JANUARY 18, 1964 – The Beatles made their US chart debut when “I Want To Hold Your Hand” entered the chart at #45 just twenty-three days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history, and launching the British invasion of the American music industry. Released in the US…
JANUARY 19, 1971 – Several tracks from The Beatles’ self-titled album (aka “The White Album) including “Helter Skelter” and “Piggies” were played in the courtroom at the Sharon Tate murder trial to find out if any songs might have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to commit murder. Actress Sharon Tate who was married to film…
George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.However, Harrison’s speech revealed they still had love for Paul, and the controversy was later forgotten about. Yoko Ono, as…
JANUARY 10, 1964 – The Beatles’ first US album, “Introducing The Beatles” was released by Vee-Jay Records. The album cover showed John, Paul and George with their now famous “mop top” haircuts, but Ringo had yet to convert. Vee-Jay thought they had obtained the legal rights from EMI affiliate, Trans-Global Records, but Capitol Records slapped…
JANUARY 12, 1964 – The Beatles appeared on the ATV show “Sunday Night At The London Palladium”. Much of the day was spent in rehearsals at the Palladium, with The Beatles topping the bill during the live show, which was broadcast from 8:25pm to 9:25pm. The group took part in a short skit with compère…
JANUARY 13, 2010 – A plaque of the Beatles’ iconic yellow submarine, which was stolen six months earlier from Liverpool’s Albert Dock, was set to be replaced by a new creation. The 1.5 meter (5 ft.) design featured the faces of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison peering through its portholes. The new…
ANUARY 14, 1970 – John Lennon’s explicit “Bag One” lithographs were exhibited publicly at the London Arts Gallery, but were removed by Scotland Yard two days later because the series included many rough sketches, some of which depicted men and women, some resembling John and Yoko, in provocative poses and engaged in sexual acts. On…
DECEMBER 27, 1958 – While attending a class at the Liverpool College of Art, John Lennon met student Cynthia Powell and they began a relationship the following year. The early days of their relationship were turbulent. They would often have sex in alleys or doorways, and Lennon often showed jealousy towards her. He once slapped her…
DECEMBER 29, 1969 – In an effort to stop smoking, John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a session with hypnotists Hamrick & Leonard. Dr. Don Hamrick was a San Francisco-based therapist who claimed to have made contact with extraterrestrials in Norway and wanted the Beatles to help promote communications between them and humans. Lennon had been…
DECEMBER 29, 1966 – Working at Abbey Road studios in London, Paul McCartney began work on his new song “Penny Lane”, recording six takes of keyboard tracks and various percussion effects. The song’s title is derived from the name of a street near Lennon’s house in the band’s hometown of Liverpool. McCartney and Lennon would meet…