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Copyright © 2014 by Candy Leonard All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Arcade Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. First Edition Arcade Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Arcade Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or [email protected]. Arcade Publishing® is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.®, a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.arcadepub.com. Visit the author’s website at www.beatleness.com 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Leonard, Candy. Beatleness: how the Beatles and their fans remade the world/Candy Leonard.—First edition. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-62872-417-2 (hc: alk. paper) 1. Beatles—Influence. 2. Popular music—Social aspects—United States—History—20th century. 3. Popular culture—United States—History—20th century. 4. Nineteen sixties—Social aspects—United States. 5. Popular music fans—United States—History—20th century. I. Title. ML421.B4L39 2014 782.42166092'2—dc23 2014009103 Cover design by Brian Peterson Cover photo © AP Images Print ISBN: 978-1-62872-417-2 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62872455-4 Printed in the United States of America For Adam and Janna, who inspire me every day Beatleness /be-tl-n∂s, be-tl-nis/ noun 1. the qualities or characteristics of the Beatles and their works; a manifestation of the essential qualities that define “the Beatles” 2. an emotional or spiritual state, condition, or feeling resulting from exposure to or thinking about the Beatles and their works 3. the cultural references and artifacts, tangible and intangible, that evoke the Beatles; artistic or commercial use of words and images associated with or evocative of the Beatles Contents Preface Acknowledgments One Setting the Stage Two Something New Ed Sullivan Show to A Hard Day’s Night February 9, 1964–July 1964 Three British Boys A Hard Day’s Night to Help! August 1964–November 1965 Four The Embodiment of Cool Rubber Soul to Revolver December 1965–January 1967 Five I’d Love to Turn You On “Penny Lane”/“Strawberry Fields Forever” to Magical Mystery Tour February 1967–December 1967 Six We All Want to Change the World “Hey Jude”/“Revolution” to Abbey Road January 1968–December 1968 Seven The Last Leg Abbey Road to Let It Be January 1969–May 1970 Eight Beatleness Abounds Notes Bibliography Index Preface BEATLENESS IS THE STORY OF FIRST-GENERATION American Beatle fans—the millions of children and adolescents who welcomed the Beatles into their lives in February 1964. It’s about the young people who were in the right place at the right time at the right age to observe and participate in an unprecedented historical event that lasted for six years and left a permanent mark on them. Beatlemania happened because a unique set of cultural and historical forces converged in February 1964. Fifty years later, many fans are genuinely puzzled about why the Beatles still mean so much to them. As one female fan (b. ’56) explained, “I was seven years old and it had an effect on me I still don’t understand.” Some wonder about it quite a bit, some are even slightly embarrassed by it. Beatleness explains how that unique relationship was able to develop, its impact on fans, and its impact on the world. First-generation Beatle fans believe they experienced something truly extraordinary. This book shows why that’s true and how it happened. Beatleness doesn’t include the perspective of Beatle insiders, friends, or ex- lovers. It doesn’t include opinion from the usual “Beatle experts.” It does, however, include the perspective of people who possess authentic expertise about the Beatles’ impact—the fans. It’s not laden with minutiae about the lives of the Beatles or their inner circle. Instead, it chronicles and captures the experience and the impact of growing up with the Beatles, from February 1964 through May 1970, watching them flower during a period of rapid social change, much of which the band and their fans brought about. My purpose in writing this book is to fill three gaps in the vast Beatles literature. The fans have always been a main part of the Beatle story, yet the fan experience has not been looked at from a cultural or historical perspective. There are several books about Elvis fans, ranging from lighthearted to snarky to thoughtful cultural analysis. Similarly, the appeal of Star Trek has been explored from a variety of perspectives, including that of Trekkies. There are several books about fans of the Grateful Dead, and the fandom surrounding Bruce Springsteen has also been the subject of critical analysis. Surprisingly, there has been no focused effort to understand Beatle fans since the spring of 1964, when Dr. Joyce Brothers, godmother of celebrity shrinks, was asked to explain Beatlemania. I’ve read many books about the Beatles over the years—starting at age twelve

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The Beatles arrived in the United States on February 7, 1964, and immediately became a constant, compelling presence in fans’ lives. For the next six years, the band presented a nonstop deluge of sounds, words, images, and ideas, transforming the childhood and adolescence of millions of baby boome