The Beatles 3. Their Growing Fame

Beatles 3 - Their Growing Fame

It seems bonkers now, but even with a storming number one record behind them, The Beatles were still travelling the length and breadth of the country either in an ordinary (far from luxurious) coach or in a clapped-out old van.

Did Take That have to suffer such indignity after their first number one?

And despite their already substantial fame at this point, the Fab Four were playing not large venues, but relatively humble places like the Shrewsbury Music Hall.

Again, it’s hard to imagine nowadays a band, at that level of fame, playing quite small theatres.

But what we forget is that in 1963, rock and roll as we know it today was still being invented.

Firstly, there was still a post-war mentality that demanded show business acts (and that is exactly how the Fab Four would have been perceived at this time) had to pay their dues.

They had to go out there and learn their craft – like four little Arthur Askeys or four little Jimmy Tarbucks – playing, to begin with, pubs and church halls and dodgy clubs, then small theatres, and eventually bigger theatres.

Not only were they making records, but they were being interviewed on radio shows (regularly) and TV shows and for magazines. It was all good publicity.

One day, if they were very very good little Beatles and kept their noses clean, they might get the chance to play to bigger audiences, maybe even tour in Australia and Japan. But they would have to pay their dues.

Secondly, it was unheard of at this time for pop groups to play sports arenas.

The age of super-tours with bands taking over football stadia was still some way off.

But it would be The Beatles and groups that followed in their wake that would change all that.

They had already grown from playing purely in the Liverpool area to playing across the UK.

1964 would prove a turning point.

They began the year with 10 appearances in London. Then it was off to Paris for 20 shows. And then America.

Their appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show have become the stuff of legend. This was considered a milestone in American culture and the beginning of what would become known as ‘the British invasion’.

And in the summer of 1964 they played 25 concerts across the United States and Canada. There was no stopping them now.

Gradually, the sound systems were becoming more sophisticated. Rock fans were developing an appetite for bigger concerts and outdoor festivals.

Although there were still British tours to come for The Beatles, the likes of the Shrewsbury Music Hall would not see them again.

The people of Shropshire would now have to watch from afar as the rest of The Beatles’ story unfolded.