The "Paul is Dead" hoax revolves around a motorcycle accident McCartney had in 1966. Supposedly, it was kept hidden from the papers, he was in a car, and he died in a blazing inferno (From, "A Day in the Life" - He blew his mind out in a car, he didn't notice that the lights had changed..."Don't Pass Me By" - You were in a car crash and you lost your hair).

The "rumour" continues that the remaining three Beatles held a "Paul lookalike" contest, picking William Campbell (aka "Billy Shears" of Sgt. Pepper fame). He had plastic surgery to even further his resemblance, vocal coaching, etc. The scar on "Paul's" lip (which happened when he hit his tooth in the accident) was actually from a botch part of the plastic surgery on Campbell.

Paul Is Dead: Clues