Beatles: Every Little Thing

218 Pages·1998·0.6 MB·English

by  Maxwell Mackenzie

the beatles
every little thing
a compendium of witty, weird
and ever-surprising facts
about the fab four
MAXWELL MACKENZIE

Contents
Dates, Anniversaries, and Events 1
Names 4
Places 7
Early Influences 11
A Few Firsts 22
Early Gigs, Clubs, and Auditions 32
Getting Signed 35
Missed Opportunities 37
Girlfriends, Wives, and Families 42
How They Met 42
Beatle Weddings 45
Beatle Kids 47
Divorces and Breakups 48
The Beatles Business 50
Brian Epstein 51
EMI, Parlophone, and Capitol 55
Apple Corps 57
Beatles Stuff for Sale 61
Beatles Songs for Sale 63
Management Problems 66
Lawsuits and PR Gaffes 70
Fans and Fanatics 73
iii
“Paul is Dead” 81
Fans and Beatle Wives 84
Critics, Politicians, and the Older Generation 86
Beatle Style 91
Tours 97
Friends and Influences 108
Drug Use 112
Indian Influences 117
Banned Beatles 121
Beatles on TV 123
Beatles on Film 126
A Hard Day’s Night 126
Help! 128
Yellow Submarine 129
Magical Mystery Tour 130
Let It Be 133
Solo and Side Ventures 136
Disputes and Conflicts 143
Releases and Sales 146
Song Inspiration and Composition 164
The Beatles Covered 207
Bibliography 210
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher
iv
dates, anniversaries, and events
July 7, 1940 Richard Starkey (Ringo Starr) born at home in
Liverpool.
October 9, 1940 John Lennon born at the Oxford Street Maternity
Home, Liverpool.
June 18, 1942 Paul McCartney born at Walton General Hospital,
Liverpool.
February 25, 1943 George Harrison born at home in Wavertree,
Liverpool.
July 6, 1957 John and Paul meet at St. Peter’s, Woolton, Liver-
pool.
January 1960 Stuart Sutcliffe joins the band as bassist.
May 20–28, 1960 The Beatles’ first tour, in Scotland, with Johnny
Gentle.
February 9, 1961 The Beatles’ first show at the Cavern.
November 9, 1961 Brian Epstein meets the Beatles.
January 24, 1962 The Beatles sign Epstein as manager.
June 6, 1962 The Beatles audition for Parlophone at Abbey
Road.
August 16, 1962 Pete Best fired; Ringo joins the Beatles.
August 23, 1962 John Lennon and Cynthia Powell marry.
September 4, 1962 The Beatles record “Love Me Do” and “How Do
You Do It,” at Abbey Road Studios, London.
October 5, 1962 The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do,” released
in the U.K. with “P.S. I Love You” (all release
dates below are for the U.K.).
January 11, 1963 “Please Please Me” released with “Ask Me Why.”
February 22, 1963 “Please Please Me” hits number one on the U.K.
charts.
1
March 22, 1963 Please Please Me album released.
August 23, 1963 “She Loves You” released with “I’ll Get You.”
October 14, 1963 The term “Beatlemania” first used.
October 25–29, 1963 First overseas tour, in Sweden.
November 22, 1963 With the Beatles released.
January 18, 1964 “I Want to Hold Your Hand” enters the Billboard
Hot 100.
February 7, 1964 The Beatles fly to New York for their first U.S.
concerts.
February 9, 1964 First Ed Sullivan Show appearance.
June 4–June 30, 1964 First world tour.
July 6, 1964 A Hard Day’s Night premieres in London.
July 10, 1964 A Hard Day’s Night soundtrack released.
August 19–September 20, 1964 First American tour.
August 28, 1964 The Beatles first try marijuana.
December 4, 1964 Beatles for Sale released.
February 11, 1965 Ringo Starr and Maureen Cox married.
August 6, 1965 Help! soundtrack released.
August 15–31, 1965 Second American tour.
October 26, 1965 The Beatles made Members of the Order of the
British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.
December 3, 1965 Rubber Soul released.
January 21, 1966 George Harrison and Patti Boyd married.
August 5, 1966 Revolver released.
August 12–30, 1966 Final American tour.
November 9 or 10, 1966 To many in the “Paul is Dead” cult, the date Paul
was killed in a car crash.
June 1, 1967 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band released.
August 24, 1967 The Beatles meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in
London.
August 26, 1967 Brian Epstein found dead.
December 8, 1967 Magical Mystery Tour EP released.
2
February 1968 Beatles fly to India for the Maharishi’s three-
month meditation course.
October 18, 1968 John and Yoko arrested for possession of can-
nabis.
November 22, 1968 The Beatles (a.k.a. “the White Album”) released.
January 17, 1969 Yellow Submarine soundtrack released.
March 12, 1969 Paul and Linda Eastman married. George and
Patti Harrison’s house raided by narcotics officers.
May 20, 1969 Allen Klein signed as manager to the Beatles. Paul
refuses to sign the contract.
September 26, 1969 Abbey Road released.
November 8, 1969 John and Cynthia’s divorce finalized.
January 4, 1970 Paul, Ringo, and George finish their overdubs for
the Let It Be album, the last occasion they would
have to record for the band. John was on vacation.
April 10, 1970 Paul announces that he is leaving the Beatles.
May 8, 1970 Let It Be released.
December 31, 1970 Paul sues the other three Beatles to dissolve their
partnership.
December 8, 1980 John Lennon murdered in New York.
3
names
john, born during a German bombing raid in Liverpool in
1940, was given the patriotic middle name Winston, after Bri-
tain’s leader and wartime inspiration.
paul, born to a Catholic mother and Anglican-born but agnostic
father, was named James Paul McCartney. “James” was the
name of his father, great-grandfather, and great-great-grand-
father, and the “Paul” was a tribute to St. Paul. Paul would, in
turn, name his son James.
ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey to Elsie and Richard
Starkey, and became known as Little Richard, while his dad
was called Big Richard. Ringo’s grandfather’s last name was
originally Parkin, but he changed it to Starkey. By the time
Little Richard was five, he was known simply as Ritchie. When
he was playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Rory re-
named Ritchie “Ringo Starr” and introduced “Ringo Starrtime”
into his act, where Ringo would sing “Boys” and “You’re Six-
teen.”
john’s first band received the name The Quarry Men, a refer-
ence to both the Liverpool quarries and the Quarry Bank
Grammar School. They covered skiffle classics such as “Rock
4