , ‘ GENIUS’

This is one of the songs where you can actually hear the origins of heavy metal. These guys span the entire spectrum and influenced everything

From Rubber Soul to Abbey Road, every album was like a greatest hits!

The Beatles where revolutionary with their music. They changed everything. The most music nowadays is inspired by the Beatles even if the don't know it.

after six decades of music, even good ones, no one has yet surpassed the Beatles even if only for the power of the change they brought, in music and beyond

Paul has one of the great screams in Rock & Roll.

It was Ringo that had blisters on his fingers

5 years after She Loves You. Extraordinary.

As wild as this song is, they still manage to add some sweet background harmony.

She's so heavy.....and so are the Beatles.

I never expected anything in particular from the Beatles except to be different each time. That's what they did and that's why we loved them. How did I feel? It was great nothing better than hearing Paul McCartney scream his heart out

On the white album you have probably every single possible music style. You should listen to it.

"If you gave me 100 times... I would never guess the Beatles a single time" That my friend is why us people who rate the Beatles so highly, rate The Beatles so highly. They are just fire, and they subvert what you think you know every step of the way. My only regret is not being around during their evolution

This song wasn't really heard publicly for many years rightly or wrongly because it reminded everyone of the madness of Charles Manson/ The Manson Family and the Sharon Tate/ La Bianca murders in the late 60's. I remember Bono of U2 in the mid '80's beginning this song on their Rattle & Hum album saying, "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We're stealing it back!"

I'm Old enough to have heard this album when it first came out. Each song on this Double album is a departure from the other. Probably the most eclectic collection of music and styles you'll ever here from one Band. Came out near Christmas time 68" and the Pure White Album was a treat to see under any tree. My friends and I were totally blown away.

The Beatles were like "ok, we did that, what can we do next?"

The Beatles did everything that most Bands wish they could do, ,they invented and reinvented ❤

There is a good reason why The Beatles are quite rightly known as the greatest band of the century, maybe ever. They broke so many boundaries and shattered all records.

Don't forget the Beatles were musicians of a different level they could not be pegged to one style to satisfy anybody's analysis. They developed and grew with each album four geniuses working together and the result is music that will transpond time. The point that people like you that have a deeper sense of what man can achieve is still listening to it and analysing it confirm to me the eternal in the Beatles songs. I strongly feel that whatever they created they did it first and foremost to please themselves and the result is that they gave us the freedom to enjoy it as much as they did. Love them forever. 🙏❤

The Beatles did 3 takes of this, one lasting over 10 minutes, one lasting over 12 minutes and one lasting over 27 minutes! the longest ever recording by the Beatles, no wonder Ringo had blisters on his fingers!

You should listen to "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me and My Monkey"!!! It's is on the same album as Helter Skelter and it is rocking good!

It's more like something that heavy metal developed from and it also has a punk rock feeling.

I was 7 when they broke up and i remember hearing their stuff on the radio but I didnt know who it was. Fast forward to high school, freshman year, I happened to hear a Beatles song , dont remember which one , and had that "Oh, i remember this song, didnt know it was the Beatles moment". I bought the compilation album after that , the blue one with songs from 1967 to 1970 and as i listened to it , almost every song was, " I remember hearing that on the radio I love that song, didnt know it was them ". I had that revelation with almost every song. I devoured their stuff after that and a mega Beatles fan was born . They were the soundtrack to my early years without me even knowing it. I am 60 now and love them more than ever. Their music will never get old, it will be around long after we arent.

Ringo has blisters on his fingers. The whole album took several listens to try to grasp it. The album has some sweet, loving songs, and some hard rockers. It is so diverse. I know I listened to it over and over again and had favorites. But the thing is, every Beatles fan went on a journey from the first time they ever heard them until the end of Abbey Road (yes I know Let it Be came out later but it was not recorded last) and this journey basically forced the listener to mature with them or abandon them. Many left them. But when Sgt Pepper came out most came back. This song, Helter Skelter was confusing to me but eventually in time I grew to love it. And I do still. Listen to I Will from the same album. Same composer. Same voice. You can't believe it is the same person.

Saw Paul play this song in concert in 2019. 51 years later, he absolutely slayed it live.

McCartney was great because of the explosion of sounds in his songs.

They were the hearts and minds of my 60’s generation.

They did so much in only 10-11 years...insane.

