Klaatu

Klaatu…The band that many people thought were the Beatles, was a Canadian rock group formed in the early ‘70s.

Klaatu is arguably, yet probably most remembered for their hit “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” that has received numerous covers, most notably by the Carpenters.

The band comprised of Terry Draper, Dee Long, and John Woloschuk. Their first album, 3:47 EST was released in 1976 and is regarded by many to be their best album.

A Providence journalist named Steve Smith listened to their album, and thought that they sounded very similar to the Beatles. He wrote an article speculating that Klaatu was actually the Beatles reformed as a different, anonymous band. These rumors spread quickly, and people were buying their records more than they would have otherwise. However, when it was revealed that they were not the Beatles, their record sales declined until the band broke up after the release of their 1981 album Magentalane.

Just don’t forget you have heard it here first!