The Beatles song that Echo and the Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch hates
Many people would consider hatred for The Beatles to be a unique form of blasphemy. The Liverpool-born band created some of music’s most well-loved and well-known songs of all time, pioneered countless recording techniques, and changed the industry forever. As a result of their transformative impact and popular appeal, it can be difficult to critique the Fab Four, but fellow Liverpudlian Ian McCulloch had no issues sharing his dislike for one Beatles track in particular.
The famed frontman of Echo and the Bunnymen, McCulloch has earned his own place in music history through his dark form of post-punk. While critics were complimentary towards the band’s sound, McCulloch was always his own biggest fan, famously declaring ‘The Killing Moon’ as the greatest song ever written. But despite his faith in his own work, McCulloch’s complimentary words did not extend towards his fellow scouse songwriters in the Beatles
McCulloch once declared his hatred for ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ during a conversation with AV Club, deeming it cheesy and sharing his dislike for Ringo Starr in particular. Released in 1967, the song featured on the iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and featured Starr on lead vocals, a fact that irked McCulloch.
“I hate the song,” he began, “I hate Ringo’s version, and I hate Joe Cocker’s version. I can’t imagine anyone ever doing that [song] and me liking it.” Starr’s version of the track was particularly grating to McCulloch due to the drummer’s lack of Liverpudlian pride. He recalled how Starr took a trip to Liverpool to “milk his Liverpudlian-ness” before going on a London chat show and “slagging off” the city.
Consequently, Starr’s vocal takes the title for McCulloch’s most hated version of the song, but he deems Cocker’s take on the track “horrible as well, but at least he’s never slagged off Liverpool”. McCulloch went on to explain his hatred for the actual track, which he explains is a combination of the melody and the sentiment. “It sounds like the biggest crowd-pleaser ever written. Maybe I wouldn’t have minded it as much if any other Beatle would’ve sung it,” he concluded.
While McCulloch’s distaste for Starr may have bolstered his dislike for ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, it’s easy to see how the song could be considered cheesy or crowd-pleasing. Perhaps for the track to be enjoyed to the fullest, it requires listeners to lean into that cheesiness, to give into the ease of the track, a feat McCulloch seems to be slightly too cool for.
Revisit ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, the Beatles song that Echo and the Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch hates, below.