They’ll surprise you when you least expect it. Want a short song? “Her Majesty” at the end of Abbey Roads B side!

Yes. Hard to imagine that this is on the same album as Blackbird. Diversity has never been so diverse ! And the Pete Townshend song was not very heavy it was I Can See For Miles

I think most Beatles fans had the same shocked reaction the first time hearing this. At least I did. I was like, "where the hell did that come from?" It just goes to show how innovative and creative they were.

The best band ever. This song is a part of history read up on Charles Manson and Helter Skelter.

51 years after they broke up, they are still blowing peoples minds! The Beatles pretty much touched on every genre as they were so talented. I love "Helter Skelter" it's so powerful. I wish Paul had sung more often with this passion. I didn't buy it until the mid 70's so it sounded great to me on first listen!

Hey Harri, All I can say is, every Beatle's song/album was a new adventure in music and entertainment!!!😀😀😀 Helter-Skelter is off the charts............

This is 4 years after All My Loving, just amazing. Its not really the first 'metal song' there were other bands like Iron Butterfly running the same groove. I will claim that Revolution ( the fast one) is the first glam rock song of all time, no doubt, Ringo hitting those floor toms with a swing and the overdriven guitars, 5 years before the Sweet, Suzi Q, Slade, Mud, T Rex made that template their go to for hit records.

I first heard this song at 13. It was a little scary, I didn't know where they were going! By then I was devoted to them already so I accepted it. I think it's flipping fantastic now. I'm 66. They are still the greatest thing in my childhood and my youth. Magic. So glad you are discovering them!

Believe it! In the White Album, they demonstrated that they could do a wide variety of genres. This was but one. When you hear Back in the USSR, you'll see how they could keep up with the Beach Boys' version of music. (In fact, it's a take off of California Girls.)

The first time I heard this song, I'd been forewarned by my older brother that it would be a cold shock. I was gobsmacked nonetheless. Still am all these decades later, really.

Paul told Ringo to play as hard as he could, so HE had blisters on his fingers.

At this point in their career, they were playing for themselves. This tune was a gamechanger. Mind blown first time hearing it

I thought they had finally lost their collective minds when I first heard it. Paul's vocal was the wow factor, and I really loved the simple triad background vocals, like sustained major chords. So incongruous.

They just did what they did. That's why I love their music.

Definitely the heaviest song The Beatles ever did. I don't think it's quite metal. But it certainly was a major influence on the metal guys like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin etc.

Another one that would be interesting to react to is “Cut Me Some Slack,” Paul McCartney doing really hard rock again 45 years later, Helter Skelter-style. He did it along with the three surviving members of Nirvana, with Paul on lead guitar, using a little square cigar box guitar. It won the 2014 Grammy for Best Rock Song. There are other heavy songs, but that’s the only one I can think of where he went even more balls to the wall than “Helter Skelter,” and he did it at age 70.

Tomorrow Never Knows, listen, do it. Shows even more of the Beatles.

Is there anything this band can’t do? That’s why they are The Beatles. Never to be duplicated!

"whatever happened to that band with all those harmonies"... hahaha, wait until you hear "Yer Blues" from this same album. That's probably the most angsty and raw sound The Beatles ever made, with extremely dark lyrics. Johns screams are insane. If you do, please listen to the 2018 remix of the white album as it sounds so much better than the old stereo mixes, much like every other Beatles remix.

That was Ringo screaming at the end of "Helter Skelter".

The original version of Helter Skelter was to be this way: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QoK3HyIL0eo.html For the Take 17 Paul decided to change the rhythm. He tried this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rhiFJ6L3sS0.html At the end of the Take you can hear Paul saying: "Keep that one. Mark it FAV" He just knew he did something never done before.

