Helter Skelter (song)

"Helter Skelter"
Picture sleeve for the 1976 limited jukebox-only single re-release (reverse)
Song by the Beatles
from the album The Beatles
Released	22 November 1968
Recorded	18 July, 9–10 September 1968
Studio	EMI, London
Genre	Hard rock[1][2] heavy metal[3] proto-punk[4] rock and roll[5]
Length	4:29 (stereo LP) 3:40 (mono LP)
Label	Apple
Songwriter(s)	Lennon–McCartney
Producer(s)	George Martin

"Helter Skelter" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 album The Beatles (also known as the "White Album"). It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song was McCartney's attempt to create a sound as loud and dirty as possible. It is regarded as a key influence in the early development of heavy metal. In 1976, the song was released as the B-side of "Got to Get You into My Life" in the United States, to promote the Capitol Records compilation Rock 'n' Roll Music.

Along with other tracks from the White Album, "Helter Skelter" was interpreted by cult leader Charles Manson as a message predicting inter-racial war in the US. A vision of this uprising was named after the song. Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Helter Skelter" 52nd on its list of "The 100 Greatest Beatles Songs". Siouxsie and the Banshees, Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, U2, Oasis and Pat Benatar are among the artists who have covered the track, and McCartney has frequently performed it in concert.