the Beatles Cleveland: Memories, Facts & Photos about Notorious 1964 1966 Concerts

Beatlemania swept across North America when John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr appeared on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in February, 1964. The decade of the 1960s seemed to change overnight from black and white to color as a generation fell under the influence of the group's music, style and personalities. Hot on the success of their film 'A Hard Day's Night, ' the Beatles 1964 summer tour filled auditoriums with screams of delight and excitement - and in some cases, full-blown fan hysteria. This was the case on September 15th in Cleveland, Ohio when police stopped the show in mid-performance and ordered the Beatles off the stage. The next year, they were banned from appearing in the city that is now home to The Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame. In August 1966, the group launched their final tour, but the innocence portrayed in 'A Hard Day's Night' only two years earlier was missing. Controversy raging over Lennon's remarks about Christianity and the group being more popluar than Jesus made their safety more of a concern than ever before. A scheduling change brought the Beatles back to Cleveland on August 14th for the tour's first outdoor show at Municipal Stadium. The results were the same, but on a much larger scale. The uncontrollable hysteria of Beatlemania reached a fever pitch as thousands of fans poured from their seats and crashed over police lines to be near their British Idols. It was obvious they could no longer be protected in front of audiences and the first murmurings were overheard that it would be the last tour. 'The Beatles In Cleveland' brings to life both these special moments in time: two of the wildest, out of control concerts in Beatles - and rock - history. Go behind the scenes to bring John, Paul, George and Ringo to the city, then grab a front row seat for back stage and on stage excitement through eyewitness accounts from the promoters, concert MC's, deejays, journalists, opening acts and fans. The story is also told through rare, never-before published photos, video stills and memorabilia. A concert by The Beatles was not just about the music, but also the emotions stirred by the most influential group in the history of popular music. Foreword by Bill Harry, Founder and Editor of the legendary 'Mersey Beat' newspaper