Ringo is the Shyest (1964)

 

Reporter Brian Gibson interviews John on the set of A Hard Days' Night 

Ringo is the Shyest

By Brian Gibson

The Australian Woman's Weekly 

May 27, 1964

What are they really like?  How do the Beatles view their success, their fans and their fantastic rags to riches story? In the London theater where they were filming the finale to a movie about themselves, I had an exclusive interview with the legendary lads .

    "Australia eh?" said John Lennon, with one of his mock serious expressions, "Pull up a kangaroo and sit down. "  I'd been prepared for the special brand of Beatle humor that buzzes between the famous Four. It stems from John, their acknowledged spokesman, who enjoys Goon type humor, often spiced with penetrating observations.

    Wearing a neatly cut suit and dark tie, John sat beside me in a theater seat. Older than the others, he is 23. He fixes you with his steady gaze and is certainly the most outspoken of them. His face is friendly but distinguished. You get the impression he would have made a good Roman senator. 

    His conversation is witty, sparkles with obscure jokes, and is always interesting. The voice is the nasal Liverpudlian that commands attention. George is sitting in front of us in the theater. He has the same kind of accent, but is a more deliberate speaker than John. Paul, who was buzzing around in the background, is quick-witted and an intent listener. Ringo wasn't there. On the previous occasion I had met him, he was alert but difficult to communicate with. Everyone says he is the shyest of the four. 

    "You know," said John, "When they told us how well our discs were going in Australia, we could hardly believe it. Naturally, we're looking forward to the visit. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing some relatives in New Zealand, because we've never met." 

    Although their Australian visit is going to call for strict security precautions, they hope to do some surfing. "We went water skiing in Florida and had a marvelous time," said, John, "so I'm hoping we'll get the chance to go out on the Aussie beaches. Everyone says they're great."

     George turned around and asked that they use pounds, shillings and pence in Australia. "Of course, they do," replied John.  "I'm glad," said George, "We didn't get on well with dollars and cents in America."

     The kind of money the Beatles are currently earning defies calculation. Besides record sales and royalties from the hits that John and Paul write, there are fantastic fees from television and concert work, plus royalties from articles bearing their name. In America alone, they hope to make £5 million this year from trade concessions. It's an estimate that, after paying heavy tax, each of them, in the first year, banked more than £90,000. "We honestly don't know how much we're making," said John. "It all goes to accountants who put it into various funds and stocks for our old age. We get a weekly allowance each, but we seldom spend it. What chance do we get to go out?"

     The restrictions that fame imposes have become the Beatles' biggest problem. Going out is virtually impossible, and during filming in London, all meals were sent into the theater. "If we went out, the fans would tear us apart," said John. "Occasionally, one of us will slip out for ciggies or something like that. It's a risk, but you'll be surprised at how many people think we travel around as a foursome, that we never go out on our own. Paul went up to Liverpool the other day on his own and wasn't recognized. That kind of thing doesn't happen often. "

    Wherever their presence is announced, vast crowds of teenagers form, squealing with delight when they glimpse their idols. At the theater where I met the Beatles, a heavy police guard had been mounted on every door. But it didn't stop a band of overenthusiastic fans from smashing some windows and coming into the theater. It took theater staff two hours to find them all and held up filming. Said John, "Some of them are too rowdy. That's why we don't see a lot of the fans these days; they want to tear at your clothes and hair. It's no joke to have 1000 screaming kids after you. On the other hand, there are the ones who are sensible about it. I live in Earl's Court, and every day there's a crowd who gather when I come out or go in. They're always well-behaved. I usually stop for a chat and sign autographs."

     The Beatles' film has the boys playing themselves in a story that sets out to show a couple of typical days in their lives. The American producer Walter Shenson told me, "This was the only formula that fitted what we had in mind. The Beatles are very much individuals, and we're trying to show this in the picture. It's in black and white because they're really black and white people. There are naturals in front of the camera."

     But the pace is grueling. As Paul pointed out, "It's a very tiring job this filming. You have to get up early, and there's a lot of hanging around. Once you're working, it's fine, but we don't like the waiting around ."

    Ringo wasn't on hand to give his observation. "He's not on call today," said George, "so I expect he'll be sleeping. Want me to ring him and say you'd like to speak to him?"  John laughed. "He wouldn't bother to get up anyway. He loves his rest," he said. "We all do. Honestly, we work the maddest hours ever. It's a crazy life, but great fun."

    Success has changed the Beatles very little. When I first met them over a year ago, they were hoping to make the grade and were a little unsure of their chances. Today, they exude confidence and have a polished air that success brings, yet they're still friendly and warm. The technicians on the set laughed and joked with them and found them great to work with. "No, we haven't changed really," said John. "What success really does for you is give you a feeling of confidence in yourself. It's an indescribable feeling, but once you've had it, you never want it to stop. You see, we never set out to do it this way, and we certainly never dreamed it would end up as big as this. It all just happened, and we're lucky."

     One of John Lennon's biggest problems is created by the fact that he's married. His wife, Cynthia, is kept hidden behind a tight veil of security, and Lennon has hitherinto refuse to even mention her name, but he told me, "I like to keep my work and my private life separate, which is why I keep Cynthia out of the picture. I took her to America because I thought that a trip like that comes once in a lifetime, and she deserved it. I dearly love to take her to Australia, but the schedule looks too grueling."

     When the Beatles return from Australia, they will embark on television and concert appearances in America and a British tour. Walter Shenson wants them for another film and is already searching for a subject. 

    How long can they last? Is the question everyone asked. John is adamant on that point, "We won't leave the scene suddenly from one day to another, but we may fade, and of course, we will all be sad when that happens, but I think by then we'll have put back enough money. We won't starve. I can tell you."