In the summer of 1967, at the height of their psychedelic era, The Beatles—spurred by John Lennon—seriously considered purchasing a cluster of Greek islands to create a private commune for themselves, their families, and friends.
Paul McCartney later reflected in his autobiography, Many Years From Now, that the plan was to establish a secluded haven where they could live freely, away from prying eyes. "I suppose the main motivation would probably be that no one could stop you smoking," he wrote, candidly admitting the influence of drugs on the idea.
"Drugs were probably the main reason for getting some island," McCartney explained. "It was drug-induced ambition... We’d just be sitting around: ‘Wouldn’t it be great? The lapping water, sunshine, and we’d be playing. We’d get a studio there.’"
On July 23, 1967, the group—accompanied by partners and entourage—chartered a yacht for an island-hopping adventure along Greece's coast. They visited spots on the mainland, such as the village of Arahova en route to Delphi, and swam, sunbathed, and explored potential properties.
They identified a promising site: a main island (variously reported in documents as "Leslo," "Aegos," or similar names, though no exact match exists today) surrounded by several smaller islets, complete with beaches, olive groves, and fishermen's cottages. Each Beatle envisioned a private villa on one of the surrounding islands, with a central recording studio and communal area.
NEMS employee Alistair Taylor was dispatched to London to handle the purchase, priced at around £90,000. Due to currency restrictions, the band secured special "export dollars" and obtained approvals from both British and Greek authorities.
Ultimately, the deal fell through. By the time permissions were finalized, The Beatles' enthusiasm had waned—they abandoned the plan and even profited £11,400 when reselling the dollars amid favorable exchange rates.
The whimsical episode captured the band's free-spirited 1967 mindset, blending utopian dreams with the realities of fleeting inspiration.
The Beatles, Greek islands, 1967, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, hippie commune, island purchase, Alexis Mardas, Magic Alex, psychedelic era
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