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Heinonen, Yrjö (2000), "Man on a flaming pie. The dubious origin of the Beatles revisited." In: Yrjö Heinonen, Jouni Koskimäki, Seppo Niemi and Terhi Nurmesjärvi (eds.), Beatlesstudies 2. History, identity, authenticity. Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä (Department of Music, Research Reports 23), 2000, 111-146. |
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Heinonen's article presents a new theory concerning the origin of the name the Beatles. The article moves from the global cultural scene (beat movement, early rock 'n' roll) through the local scene (Liverpool, Merseybeat) to the personal experiences of the members (Lennon, Sutcliffe, and McCartney in particular) of the group. Heinonen points out problems in all existing theories concerning the naming of the Beatles and presents his own, according to which the immediate impulse for the curious name came directly from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass. Heinonen further claims that the name Beatles was chosen since it was not only spry and catchy but was — and which was probably more important — something with which they could easily identify. |
