Beatlefic: Devil in a Cab pt 1
While having dinner with Dr John Riley and his wife, John, George and their wives find themselves dosed on LSD. DISCLAIMER: I have no idea what John felt about LSD, that night or what happened. This is a story that I wanted to write for 30 years and didn't. Why? Because Cynthia told it so well in earlier versions of A Twist of Lennon. I loved it so much I committed it to memory. The sugar cubes lined up. The dialogue. "What's he want? Perhaps he's trying for an orgy." Then, I bought my own version of the book and discovered that the LSD saga is omitted. Not just the tale of their dentist dosing them, but an incident at a party at Brian's as well. It's a shame since Cynthia told both stories so well. So I decided it was my part to rewrite them, putting in as much of Cynthia's words as I can remember. It's odd too that such a thing would be omitted since her line, "It was like the devil was following us in a cab," was cut from this printing yet quoted in so many books on Beatles history. I dedicate this story to her. It may not be something she wants to remember, but it changed a lot of our lives.
Devil in a Cab
Why did we go to dinner with our dentist that night? I know a lot of people who heard our story probably asked that but he was a really cool cat at the time, or at least we thought so. He knew so much more then any of us did on what was going around cool hip swinging London. Besides, being a dentist, he sort of knew more about the best drugs then anyone else we knew. That much has been confirmed by History I guess.
I used to love the funny type of Valium he always gave me when I'd go to him for dental work. God, that stuff made me feel good. For a few hours, all my inner pain was just melted away. I'd be driven home smiling so much my face hurt. I used to hate going to the dentist before I met Dr Riley. Cynthia used to have to bribe me with a present to get me to go. She's laugh and say I was just like a little boy but I really didn't like it one bit. Or hospitals. I understand that they're necessary but I still don't like being inside of one unless I had to.
Then I met John Riley and he was so hip and cool, knowing what was happening before anyone else did it seemed plus he had access to all those nifty drugs and like I said about the Valium, let me sample some. He was very fascinating and engaged all of us in that fascination.
Which is why we accepted his invitation to have dinner with him and his wife one evening. George and I often went to dinner with various people we knew around London only we weren't totally stupid. We had an escape route planned. There was this show happening later at a London club that we wanted to make so no matter how crazy this guy and his wife turned out, we were planning on leaving anyway. It was a common tactic we employed. I mean what could go wrong?
The only crazy thing at first was Cynthia noticing four sugar cubes lined up neatly on the mantelpiece. That did seem a little odd but it also seemed innocuous. “Who would bother doing such a thing and why?” She whispered at one point but I didn't have any answers for her. The rest of his house was pretty typically modern for its day just as we expected it to be. I knew he was a man of style and seeing his house proved I was correct in my assessment.
There was nothing extraordinary about dinner. I know we had wine during and joints before. That was all pretty typical and exactly what we wanted out of the evening. Conversation was lively. I remember insights on what direction London was heading and society at large opening up was the main point and some lovely ideas for me to ponder were discussed at length. Those changes being reflected in music and business were also contemplated. But all that was happening so much at the time with everyone we knew. Some were just more into it then others. But every one of us could sense big changes on the horizon not just for us but for the world.
Sometimes I wonder if that feeling was because the cells in my body knew what was about to happen and I was feeling their anticipation. Other times I wonder if it was some latent psychic ability I can't say I really had. I just felt like I was in front of a doorway that was about to be open. I can't explain it. It was like this sense that the entire city had and I was picking up on it. Or maybe it was just the wine and pot. Both were pretty good.
All I can say for sure is that I was feeling pretty good through most of it in the beginning of that night. Nothing was going on to indicate I should be feeling otherwise. Then came the coffee. There is nothing strange about having coffee to finish a meal. I did take note that his wife took care placing those four sugar cubes in each of our cups. I tried to give Cynthia a look but she was busy talking with Pattie. Not that I felt anything sinister. I just wanted to sort of say to her, “See? That's what they're
for. To sweeten our coffee.” I really didn't think anything more was going on other then that.
For some reason, Pattie didn't want to finish with hers. I'm not sure why. She probably was full as we all sort of were having just eaten but John's wife was really insistent on her having every bit that was in that cup. She kept on saying to Pattie things like, “Go on, luv. Finish it. Every drop. Go on now,” Which was a bit odd. Most people don't care if you leave some coffee behind after all.
Once the cups were emptied we all sat around the table still talking and everything, empty cups down on saucers with brown rings at their bottoms. I don't know exactly how long we sat there but suddenly George reminded me that we had planned on being somewhere else at a certain time and wasn't it getting to be just that point where we had to be leaving?