This was the White album! Like every single song off this one, it has to be listened to in context of the whole. Wait till you get to John's #9. Avandegarde...gave way to Pink Floyd! Like everything the lads put out...you don't hear a Beatles song...they have to be listened to. Love taking the journey with you...This Boy? Nowhere man....when John, couldn't write or come up with a song.. Pure harmonies magic!❤❤

Let me lay the groundwork for what I'm about to say on the Beatles &their (our) music. I'm 71, was 17-18 when this album came out! I was 14 when they broke in on American culture &started turning EVERYTHING on it's ear. Every new single or album they released was a revelation...to the WORLD. We would literally sit&wait on what they'd come up with next, bc it was ALWAYS something a little more ADVANCED! When the WHITE ALBUM (even the concept of the album cover being just a blank cover) came out, we just accepted it as another one of their revolutionary steps! We were almost always ready for it, though we would always be blown away by it. Beatles' single & album releases were ALWAYS an event! The Beatles could quite possibly be the only band in history that never had a "filler" song on ANY album they released. We aren't exaggerating when we say there aren't any bad songs on the Beatles repertoire of songs, while they were in the group! In their solo careers, that claim might not hold up!

"I want you (She's so heavy)" is another heavy hitting, big distortion tune of the Beatles you should dig into. Another precursor of hard rock/metal.

With the Beatles, you only expected to hear "Beatles music." There was never anyone else like them, and they were always making the curve rather than being just ahead of it. They could make music like other people, but no one else could make music like them. Listen to the diversity on this, the "White Album", then try and find a single category that describes them. There is but one. It's Beatles music!

As a very small child in the early 70s, this song scared the shit out of me (as well as Iron Man by Sabbath). I thought of it as nothing more than noise until the 80s when Motley Crue re-did it. Then I went back, listened to the original, and finally heard it for true. Loved it ever since.

The White Album, yeah baby! I Lovedcthis LP & this is my favorite radio. Tune

Omg, I always loved the Beatles, then and now. They were so incredible to change for the times. But never forget that Charles manson was crazy enough to think the Beatles were sending him message thru this song. I honestly don't know if today's music can change lives like the late 60 and 70 music did

I've GOT BLISTERS on my EARDRUMS! When I was about 15 and used to dance crazy, and yell my little heart out. Mimed every drum and guitar bit. My parents had just gotten divorced, and this was a great emotional release.

When the White Album first came out, I loved it, top to bottom! And Helter Skelter stood out as one of their best tracks.

It is an acquired taste, but demonstrates the breadth of their music and there are other heavy songs, their music crosses several boundaries and much of it was pioneering and certainly provided inspiration for many musicians both peers and those that followed. Brilliant group and so innovative, and lets not forget that they also had inspiration from the blues soul Motown etc before creating their own unique brand and legacy of music for us to all to enjoy and wonder at.

Not that shocked when it first came out - we'd been prepared to expect the unexpected by such tracks as Tomorrow Never Knows and A Day in the Life. Add to that the likes of Cream and Hendrix had been getting a bit heavier of late, especially playing live, so it was a logical progression. Probably can trace it back to Link Wray and Dick Dale in the 50s who started the overdrive/distortion guitar stuff.

I remember when the White Album came out, and of course listened to it all the way through. If you go back and listen to their growth over the years, from beginning to this, it wasn't an absolute complete surprise. They were growing and exploring in all different areas. Constantly pushing the boundaries. Even if McCartney hadn't talked with Pete Townsend, they were going harder and more experimental in many of their tracks. I'm not saying it wasn't a surprise, but it was more like, of course they were going to do that -- it's the Beatles. They were one of the first bands to introduce guitar distortion and feedback, backwards guitar, and other effects, well before the White Album. They continued to push the boundaries after the White Album, and into their solo careers. John Lennon had a transition with his unbelievable scream, introduced from the earliest album, to his solo albums where his scream became Primal, and unmatched. With everything the world and society transitioned through during the 60s and after, the music could not help but get harder and more intense, and meaningful.

The Beatles' White Album is out of every frame. Almost every song represents a whole genre. Helter Skelter was as you say. A shock, nobody I know really loves it, it's a proof of feasibility and will, but it's history.

You are absolutely correct that they were a huge influence on Metallica and AC/DC, as well as everybody else that would come after them. The Beatles stand with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Jimi Hendrix in their level of influence. Those beautiful melodies and sweet harmonies are still there. Even on this record you will find songs like "Martha My Dear"; "Blackbird", "Mother Nature's Son", "Savoy Truffle", "I Will", "Julia" and "Don't Pass Me By" (featuring an awesome Bluegrass fiddle part played by session bassist Jack Fallon) are all going to be more recognizable to your ears as The Beatles. On the Yellow Submarine album you've got the title track with Ringo taking a rare turn at lead vocals. Also on the Yellow Submarine record is the song "All You Need Is Love" which again speaks to your query about the softer side of the Beatles. Then there is the entire Abbey Road and Let It Be records that you can literally just pick a track and 'drop the needle' as we used to say "in the olden days" -

Not difficult to imagine Robert Plant's vocals here.

