The Beatles in Germany
By Ray Coleman
Disc and Music Echo – July 2, 1966
“PLEASE DO NOT FLY TO TOKYO.
YOUR CAREER IS IN DANGER…” This
anonymous telegram arrived in the Beatles’ Hamburg dressing room last Sunday
before their final German concert after a staggering three day triumphant
return to the city which nursed them from obscurity into the history books.
Being used to cranks and scares, John, Paul and Ringo took
little notice. But George, who worries
more, kept thinking about it and showing it round. “It makes you think.” He said soberly. “We’ve got a lot of enemies as well as
friends.”
The Beatles’ return to Germany with two, with two concerts
each in Munich, Essen and finally Hamburg, was a predictable sensation. About 30,000 fans screamed with all their
Deutsch might during the four-day jaunt.
And Beatlemania, with all its attendant hysteria and larger-than-life
fever, gripped the country for the first time.
For Germany, this was the sentimental, romantic and often
emotional return to the land where the Beatles polished themselves into the
world’s top pop group and international power.
For the Beatles, it was just another tour – but also a sharp reminder of
their power.
The most sensational aspect of the tour was fan
reaction. This time, it was the boys who
went berserk more than girls. Boys got
much more worked up, mentally and physically, and the German police, whose
motto is simply to meet force with more force, had the time of their
lives. There were unbelievable sights as
boy fans who went berserk were front marched backwards, punched, hurled over
six foot high railings to cool off, or were smitten by fantastically ferocious
police. Some fans were brutally
wounded. But it was the law o the jungle
in those concert halls, and in a military country like Germany it’s more than
just tough if you don’t obey the police.
It is wicked.
The Beatles remained unchanged if bemused by it all. Right now they are in Tokyo for more shows.
Memories of Germany?
Hundreds. Crazy questions at
press conferences. “What’s your opinion
of the anti-baby pill?”-- “It’s good, of
course.” (Paul) “Do you speak German well?” -- “Like the natives.” (Paul). “Who’s the greatest, you or Cassius Clay?” -- “It’s a tossup.” (Ringo). “Do you wear long pants in the wintertime?”—“No,
hipsters!” (George). “What do you dream
about when you’re sleeping?”—“Same as anyone else,” said John. “We’re the same as you, y’know, only we’re
rich.”
“Why are you such horrid snobs?” George answered, “It’s only in your mind.” John: “Because
we’re not flattering you?” Paul: “We’re just natural and we don’t pose like
some people.”
Memories of Germany:
John and Paul in daft, myopic yellow sunglasses. Ringo and George in Byrd-imitated
square-lensed dark glasses. George in a
crazy hat given to him by the Mamas and the Papas. The Beatles’ luxurious special train which
took us form Munich to Essen and then through the night to Hamburg. John, Paul , George and Ringo in the
compartment used by the Queen and Duke during their recent German trip john in the bed the Queen slept in and George
in the Duke’s.
Memories of Germany:
Lennon’s voice cracking up in Hamburg and a friend frantically searching
for honey and lemon within minutes of the boys leaping on stage. “It was the comeback after a ten-month
lay-off,” said John. “That cracked
it. We should never have come out of
retirement!”
Memories of Germany:
Bad and good Beatles music. A
nice programme throughout. “Rock and
Roll Music,” “If I needed someone”, “Day
Tripper,” ‘She’s a woman,” “Baby’s in Black,” “Yesterday,”
“I wanna be your man,” “Nowhere Man,” “I feel fine,” “Paperback Writer,”
and “I’m Down” as a great finale. George
impressing the crowds to a frenzy with his German: “this is from der long-spieler ‘Beatles for
Sale.’”
Their new green velvet uniforms with yellow shirts, bought
at Chelsea’s hunt on You boutique. Ringo’s
suit which looks like pyjamas in grey with red stripes. It floored pressmen in Munich.
Questions and more questions. “Do you polish your MBE medal?”—“Every week
without fail we don’t.” (Ringo) “How
rich are you?” – “Not as rich as Harold Wilson.” (George) “What the best beat band in the world?” -- “Freddie.”
(Paul) “Would you be a Beatle fan
if you weren’t a Beatle?” -- “No.”
(John) And beauty when a sarcastic, “clever” reporter asked: “Ringo, what’s the time?” The Beatles answered dryly, “Time you were in
bed.” Laughter.
They played their new LP tape in their bedroom – on a
machine with terrible reproduction. “It
brings me down, listening to things that sound so bad on rotten machines,” said
Lennon. Never mind. It’s a fascinating new LP and the boys spent
hours trying to dream up a title for it.
No luck. “Magic Circles,” “Bubble and Squeak,” “Beatles on Safari,” and “Freewheelin’
Beatles” are the nearest they reached.
The album features “Good Day Sunshine” starring Paul’s voice
with George Martin on honky-tonk piano; Ringo singing a sea-shanty styled “Well
all Live in a Yellow Submarine,” written by John. A tremendous sitar showcase for George on a
track he also wrote, “love you to,” “I
want to tell you,” and a sensational, moody Paul song called “For No One.” He sings beautifully and the French horn
effects are terrific.
“Tomorrow Never knows,” the Beatles favourite from the new
LP, is what they might call pop-free-form, with incredible electronic sounds. Even the Beatles are amazed by how
revolutionary this has turned out. “Doctor
Robert,” featuring John, is a good-sounding song about wich Lennon told me, “It’s
all about a queer.” “Tax Man” written and sung by George, is
nice, and Paul’s special “Eleanor Rigby,” with violins as the surprise, is
another “Yesterday.” Glorious. A superb album.
Peter and Gordon and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
plus Germany’s Rattles completed the tour bill, and the Britons played
well. “But it’s no use competing with
THEM for applause,” said Peter Asher.
Memories of Germany:
of frauleins in exquisitely embroidered skirts. They’d actually sewn on the words and music
to “All my Loving” and “I want to hold your hand.” Memories of millions of words and much
music. Of fights and the seedy
Reeperbahn, the Beatles old haunt. Of
Germans going raving mad over the British Beatles.
If anyone could have made Hitler get off the war wagon, it
would have been John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Achtung!
"Freewheelin' Beatles" HA!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet this article is the source for "Beatles On Safari" and "Magic Circles" floating around as alternate titles for "Revolver" (as listed in "Beatles A-Z".....obviously only passing suggestions in a brainstorming session!)
Fascinating find, Ms. Sara!!! Thank you!!!
"All I want to do...
ReplyDelete..is thank you", Sara, for all the hard work you do on this wonderful site. I check it everyday, share choice bits with friends, and just generally derive a lot of pleasure from your work. Have a great day!
Fantastic article - love this site
ReplyDeleteGreat article! Many thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete-Yosi