<P> In November 1966 , on the flight back to England after a holiday , McCartney conceived an idea in which an entire album would be role - played , with each of the Beatles assuming an alter - ego in the `` Lonely Hearts Club Band '' , which would then perform a concert in front of an audience . The inspiration is said to have come when roadie Mal Evans innocently asked McCartney what the letters `` S '' and `` P '' stood for on the pots on their in - flight meal trays , and McCartney explained it was for salt and pepper . This then led to the Sgt . Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band concept , as well as the song . </P>
what is sgt pepper 's lonely hearts club band song about
an idea in which an entire album would be role - played , with each of the Beatles assuming an alter - ego in the `` Lonely Hearts Club Band '' , which would then perform a concert in front of an audience