On Sunday, July 28, 1968, The Beatles embarked on a photographic journey across London. The band needed new publicity shots as they were deep into recording their self-titled double album, which would become known as “The White Album.” The task fell to Don McCullin, a photographer known for his stark images of war zones. The day-long shoot that followed, later nicknamed the “Mad Day Out,” took the group to a series of varied and everyday locations, resulting in some of their most candid photographs.
A Journey Across London
The day began at Thomson House on Gray’s Inn Road, the headquarters of The Sunday Times. From there, the group traveled to several distinct London locales. Their itinerary included a stop at the Old Street roundabout, where the four men posed for pictures amidst the flowing traffic, surprising taxi drivers and pedestrians.
Another key location was Cable Street in London’s East End. McCullin, familiar with the area, thought the docklands environment would resonate with the band’s Liverpool roots. They were photographed against the gritty brick walls and urban landscape of Whitechapel. The tour also included a visit to Limehouse, where they posed near the Georgian houses once home to sea captains.
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A notable stop was St Pancras Old Church and Gardens. Here, the band was photographed among the gravestones and in the church itself. They playfully lay down in a flowerbed and clambered onto a monument, with McCullin capturing their relaxed and informal interactions.
Interactions and Improvisation
Throughout the day, the sessions were marked by a sense of spontaneity. In one East End location, the band encountered a community hall where they posed with a parrot. The photographs from this stop show them engaging with the bird, adding a touch of the absurd to the day’s collection of images.
The final location was Paul McCartney’s home in St. John’s Wood. The group was photographed in his living room and in his garden. One of the most unique settings was beneath the geodesic dome that topped part of his house. The images from this location have a futuristic, almost otherworldly quality, contrasting with the urban grit of the earlier shots.
The Look of the Day
The clothing worn by the band members during the shoot reflected both the era’s style and their individual personalities. Paul McCartney wore a sharp, dark green three-piece suit. George Harrison opted for a more bohemian look with a frilled, patterned shirt and a red floral-patterned jacket. John Lennon wore a black coat and a simple t-shirt, while Ringo Starr was dressed in a pinstriped blazer and a white shirt. Their outfits changed slightly throughout the day but maintained these distinct personal styles across the different settings. The photographs captured The Beatles not on a stage, but interacting with the real city of London.