I had looked at my watch and by George, he was right. It was time we needed to be saying our goodbyes and be off. I said something as of such and pushed my chair back from the table to give a signal to the ladies that we'd all be shoving off in a moment.
That's when things got weird.
We guys anywhere were standing up, pushing our chairs back into the table and saying our goodbyes, telling our hosts that it was a lovely evening but we had to be going as we wanted to see a certain someone perform at a club and we didn't want to miss it or be late etc etc. The women took our cue and began to finish up their conversations and stand as well spouting out all the conventional pleasantries one was required to say about it being a lovely evening and we must do this again sometime with us returning the favor to you and all that. I cook myself a lovely roast. You must try some one day and all that rubbish. Our wives were trained pretty well in social graces.
Rather then return the pleasantries as expected even with an encouragement for one more cup of coffee, glass of wine with all the smiles of good manners, both our hosts looked rather alarmed and that was when I began to feel concerned.
“You can't go,” Dr Riley said to me. “Rather you mustn't leave.”
His wife was actually trying to get Pattie and Cynthia to sit back down by pulling their chairs back out for them. “You need to stay put for what's going to happen,” She said or something to that effect.
Now, George and I were plenty acquainted with this type of madness. People who get a bit of contact with us and don't want to let it leave. Sometimes you can spot them right away and know not to give them much, but other times it can surprise me when seemingly normal or cool people turn into a rabid Beatlemaniac right in front of our eyes. I thought this might have been the case for a moment. George and I both learned that the best way to deal with this was to make a hasty retreat as quickly as possible.
“No, we need to go,” George said softly but firmly as he made moves to step away from the table. I've heard him use the same tone when stopped by reporters with cameras while entering buildings which is when they usually catch us. “We're expected elsewhere.” That was always the classic excuse and in this case it was true.
That was when Riley confessed, “You've just been given a dose of LSD 25. If you stay here, you'll be safe but if you leave, anything can happen.”
I locked eyes with George for a moment and I could tell we both were thinking the same thing. The guy had just given us an aphrodisiac and wanted us to stay so he could have an orgy or get something going. We both have had this happen any number of times. We've been slipped mickeys in our drinks at dinner parties and clubs and told that any moment we'd feel the effects. None of us liked when this happened. It was a form of rape in my mind and usually I just got a headache or passed out.
Sometimes I'd end up with some bloke or his babe hanging on me, hand on knee under the table, trying to work it higher and all that hoping their little pill would turn me into a raging maniac filled with lust for them.
To be honest, though we had heard of LSD 25 and at that time it was still even legal as a medication, we didn't think it was any different from pot, those pills we liked so much or the mickeys slipped into our drinks to make us horny. I just figured I wouldn't be able to drink all that much at the club since pills and booze often didn't work well together. We just didn't know it was any different from those things and we had years of experience with those type of drugs already.
I just knew I wasn't going to stay and was determined to leave now. I didn't want to know any orgy or anything with this man or his wife.
Cynthia looked frightened. She really didn't like drugs much and never did. She only tolerated them for my sake because she saw how they were needed due to the demands of my schedule at the time and how I needed to unwind when I finally came home.
“What does he mean? What's going to happen?” She wanted to know. So I told her flat out. I wasn't going to sugar coat it and I let my voice snarl.
“Maybe he wants an orgy. I've heard this stuff was an aphrodisiac. Let's go.” I know my words upset her but in I had to tell her the truth. She looked stricken. That's when I actually flung myself aside while announcing, “We're leaving,” and made my way towards the door grabbing Cyn by the arm with George and Pattie in tow behind me. I think the others were grateful I made such a bold move.
Dr Riley tried to block our way. “No. You must stay here while the drug takes effect. You have no idea of the danger you'd be putting yourself in should you leave here right now. Please, you need to stay. Just until you understand what is happening to you.”
My rage was at an all time high. I was feeling so violated by this man and stupid that I hadn't spotted him as this type to do something like this and angry at my self for not having spotted it before. “We don't want to know you,” I said or something like that. I can't really recall but George chimed in and he was still being very soft spoken and that was a God-send at that moment. I heard his gentle voice yet still quite firm croon, “No. We're going. You can't make us stay here any longer. We are expected elsewhere.”
Dr Riley tried once more to stay with us. “How about I drive you all in my car. You can leave your car here and then I can bring you all back safely? How does that sound to you?”
George was adamant as were the rest of us on not wanting to spend another moment of time with this man. “No, we're going in our own car. Good bye.” There was so much conveyed in that good bye though the inflection in George's voice dipped only a little. One could tell he was extremely irritated yet trying to maintain control of the situation as much as he could.