I’ve always loved this song.

This was on the same album as "Blackbird" and Revolution. " You don't come to a new Beatles album with expectations.

How's it going bud, I'm 66 now, my reaction to Helter Skelter was WOW it blew me away, like getting stuck with a knife, Birthday is another one that you would enjoy. Beatles are timeless. Rock on, bud.

The invention of metal. The Beatles invented so many thing. Another example: music videos.

When a new Beatle album was released it was an event. The running joke was let’s hear what music was going to sound like this year. We new they were evolving, so you were prepared for the unexpected. The Beatles were so popular the the most listened to rock station were I lived would reserve an hour each night and only play Beatle music.

I enjoy your comments and appreciate allowing the song to play and then provide analysis... good job

The greatest group that ever was and ever will be.

ONE of the first/earliest. Some people say Rumble by Link Wray, 1959 was the birth of Metal Music.

Well, I was 10 years old so I had no preconceived notion of what to expect, maybe that’s just youthful naïveté. We just listened and enjoyed.

Totally blown away. As I was with all the White Album. Admitted, over a two disc album, it took a while to absorb everything. But I did, at age 15, when this came out

This song was actually an experiment to see how wild they could get. The helter skelter is what we know in america as a roller coaster

"When I get to the bottom, I go back to the top of the slide." You'll never think of a child's playground the same again. Lol.

McCartney said he wanted a song as loud and dirty as possible. Manson thinks it was about him. Best show on RU-vid, right here.

For those of us who were there, we had come to expect something new. And we ate it up.

It brings me such joy watching people that think they know what the Beatles music is about and then they listen to Helter Skelter, Revolution, Back in the USSR etc....

You might enjoy "it's all too much" from yellow submarine

Another very heavy song they did was "I Want You (She's so Heavy)" from the Abbey Road album.

The Beatles laid down the foundation for most all of the subsequent sounds that followed by other bands.

This song was recorded five years, to the month, after " She Loves You. " In between, they had recorded pop, country, folk, rock, blues, ballad and psychedelia styles of music. I guess they wanted to include heavy metal in the mix, too!

don'r overlook the 45 rpm single put out from the great Revolver sessions, the great ' rain' and typical Beatle 'paperback writer'

I love that they can play and do any kind of music.

I saw him do this song live in 2019. It came up toward the end of the night and I thought....uh-oh....because Paul is not as young as he used to be, But, at age 77(!), he rocked it!!

I think we were so used to the Beatles doing something new and mind blowing, we didn't pay this much attention. The White album was a double album. There was plenty to listen to. I think it was years later before it started clicking with me. It's in my top five Beatle songs these days.

It’s not really my cup of tea but the Beatles enjoyed pushing the envelope and that’s why there’s a little something for everyone.

A lot of people credit 1964 You Really Got me by the Kinks as the first metal song. They took razer blades to the speakers to produce the distortion.

I believe you are spot on with your comment. In 1968, there was really no music like this, I remember hating this song, not understanding it at all. Only years later after becoming a musician, was I able to see the amazing diversity and vision.

It was Ringo yelling "i got blisters on my fingers!!!" anything they wanted to do, they just did it....world changing!

They did 83 takes of "Helter Skelter" and Ringo's fingers were all blistered and even bleeding some. 83 takes of THAT song! I'm so glad you did this song because it shows the Beatles' ability to go wild in the studio. "Helter Skelter" was coopted by Charles Manson (cult leader and mass murderer) out of context to mean the war he wanted to come between blacks and whites. Some people get this confused because Paul just made those words up and the song has nothing to do with the Manson Family. Have a great day, Harri. Cheers!

There is a 27 minute version of this out there by the Beatles

The first heavy metal song was probably Hey Bulldog. The Beatles recorded it for Sgt Pepper but it didn't make the cut. They ended up giving it to the producers of the Yellow Submarine movie and it came out on the soundtrack. John said he wasn't very happy with the song, but fans love it. It has one of the most amazing bass lines Paul ever recorded, and that's saying something.

Yeah, it was a shocker at first. But I grew to love it. What a banger!