For those of you who don't know, the Beatles had a cute pet name for thier fans. These fans were referred to as Apple Scruffs.

So what is an Apple Scruff exactly? The definition of an Apple Scruff is "a Beatles fan". George Harrison even wrote a song about these great fans.

With closer examination of these Apple Scruffs, I realized that these weren't just your regular Beatles fans. They were die hard Beatles fans. They would do anything and everything for the Beatles.

I would like to take the time to share with you what the Apple Scruffs were all about. What I'm going to write may shock you, it may make you laugh, or maybe it won't do anything at all. One thing is for sure. The text is taken from the book by Danny Fields, "Linda McCartney: A Portrait".

"One supposes that there no longer exists any grouping of nutty fans quite like the Apple Scruffs, an amorphous collection of obsessed teenage girls, who inhabited-literally-the pavements around the Beatles' homes and their recording studio in Abbey Road. The composition of the group varied and it's ranks were often swelled by visiting fans and other hangers-on. The Scruffs tagged the name of their number one Beatle on to thier own-becoming Peggy Paul or June John, for example-and they stayed at their posts in shifts, in all kinds of weather, waiting for just a glimpse of their particular favorite. A wave and a smile from a Beatle were extra treats; they had a newsletter, knew each other well, exchanged information on comings and goings, and worked in relays so that nobody went in or came out, or took up residence, without the Scruffs knowing all about it. The Beatles got to know some of the Scruffs by sight, and there were more of them devoted to Paul-the cutest, the bachelor, and the most accessible since he had a well-known address in London that was not far from the Abbey Road studios-than to all the others put together."

"For anyone to think that all these fanatics would be content just standing there would be severely underestimate the mentality that drove them. Paul had a part-time housekeeper who was friendly and helpful to Paul's most dedicated followers....Paul's housekeepers appear to have been very much in the tradition of indiscreet servants, enjoying a chat about the goings on of the Master withing. Had the Scruffs been satisfied with that they could have been kept at bay, but not all of them were."

"Once Paul began to treat them as little members of his own organizations, by letting one of them walk his dog, Martha, for example, there were those who gladly took the inch and started going for the mile. They found a vantage point from behind the house where they could see him sitting on the crapper by standing on an overturned flower pot, told him about it, and even showed him how it was done when he expressed amused disbelief. More disturbingly, they found ways to get past the security system, an electric gate with an intercom, and by late 1968 they were sneaking into Paul's house when no one was home (who would know better than they?) and taking little souvenirs."


It's amazing to think about what they used to do. Now you know what Apple Scruff REALLY means. Are they Beatles fans? I think it's safe to say so.

Of course not all the Apple Scruffs were that bad. They were obsessed, but not to the point of stealing things out of the Beatle's home.

Knowing that a group of fans like that would never form again, I'm proud to say that I'm an Apple Scruff. I may be obsessed, but at least I know I'm not the only one.