My blogging friend Richard
Havers would like to hear from you if you have seen The Beatles live, or know someone who did, for a project he is working on.
This is the post Richard wrote where you can contact him, and he’s getting some interesting responses. This is what he says, though I had no idea The Beatles played to more Americans than Brits:
I’d love to know what it was really like. Could you really hear nothing? Or maybe you saw them before the screaming set in.
The Beatles during 1961 performed around 250 gigs and by the time their first single – Love Me Do – was released in Britain on 5 October 1962 they had performed close to another 250 gigs. Of course up to this point they were just another pop band struggling to make it.
The Beatles stopped playing live on 29 August 1966 when they gave their final concert for the 25,000 people at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. A few days earlier they had performed at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in front of a crowd of 45,000. These and other stadium shows in America meant that the Beatles played to many more Americans than they did to people in Britain; for the most part, after they became famous, it was shows at Gaumonts, Odeons, Astorias and Palais at home. They did appear once more on the roof of the Apple building on 30 January 1969 but it could hardly be called a concert.
Is it really 42 years since they gave their final concert? Unbelievable!
This is something I would have really like to have seen. The Beatles live.
As I posted on my Blog to seek out help for your mission here, Ellee, my oldest brother saw the The Boys at Crosley Field–a baseball park that was demolished a long time ago. He said the filled-to-capacity crowd was screaming so loudly you literally could not hear the band. recall that Goerge Harrison became fed up with this insanity-bordering on riots and decided to syop touring in 1966. Let us see if my Blog helps you out a bit. Cheers!
Michael, many thanks, that is so kind of you. If I can get just one follow-up lead for Richard, then I shall feel I have accomplished my mission. And it looks like your brother could provide that. I also had an email from another American blogger which might produce a positive result too.
http://michaelmanning.tv/blog/2008/10/helping-ellee-with-beatles.html
My sister saw the Beatles. Winter Gardens, Margate, 1964.
Thanks Jeremy, I will let Richard know.
Hi Ellee , Yes its that Deb Roberts SCDC !
Saw the Beatles live myself when I was just 17 in 1964 in York at the Mecca Ballroom .
A big gang of us from work ( Rowntrees Cocoa Works ) all went together.
We were on the front row of the balcony and it was wonderful .I can still remember the songs they played .
They wore the grey suits without collars and of course all had the ” Beatle Cut ” hairstyle .
The noise fronm the audience was just unbelievable , but , yes we could hear what they were playing and loved every minute of the show .
Afterwards my best friend and I discovered that they were staying at the Station Hotel for the night ( the army of police outside was a bit of a givaway ) and so we and hundreds more stayed outside till the early hours in the vain hope of seeing them .
I was in a lot of bother with my father when I got home .
Happy days , so much better than being on the council .
Deb, I’m delighted to hear from you. What a wonderful story about The Beatles too. I have passed this on to Richard, I am sure he will be thrilled also.
I hope you are well and will visit my site again.
Deb, so you were a bit of a rebel back in those days too! 🙂
Ellee, thank you and thanks to Michael and Deb for your help and contribution. What’s lovely about stories of chasing after the Beatles are that every generation has the same experiences. The difference now, as one member of a popular music combo said to me, is that today the fans have mobile phones to coordinate they chasing!
Me a rebel , whatever do you mean Ellee !
I think my sister saw them (and Diana Ross, seperately) at the Plaza in Old Hill. She’s not into blogging and doesn’t live near, Richard, but I hope the name of the venue might be of some use.