Today in Beatles History

JULY 3, 1967 – After finishing up and releasing the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, the Beatles were ready to blow off some steam and threw a private party at the Speakeasy Club in London, England for the members of The Monkees who were in town for three sold …

JULY 6, 1957 – John Lennon was introduced to Paul McCartney when Lennon’s skiffle group called The Quarrymen played at the garden fete of St Peter’s Church in Woolton, Liverpool, England.The performance took place on a stage in a field behind the church. In the band were John Lennon (vocals, guitar), …

JULY 4, 1966 – The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans. The Beatles failed to appear at a palace luncheon reception hosted by President Marcos’ family, who were not informed that the Beatles had declined their invitation. President Ferdinand Marcos, …

According to disc jockey Jimmy Savile, McCartney wrote “Paperback Writer” in response to a request from an aunt who asked if he could “write a single that wasn’t about love”. Savile said, “With that thought obviously still in his mind, he walked around the room and noticed that Ringo was reading …

MAY 26, 2008 – In New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University awarded Sir Paul McCartney an honorary Doctorate of Music. In granting the honorary degree to McCartney the university said no one compares with the legendary songwriter.A band played “Hey Jude,” a Beatles hit, as McCartney walked on stage to accept the …

MARCH 11, 1997 – Sir Paul McCartney was knighted for his “services to music” after he was listed in the Queens New Year’s Honors List. The ceremony took place at London’s Buckingham Palace, and McCartney dedicated the honor to his Beatles bandmates, stating that he was “Proud to be British, wonderful day and it’s …

 George Harrison and his wife Pattie Boyd were arrested after a raid by the notorious Sgt Norman Pilcher of the Drugs Squad at the Harrisons’ bungalow in Esher, Surrey, England called Kinfauns turned up marijuana.Harrison commented in Beatles Anthology: “They chose Paul’s wedding day to come and do a raid on …

MARCH 12, 1974 – John Lennon (who was separated from Yoko Ono and staying in Los Angeles) and Harry Nilsson made the headlines after they got drunk and disorderly at a Smothers Brothers comedy show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Lennon hurled insults at the performing Smothers Brothers and punched …

Part of a legal agreement, the album’s sessions began in Los Angeles with Phil Spector producing and quickly degraded to a loose drunken party. Spector took off with the tapes and after he was involved in a car accident and went into a coma Lennon realized he wouldn’t be getting …

While in Miami, Florida, on their first visit to America, The Beatles meet up with boxer, Cassius Clay, who is training for an upcoming bout with Sonny Liston. It presents a perfect photo op for both parties, although John Lennon complains bitterly about being made a fool by having to …