That car seemed tight and small to us all of a sudden as we all piled into it and George started the engine and began to pull away. What alarmed us was our former dentist friend actually began to follow us in his vehicle. We all saw him coming down his driveway behind us and that was when we really began to get a bit scared. We figured we'd lose him en route somewhere as George could be a speed demon on the road when he wanted to be but then John Riley did know where we were planning on going since we had told him. It didn't matter if he lost us or not on the road then, did it? And we all began to feel a little panic that no one wanted to voice or show. What was this guy up to and what was he after? Only the scariest and craziest type of people followed us like that.
Devil in a Cab
Why did we go to dinner with our dentist that night? I know a lot of people who heard our story probably asked that but he was a really cool cat at the time, or at least we thought so. He knew so much more then any of us did on what was going around cool hip swinging London. Besides, being a dentist, he sort of knew more about the best drugs then anyone else we knew. That much has been confirmed by History I guess.
I used to love the funny type of Valium he always gave me when I'd go to him for dental work. God, that stuff made me feel good. For a few hours, all my inner pain was just melted away. I'd be driven home smiling so much my face hurt. I used to hate going to the dentist before I met Dr Riley. Cynthia used to have to bribe me with a present to get me to go. She's laugh and say I was just like a little boy but I really didn't like it one bit. Or hospitals. I understand that they're necessary but I still don't like being inside of one unless I had to.
Then I met John Riley and he was so hip and cool, knowing what was happening before anyone else did it seemed plus he had access to all those nifty drugs and like I said about the Valium, let me sample some. He was very fascinating and engaged all of us in that fascination.
Which is why we accepted his invitation to have dinner with him and his wife one evening. George and I often went to dinner with various people we knew around London only we weren't totally stupid. We had an escape route planned. There was this show happening later at a London club that we wanted to make so no matter how crazy this guy and his wife turned out, we were planning on leaving anyway. It was a common tactic we employed. I mean what could go wrong?
The only crazy thing at first was Cynthia noticing four sugar cubes lined up neatly on the mantelpiece. That did seem a little odd but it also seemed innocuous. “Who would bother doing such a thing and why?” She whispered at one point but I didn't have any answers for her. The rest of his house was pretty typically modern for its day just as we expected it to be. I knew he was a man of style and seeing his house proved I was correct in my assessment.
There was nothing extraordinary about dinner. I know we had wine during and joints before. That was all pretty typical and exactly what we wanted out of the evening. Conversation was lively. I remember insights on what direction London was heading and society at large opening up was the main point and some lovely ideas for me to ponder were discussed at length. Those changes being reflected in music and business were also contemplated. But all that was happening so much at the time with everyone we knew. Some were just more into it then others. But every one of us could sense big changes on the horizon not just for us but for the world.
Sometimes I wonder if that feeling was because the cells in my body knew what was about to happen and I was feeling their anticipation. Other times I wonder if it was some latent psychic ability I can't say I really had. I just felt like I was in front of a doorway that was about to be open. I can't explain it. It was like this sense that the entire city had and I was picking up on it. Or maybe it was just the wine and pot. Both were pretty good.
All I can say for sure is that I was feeling pretty good through most of it in the beginning of that night. Nothing was going on to indicate I should be feeling otherwise. Then came the coffee. There is nothing strange about having coffee to finish a meal. I did take note that his wife took care placing those four sugar cubes in each of our cups. I tried to give Cynthia a look but she was busy talking with Pattie. Not that I felt anything sinister. I just wanted to sort of say to her, “See? That's what they're
for. To sweeten our coffee.” I really didn't think anything more was going on other then that.
For some reason, Pattie didn't want to finish with hers. I'm not sure why. She probably was full as we all sort of were having just eaten but John's wife was really insistent on her having every bit that was in that cup. She kept on saying to Pattie things like, “Go on, luv. Finish it. Every drop. Go on now,” Which was a bit odd. Most people don't care if you leave some coffee behind after all.
Once the cups were emptied we all sat around the table still talking and everything, empty cups down on saucers with brown rings at their bottoms. I don't know exactly how long we sat there but suddenly George reminded me that we had planned on being somewhere else at a certain time and wasn't it getting to be just that point where we had to be leaving?
I had looked at my watch and by George, he was right. It was time we needed to be saying our goodbyes and be off. I said something as of such and pushed my chair back from the table to give a signal to the ladies that we'd all be shoving off in a moment.
That's when things got weird.
We guys anywhere were standing up, pushing our chairs back into the table and saying our goodbyes, telling our hosts that it was a lovely evening but we had to be going as we wanted to see a certain someone perform at a club and we didn't want to miss it or be late etc etc. The women took our cue and began to finish up their conversations and stand as well spouting out all the conventional pleasantries one was required to say about it being a lovely evening and we must do this again sometime with us returning the favor to you and all that. I cook myself a lovely roast. You must try some one day and all that rubbish. Our wives were trained pretty well in social graces.
