Beatles USA ‘66
From Jerry Leighton (Chief DJ Caroline North)
Cleveland Ohio—Tuesday – five thousand fans smashed down the
barriers at the Beatles’ concert here last night during the most frightening,
fantastic sight I have ever seen.
The boys were halfway through their act when the invasion
happened. 5,000 fans got past the
barriers and tried to get onto the platform where the Beatles were singing.
Police were utterly powerless. John, Paul, George and Ringo had to be
dragged off stage to the safety of a caravan.
After about half an hour, weary officials managed to get the
crowds back to their seats and the boys returned to the stage to resume their act.
They managed to finish without any more
mishaps and later leapt into their waiting car just as thousands of fans
stormed the barriers again.
The only major disaster was that I was mysteriously left in
the middle of a baseball track and had to walk the long hike back to our
hotel. Well, that’s showbiz!
“We STILL love you Beatles!” That just about sums up the
feelings of thousands of American fans so far on this fantastically successful
tour.
Large, economy-size badges bearing this phrase are selling
like hot cakes at 50 cents each to thousands of people packing the vast arenas
to see the world’s most popular group in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. But I should add that we haven’t yet visited
the South, reported at boiling point over John Lennon’s “Jesus” quote.
In Detroit last night the manager of the Olympia Stadium
told me that the Beatles were still the biggest draw, selling twice as many
tickets as the Stones and three times more than the Animals-Herman’s Hermits
show on July 28.
This is the first time I have toured with the Beatles, and
they are the greatest fellows. They
behave exactly the same off-stage as on.
Most surprising thing to me is that the boys have never
really seen America. I know that sounds
daft, but it’s true. I was telling John
tonight about the fantastic supermarkets here, and he just sat back lapping it
up.
“We dare not go out on the streets.” He told me. “We just stay in the hotel room until the car
or coach calls to take us to the show.
We miss an awful lot, but I suppose we will see it one day.”
On Saturday night we all traveled by coach from Detroit to
Cleveland. The boys got out of the coach
at about 1a.m. as Ringo put it, “Stopped off at the Rose and Crown.”
Actually it was an empty parking lot and the boys just walked
around stretching their legs and sucking ice lollies. It must have been the longest period of time
that fresh air has reached their faces.
And frankly, their complexions show it. They looked very pale, as if they spend all
their lives indoors. “We feel all right
though,” said Paul. “You can’t really
tell by looking at us because sometimes we look terrible and feel great, and
other times it’s the opposite.”
I’m trying to get them to take a holiday soon and I hope I succeed. They look as if they need one.
You’ve probably heard by now of the wonderful press
conference in Chicago when John explained about the misquotation over his
world-famous remarks. He spoke
brilliantly and acquitted himself completely.
I think the American people agree with me, judging by their wonderful
welcome everywhere.
George talked to me at length about his interest in Indian
music, the results of which you hear on “Revolver.” “To me it is the only really great music now
and it makes Western three-or-four beat type stuff seem somehow dead. You can get so much more out of it if you are
prepared really to concentrate and listen.
I hope more people will try to dig it.”
John told me that George is hoping to visit India soon to
study the music.
Does John’s solo film mean he will be leaving the
Beatles? “No, it’s just a bit of
practice while we have nothing to do for a bit.” What sort of picture is it? “Well, a sort of war comedy. I just play a Scouse batman. It should be a good experience.”
The kids mob anyone who has anything to do with the
Beatles. I have to had to run for it
about six times so far! One incident
scared the life out of me.
At Detroit, the Beatles had just come off stage and a DJ
from Louisville, Kentucky, named Ken Douglas, who has a Beatles haircut and mod
clothes, was walking back with me to the press room. The kids spotted us. They broke down the barriers and stared chasing
him. Me?
I was stuck in the middle of them and thought it was my lot!
I taped the commentary of the whole incident as it happened,
and you will probably hear it sometime this week on Radio Caroline as well as
lots of other tapes I am sending back from broadcast. So stay tuned, eh?
Till my report next week in Disc and Music Echo, this is
Jerry “Soopa” Leighton sending love from John, Paul , George and Ringo to you
all back home.
* In Cleveland it was raining, and I said to John, “What’s
going to happen in this open-air arena?”
Lennon replied, “Oh, we won’t get wet because we’re covered in. We might get blown up though….”
*They’re wearing fantastic new mod suits bought from the
Hung On You boutique in Chelsea, London.
One uniform is a beautiful green and another is pale grey with light
orange pinstripes and lavender shirts.
*This Beatles played Indian music tape recordings in their
dressing room while waiting to go on in Detroit.
"Sound Of The Stars" was a flexi disc record made for Disc Magazine in the UK. It featured exclusive interviews with The Beatles and other artists. I have one kicking around here somewhere...
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