The Beatles 1964 world tour was the first world tour of the English rock band the Beatles, launched after their 1964 UK tour. The reception was enthusiastic; The Spectator described it as "hysterical". It was followed by their North American tour in August of that year.
Tour history
Negotiations for an Australasian tour started in October 1963, and their manager, Brian Epstein, signed in January 1964 (a month before the Beatles' American tour). The weekly cost increased from £1500 to £2500, plus airfares and excess baggage for drums and amps. The negotiations between Robert Kerridge of Kerridge Odeon in Auckland, Kenn Brodziak of Aztec Service's in Melbourne, their London agent Cyril Berlin of The Grade Organisation and Epstein were by telegram (many reproduced in the 2024 book).
The Beatles were stated to have made £250,000 from their Australasian tour.The Press (Christchurh), 10 July
Jimmie Nicol temporarily replaces Ringo Starr
On the morning of 3 June 1964, the day before the tour was to begin, Ringo Starr, the band's drummer, fell ill during a photo session. He fainted and was taken to hospital with a strong fever, where he was diagnosed with severe tonsillitis and hospitalised for a few days in London. The Beatles, especially George Harrison, wanted to postpone the tour, but Epstein and the record producer George Martin decided to temporarily replace Starr with Jimmie Nicol. When Starr heard this, he was convinced he was about to be permanently replaced.
During rehearsals, when the Beatles asked Nicol how he was doing, his answer was always "It's getting better"; this phrase later inspired Paul McCartney's song "Getting Better" from the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Years later, Nicol said that he would have done the tour for free, but Epstein offered him £2,500 per performance and a £2,500 bonus. "I couldn't sleep that night, I was one of the fucking Beatles!" he said in a 1988 interview.
The tour began on 4 June 1964 in Copenhagen, Denmark; Nicol played eight shows across five cities until Starr rejoined the band in Melbourne, Australia, on 14 June. Nicol, a very shy person, did not say goodbye to the group and left at night while they were sleeping. At the airport, Epstein gave him £500 and a gold watch with the inscription "From The Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmie - with appreciation and gratitude". On the return journey on the plane he was very sad, feeling "like a bastard child rejected by his new family".
Tour dates Date City Country Venue Europe 4 June 1964 Copenhagen Denmark K.B. Hallen 5 June 1964 Hillegom Netherlands Treslong, TV appearance for VARA 6 June 1964 Blokker VeilinghallenOn 5 June 1964 VARA organized a Beatles concert in Café Restaurant Treslong in Hillegom as part of their three day visit to the Netherlands as part of their world tour, which got a television registration. On 8 June 1964 a complete summary of the Beatles' visit to the Netherlands was broadcast.The visualization of the three day visit showed:* arrival at Schiphol Airport – young women wearing Volendam folk costumes welcoming, offering tulips and traditional Dutch hats.* the concert at Treslong.* a roundtrip by boat through the canals of Amsterdam. The Beatles visiting the red light district De Wallen was not shown.* arrival at De Doelen Hotel in Amsterdam.* the concert at the Veilinghallen in Blokker.* Waving goodbye while entering an airplane at Schiphol Airport heading for the next destination Hongkong. Asia 9 June 1964 Kowloon British Hong Kong Princess Theatre Oceania 12 June 1964Adelaide Australia Centennial Hall 13 June 1964 15 June 1964Melbourne Festival Hall 16 June 1964 17 June 1964 18 June 1964Sydney Sydney Stadium 19 June 1964 20 June 1964 22 June 1964Wellington New Zealand Wellington Town Hall 23 June 1964 24 June 1964Auckland Auckland Town Hall 25 June 1964 26 June 1964 Dunedin Dunedin Town Hall 27 June 1964 Christchurch Majestic Theatre 29 June 1964Brisbane Australia Brisbane Festival Hall 30 June 1964 Europe 12 July 1964 Brighton England Hippodrome Theatre 19 July 1964 Blackpool ABC Cinema 23 July 1964 London London Palladium 26 July 1964 Blackpool Blackpool Opera House 28 July 1964 Stockholm Sweden Johanneshovs Isstadion 29 July 1964 2 August 1964 Bournemouth England Gaumont 9 August 1964 Scarborough Futurist Theatre 16 August 1964 Blackpool Blackpool Opera House
Typical set list The typical set list for the shows was as follows (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)
See also The Beatles' 1964 tour of Australasia The Beatles' 1964 North American tour List of the Beatles' live performances Beatles '64, a 2024 documentary film
Notes
External links The Beatles tour New Zealand.
References
Sources The Spectator, Volume 213, 1964