Rather then return the pleasantries as expected even with an encouragement for one more cup of coffee, glass of wine with all the smiles of good manners, both our hosts looked rather alarmed and that was when I began to feel concerned.
“You can't go,” Dr Riley said to me. “Rather you mustn't leave.”
His wife was actually trying to get Pattie and Cynthia to sit back down by pulling their chairs back out for them. “You need to stay put for what's going to happen,” She said or something to that effect.
Now, George and I were plenty acquainted with this type of madness. People who get a bit of contact with us and don't want to let it leave. Sometimes you can spot them right away and know not to give them much, but other times it can surprise me when seemingly normal or cool people turn into a rabid Beatlemaniac right in front of our eyes. I thought this might have been the case for a moment. George and I both learned that the best way to deal with this was to make a hasty retreat as quickly as possible.
“No, we need to go,” George said softly but firmly as he made moves to step away from the table. I've heard him use the same tone when stopped by reporters with cameras while entering buildings which is when they usually catch us. “We're expected elsewhere.” That was always the classic excuse and in this case it was true.
That was when Riley confessed, “You've just been given a dose of LSD 25. If you stay here, you'll be safe but if you leave, anything can happen.”
I locked eyes with George for a moment and I could tell we both were thinking the same thing. The guy had just given us an aphrodisiac and wanted us to stay so he could have an orgy or get something going. We both have had this happen any number of times. We've been slipped mickeys in our drinks at dinner parties and clubs and told that any moment we'd feel the effects. None of us liked when this happened. It was a form of rape in my mind and usually I just got a headache or passed out.
Sometimes I'd end up with some bloke or his babe hanging on me, hand on knee under the table, trying to work it higher and all that hoping their little pill would turn me into a raging maniac filled with lust for them.
To be honest, though we had heard of LSD 25 and at that time it was still even legal as a medication, we didn't think it was any different from pot, those pills we liked so much or the mickeys slipped into our drinks to make us horny. I just figured I wouldn't be able to drink all that much at the club since pills and booze often didn't work well together. We just didn't know it was any different from those things and we had years of experience with those type of drugs already.
I just knew I wasn't going to stay and was determined to leave now. I didn't want to know any orgy or anything with this man or his wife.
Cynthia looked frightened. She really didn't like drugs much and never did. She only tolerated them for my sake because she saw how they were needed due to the demands of my schedule at the time and how I needed to unwind when I finally came home.
“What does he mean? What's going to happen?” She wanted to know. So I told her flat out. I wasn't going to sugar coat it and I let my voice snarl.
“Maybe he wants an orgy. I've heard this stuff was an aphrodisiac. Let's go.” I know my words upset her but in I had to tell her the truth. She looked stricken. That's when I actually flung myself aside while announcing, “We're leaving,” and made my way towards the door grabbing Cyn by the arm with George and Pattie in tow behind me. I think the others were grateful I made such a bold move.
Dr Riley tried to block our way. “No. You must stay here while the drug takes effect. You have no idea of the danger you'd be putting yourself in should you leave here right now. Please, you need to stay. Just until you understand what is happening to you.”
My rage was at an all time high. I was feeling so violated by this man and stupid that I hadn't spotted him as this type to do something like this and angry at my self for not having spotted it before. “We don't want to know you,” I said or something like that. I can't really recall but George chimed in and he was still being very soft spoken and that was a God-send at that moment. I heard his gentle voice yet still quite firm croon, “No. We're going. You can't make us stay here any longer. We are expected elsewhere.”
Dr Riley tried once more to stay with us. “How about I drive you all in my car. You can leave your car here and then I can bring you all back safely? How does that sound to you?”
George was adamant as were the rest of us on not wanting to spend another moment of time with this man. “No, we're going in our own car. Good bye.” There was so much conveyed in that good bye though the inflection in George's voice dipped only a little. One could tell he was extremely irritated yet trying to maintain control of the situation as much as he could.
That car seemed tight and small to us all of a sudden as we all piled into it and George started the engine and began to pull away. What alarmed us was our former dentist friend actually began to follow us in his vehicle. We all saw him coming down his driveway behind us and that was when we really began to get a bit scared. We figured we'd lose him en route somewhere as George could be a speed demon on the road when he wanted to be but then John Riley did know where we were planning on going since we had told him. It didn't matter if he lost us or not on the road then, did it? And we all began to feel a little panic that no one wanted to voice or show. What was this guy up to and what was he after? Only the scariest and craziest type of people followed us like that.