Paul McCartney recalls the first time he and bandmates Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison got stoned, claiming it was Bob Dylan who introduced them to weed.
- Apr 25, 2021
AceShowbiz - Bob Dylan introduced The Beatles to marijuana.
The Fab Four - comprising Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late John Lennon and George Harrison - were "being good old lads" at an after-party in their New York hotel room when the "Blowin' in the Wind" hitmaker arrived and offered the drummer one of his drug-laced cigarettes.
Ringo's account of how the herbal drug affected him made the rest of the band want to try it too.
Speaking to Uncut magazine, Paul recalled, "I'm not sure whether he's very keen on me telling this, but here we go."
"It was at the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue and 59th in New York City in August 1964."
"We were in a hotel room, all being good lads having our Scotch and Coke - it was an after-party I think."
"Dylan arrived and he went into the bedroom with his roadie. Ringo went along to see what was up."
"So he finds Dylan rolling up and he has a toke. He came back in and we said, 'What was it like?' "
"So Ringo says, 'The ceiling is kind of moving down…' We all ran into the backroom going, 'Give us a bit, give us a bit!' "
"So that was the very first evening we ever got stoned."
In December 2020, Paul McCartney remembered his late bandmate John Lennon on the anniversary of his death, "A sad sad day but remembering my friend John with the great joy he brought to the world. I will always be proud and happy to have known and worked with this incredible Scouser!"