60th Anniversary of the British Invasion!

McCartney and Lennon at the Coliseum show. (source: AP)

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ first tour in the United States, ushering in the British Invasion that would shape the musical landscape for years to come. Their first live show was at D.C.’s Washington Coliseum and followed the Beatles’ television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show two days before. With their Coliseum show, the Beatles were introduced to the chaos of touring that would dominate their lives for the next few years, and the United States was introduced to one of the most influential music groups of all time.

By early 1964, England was firmly in the grip of Beatlemania, the band’s live performances drowned out by screams of devoted fans. The Beatles’ stardom was assured, but it was their first tour in the U.S. that cemented their status as global pop stars. With the Coliseum show, the Beatles encountered the challenges that would come with touring. Between adoring fans, problems with the sound system, and poor acoustics in the venue, the Beatles could hardly hear themselves play. Nevertheless, it was an auspicious live introduction to the United States that laid the groundwork for their 1964 tour later that year.

Harrison by McCartney (source: AP)

Just recently, over 1,000 photographs snapped by Paul McCartney from this period were unearthed by an archivist, depicting the band’s rapid rise to fame. In them, the Beatles sport the shaggy mop-top haircuts and clean-cut suits that they wore as they introduced the U.S. to their early love ballads. Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm is now on display at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA and will later arrive at the Brooklyn Museum on May 3.

A new exhibit at the Liverpool Beatles Museum featuring the rear garden door of George Harrison’s childhood home has opened for public display as well! This door was removed during renovation of the house and has been shared with museum by the home's current owner, Ken Lambert. Now fans of the Fab Four can see the doorway George, John, and Paul crossed through on their way to their earliest practice sessions at 25 Upton Green. Ken has also shared material from an interior doorway of the house with Mini Museum, which is currently available in our shop as one of three Beatles artifacts available in our collection! Check our Beatles items here!