The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were notorious for their supposed rivalry, but it turns out that John Lennon once played a terrifying prank on Brian Jones, leaving him in a state of shock.
Despite their friendly relationship and Lennon’s admiration for Jones as a talented musician, Lennon saw him as fair game for his mischievous antics.
On one occasion, Lennon managed to convince Jones that the police were after him.
Lennon, always one to add personal touches to his car, made various modifications including a record player, a customized horn that played “Lilli Marlene,” and a microphone connected to speaker systems in the front wheel wells.
With this setup, Lennon had the ability to communicate with people outside the vehicle, either by speaking to pedestrians or by playing the sounds of trains and airplanes to confuse them.
However, it was the microphone that he used to frighten his friends and acquaintances.
When Lennon encountered someone he knew while driving, he took advantage of the speaker system to directly address them.
One day, while driving through Regent’s Park on their way to North London, Lennon spotted Jones sitting quietly in the back of his Austin Princess.
Seizing the opportunity for some amusement, Lennon shouted through the microphone, “Brian Jones, do not move!
You have been under surveillance — you are under arrest!”
Paul McCartney, reflecting on the incident in The Beatles Anthology, shared, “John was a very funny guy, and he shouted through the microphone: ‘Brian Jones, do not move!
You have been under surveillance — you are under arrest!’
Brian leapt up about eight feet and went as white as a sheet, going, ‘Oh my God!
Oh my God!’
Then he saw it was us — ‘You bunch of bastards!’
It nearly killed him that day, John was so official-sounding.”
The prank hit close to home for Jones, who had a history of run-ins with the law.
He was first arrested in 1967 when drugs were discovered in his home, and he faced another arrest for cannabis possession in 1968.
Despite the potential jail time, the judge showed leniency and only imposed a fine.
It’s no wonder that Jones, given his drug use and arrest record, believed that the police were truly after him.
While Jones had a strained relationship with his fellow Rolling Stones band members, he maintained a strong bond with The Beatles.
McCartney described Jones as a nervous and shy individual, possibly relying on drugs more than he should have.
However, The Beatles always enjoyed Jones’ company and saw him in a positive light.
“I think a lot of people used to get a bit annoyed with him but he was smashing,” McCartney said.
“I never really knew his particular tastes because we’d just meet people on one level: the musician and friend level with a bit of soft drugs generally, and we tended to see the nice side of people.”
In the end, Lennon’s prank may have been a bit too realistic for Jones, but it serves as a reminder of the playful nature that existed between these iconic musicians.
