Playing at Red Rock

photos taken by Nicholas DeScoise

The Beatles concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater has always been one that is clouded with mystery.   Not very many photos have been available of the performance and not a lot is stated in books or magazines about this particular show.   

No one will ever truly know how many fans attended this concert.   It was not a sold-out show, however this open-air amphitheater did not have ticket takers at all of the entrances and many fans snuck into the show without paying.    Today several fans have came forward and stated that they saw the Beatles in Colorado and did not pay for a ticket.    It truly is unknown how many were there for the concert.   Besides those inside, it has been said that the parking lot was jammed packed with people that were listening to the concert in their cars.   People were sitting on top of vehicles and they could hear the Beatles without all of the screaming that those on the inside were hearing.

One myth that Chuck Gunderson dispelled is that the Beatles were taking hits from oxygen tanks during this show.    Chuck has photos of this concert that show the wings and oxygen tanks were not seen sitting out.  Also those who were there backstage did not see oxygen tanks.  So the whole oxygen rumor can be put to rest and never published in another Beatles book.   

Four Brits and a flag

photos by Nicholas DeScoise

These iconic photos of the Beatles standing with a large American flag as a backdrop appeared on the cover of 16 magazine's Beatles special and is featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.   These photos are similar to the photographs Dezo Hoffman took in January 1964 of the Beatles in Paris, yet they have a less serious look about them.

They were taken in Denver  by a then 19 year old fan named Nick DeScoise.   Nick had been photographing the Beatles in Denver for the high school where he had recently graduated.   He had taken photographs of them during the press conference and was walking with them down a hall where they saw a very large American flag on display.    Nick said in a 1995 new story about the Beatles at Red Rocks, "The idea just hit us. This wold be the funniest picture -- in front of the American flag.  They gave me five shots and then they went out and did their songs."

An impromptu photo shoot with a teenage photographer ended up being a famous photo.   Great stuff!

Scary times for the Beatles

The Beatles touring was become more and more frightening to them during the 1964 tour of North America.   They had death threats, predictions of airplane crashes and crazy riots.   The first of the big death threats seems to be from Denver, Colorado.   This note, seen here, was sent from a "Beatle Hater" prior to the show and was investigated by the FBI.    The Beatles were fully aware of the risk they took as they performed, as were Brian and George Martin as you can see from this quote from the Anthology.   (This quote really stuck with me after all of these years....maybe because we all know the fate of John).

There had been death threats. I remember going to one of their concerts at the Red Rock Stadium in Denver where Brian and I climbed up on a gantry overlooking the stage, and we looked down at the boys below during the performance; and the amphitheatre is such that you could have a sniper on the hill who could pick off any of the fellows at any time - no problem. I was very aware of this, and so was Brian, and so were the boys.'

George Martin
Anthology

If you would like to read the FBI files, there are available here. 

The Denver Press conference

This press conference has been featured a few times before on this blog.  I think the Beatles look so adorable in their little vests with their names on them.

Here is a photo that was sent in from a reader:


And some snapshots:

photo by De Scoise

photo by De Scoise

photo by De Scoise

In an article for the Daily Sentinel, Melinda  Mawdsley writes about one fan that was lucky enough to have gotten into the small press conference in Denver.

Rhealene Plumleigh, 64, had a much different experience than most of the teenagers who attended the Beatles’ Red Rocks show. She had a backstage pass.

Admittedly mature for her 14 years, Plumleigh traveled to Denver from Amarillo, Texas, armed with a press pass she’d asked for from her hometown newspaper, the Amarillo Globe-News, where she worked as a proofreader.

Most specific memories of the day have faded, but Plumleigh, who now lives in the Grand Valley, remembers several things distinctly.

First, the press room at Red Rocks was really small. She arrived early and had a seat, but then the decision was made to start screening the press members allowed in the room.

Concerned she would be kicked out — she was 14 and not in a suit — Plumleigh hid under a table.
After the screening, she took a seat in the front row.

George Harrison repeatedly pointed at her and her friend to ask questions during the pre-show press conference, she said.

“We were young, and we had intelligent questions,” Plumleigh said. “We asked about the music. The press was inclined to ask stupid questions about their life. It was so unimportant to me.”
Unfortunately, the music was tough to hear at Red Rocks, she said.

Plumleigh stood on the side of the stage for a while, thanks to her pass, where there was less screaming.

“I’m so glad I wasn’t in that crowd,” Plumleigh said. “That was crazy stuff.”

Welcome to the mile high city boys!

The Beatles landed in Denver, Colorado to thousands of fans lined up to see them.   Yep...their break was over and it was back to work for the four boys from Liverpool.  

Mile High

Paul during the Denver press conference during the 1964 North American tour.  

Denver 1964

Tonight on ebay I found the mother load of awesome press conference photos. I am supposed to be with my boyfriend right now, and he is waiting for me actually. But I had to look at ebay and then I found these photos and I am here screaming like well....like a Beatlefan!!! I have been looking for good photos from the 1964 Denver press conference forever! Look at the guys in their little cowboy vests that were given to them! EEEEEEEEEEEE!