The Beatles 1964 World Tour followed one at home in the UK. Having completed shows in Denmark, Netherlands and Hong Kong, their BOAC plane flew into Darwin for refuelling at 2am on 11 June. They then continued to Sydney for a rest day, arriving at around 7.45am.
12-13 June: Adelaide – Centennial Hall – 4 shows
15-17 June: Melbourne – Festival Hall – 6 shows
18-20 June: Sydney – Sydney Stadium – 6 shows
22-27 June: New Zealand: Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch
29-30 June: Brisbane – Festival Hall – 4 shows
At first, drummer Jimmie Nicol was a stand-in for Ringo while he recovered in a London hospital from severe tonsilitis. Ringo was able to join the tour in Melbourne and a rather sad Jimmie returned to England. He was unable to say goodbye to the group and left at night while they were sleeping. At the airport, Brian Epstein handed him a gold watch with the inscription “From The Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmie – with appreciation and gratitude”.
The Beatles were in Sydney on the day of Paul McCartney’s 22nd birthday. A party was held, attended by 15 girls who won the privilege in a newspaper competition.
After leaving Australia, The Beatles performed at concerts in England and Sweden in July, then toured Canada and the US in August.
Some highlights of The Beatles in Australia:
Raw footage of a Beatles concert on their final night at Festival Hall, Melbourne. It was filmed by GTV-9 for a TV special, The Beatles Sing For Shell.
The Beatles were greeted by more than 300,000 people in Adelaide:
A typical set list for the shows (with lead singers noted):
I Saw Her Standing There (Paul McCartney)
I Want To Hold Your Hand (John Lennon and Paul McCartney) or You Can’t Do That (John Lennon)
All My Loving (Paul McCartney)
She Loves You (John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison)
Till There Was You (Paul McCartney)
Roll Over Beethoven (George Harrison)
Can’t Buy Me Love (Paul McCartney)
This Boy (John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison)
Twist and Shout (John Lennon)
Long Tall Sally (Paul McCartney)
Red song titles link to that song on our website….
1964 was a big year for chart hits by The Beatles. 18 singles/EPs made the Top 40 in Australia, some as double-A-side singles:
Twist and Shout
I Saw Her Standing There / Love Me Do**
Please Please Me
The Beatles Hits: Please Please Me
From Me to You / Thank You Girl
My Bonnie (The Beatles with Tony Sheridan)
Roll Over, Beethoven / Hold Me Tight**
The Beatles No 1: Anna (Go to Him) / Chains / Misery
All My Loving**
Can’t Buy Me Love / You Can’t Do That**
Cry For a Shadow (The Beatles with Tony Sheridan)
Requests: Long Tall Sally / Boys / I Call Your Name**
Ain’t She Sweet
A Hard Day’s Night / Things We Said Today**
More Requests: Slow Down / Matchbox / Till There Was You
I Should Have Known Better / If I Fell**
I Feel Fine / She’s a Woman**
And I Love Her / Tell Me Why
The Beatles had already charted in Australia with these 1963 hits: Please Please Me, From Me to You, She Loves You / I’ll Get You, and I Want to Hold Your Hand / This Boy**.
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
**a #1 hit
Also on Bang a Gong: Top 40 radio DJ Bob Rogers was called “The 5th Beatle” after accompanying them around Australia
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