You could go back in time to see one Beatles' concert. Which of these would it be?

Probably the rooftop, that way I'd be able to actually hear something other than screaming.

 

Was Topo Gigio on any of the same shows as The Beatles?

 

The Cavern after Ringo joined. Second choice might be the show they did here in Kansas City. Most people I've spoken to who attended the show say they did "Kansas City" at the show, that would've been cool.

 

Hmm, either the one in Aldershot that only had 6 people in the audience, or the "Mersey Festival" where they played w/ Gerry and the Paceys and various others, and ended with an all-star "Gerry and the Beatmakers" lineup - I think it actually holds the record for their largest ever UK audience, and this was before their first single - which shows how out-of-touch the London based record business was.

 

among these contenders:

Cavern Club
1964 show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
any 1966 show with the Remains

 

I do too. Though I’m not one of them, sadly.
My older friend who did attend in ‘64 said that he had to plug his ears because the screaming was insane. He turned to a girl next to him and asked her why she was acting like this and her response was to scream louder.

Which year would you choose?

 

Were these guys also on the bill?

 

If I take my age into account I actually gotta go with Roof top. I might remember it.

 

You can start your own thread: “Which Concerts Did You Not Attend?”

 

Cavern all the way. I love sweatbox rock shows!

 

The Cavern. For me, no question. Seeing them relaxed and informal in that setting must have been great!

 

I would attend any of the larger 1963 UK concerts prior to their American television debut.

Beatlemania was just starting to expand outside of The Cavern if I'm not mistaken.

Then again do the BBC performances count?

 

I have to agree with this.

 

Dewey - that is hilarious!!! Oh my God. And here they are:



Sample lyric: "Roses are red, violets are blue, below the belt is what I wanna do to you"

 

Rooftop because I like later Beatles better than early Beatles. But Washington DC would be 2nd, just because of the sheer wonder of seeing such a phenomenon!!

 

Sullivan comes a closer second than I first thought. But for that "birth of the legend" feeling, nothing would top this.

(Great question.)

 

You reminded me of the time i bought the Ed Sullivan show DVD - about 2004? - and they had all the shows, in great quality, presented 'as broadcast'. It was a real eye-opener for me as a Brit just to see the style of American TV back then. The fact that the show had a sponsor who had to be mentioned at various points - this didn't happen on UK tv back then. Ed Sullivan was another revelation - he looks so uncomfortable when he's speaking to the audience. When The Beatles come on, the girls' reaction is hilarious - they almost look shocked!

 

The Hamburg show where Paul & Stu got into a fight on stage (which I believe was Stu's last performance as a Beatle).

 

I'd be happy with any one!

 

June 30, 1966 Budokan. From reading that the audience was subdued and you could hear the music.

 

Swedish TV, Oct 1963

 

That one with Phil Collins. I want to stand next to Phil Collins while watching the Beatles.

 

Christmas Show 63 , at the Rainbow, my mum was there with her sister.
Would have been great to see them screen and shout.

Failing that, a latter Cavern Gig with Ringo would be the one.

 

I'd do Ed just to get a completely different sense of things simply by seeing something that's so familiar, but in color.

The rooftop we've seen in color. The footage is almost good enough that you can imagine being there.

 

Blackpool Opera House on August 16, 1964 with The Kinks and The High Numbers (soon to be The Who) supporting.