Did you know that The Beatles‘ 1967 ballad, “A Day In The Life”, has a connection with arguably the most prominent beer brewers in the world, the Guinness family? Seems kind of random, doesn’t it? However, the man who inspired arguably the greatest rock ‘n’ roll ballad of all time was an Irish socialite who was heir to a part of the Guinness fortune and brewing empire. That socialite was Tara Browne, who on this day, December 18, 1966, died at 21 years old in London, after a car accident that transpired the day before.
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The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life” is certainly their best ballad, and as we just stated, arguably one of the greatest of all time. That is due to many reasons, but to us, the main one is the story that it tells. The inspiration to write this classic song was seemingly brought on by Browne’s death and Browne’s death alone. Not only is it a retelling of Browne’s death, but it is also an exposé on the absurdity of the news and how it contrasts with the passiveness in the everyday person. It is certainly one of The Beatles’ greatest songs, but tragically, it just might not have happended if it wasn’t for the passing of Tara Browne.
The Life of Tara Browne, the Irish Socialite Who was a Fixture of 1960s London
Born on March 4, 1945, in Dublin, Ireland, Browne was the son of Dominick Browne, a member of The House of Lords. As a matter of fact, Dominick Browne was the longest-serving member of the House of Lords, with a tenure spanning 72 years from 1927 until his removal under the House of Lords Act 1999. Dominick Browne became a part of the Guinness family after marrying Oonagh Guinness in 1936; they then divorced in 1950.
As a socialite does, Browne attended exclusive parties and events in the pop culture scene of 1960s London, and was known for his style, flair, and decadence. He was not only friends with The Beatles, but also with The Rolling Stones and famous model, Suki Potier. At the time of Browne’s accident, Potier was his girlfriend and was in the car during the crash that ultimately took his life.
On this day in 1966, Tara Browne passed away after crashing his Lotus Elan into a parked van after missing a traffic light on December 17. Potier suffered no significant injuries, and Browne passed away the following day from his injuries. Shortly after the wreck, the Daily Mail reported the story. Roughly seven months later, The Beatles released “A Day In The Life”.
Photo by Andrew Maclear/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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