The Beatles 1964 world tour was the first world tour of the Englishrock bandthe Beatles, launched after their1964 UK tour. The reception was enthusiastic;The Spectator described it as "hysterical". It was followed by theirNorth American tour in August of that year.
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 betweenRobert Kerridge of Kerridge Odeon inAuckland,Kenn Brodziak of Aztec Service's inMelbourne, their London agent Cyril Berlin ofThe 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.[1]
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.[2] The Beatles, especiallyGeorge Harrison, wanted to postpone the tour, but Epstein and the record producerGeorge Martin decided to temporarily replace Starr withJimmie Nicol.[3] 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 inspiredPaul McCartney's song "Getting Better" from the 1967 albumSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Years later, Nicols 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.[citation needed]
The tour began on 4 June 1964 inCopenhagen, Denmark; Nicol played eight shows across five cities until Starr rejoined the band in Melbourne, Australia, on 14 June.[4] 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".[5]
^abcdefAs Ringo Starr was hospitalized in the UK,Jimmie Nicol was temporarily hired to stand in for Ringo as a drummer for the shows from 4–13 June until Ringo rejoined the group in Melbourne.
^Two shows were staged on this day; 7.30 and 9.30 pm. Backing for the 7.30 pm show was by theMaori Hi Five andSounds Incorporated. Tickets wrongly said10 June and were overstamped9 June.
^On 5 June 1964VARA organized aBeatles concert in Café RestaurantTreslong inHillegom 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 atSchiphol Airport – young women wearingVolendamfolk costumes welcoming, offering tulips and traditional Dutch hats. * the concert at Treslong. * a roundtrip by boat through the canals ofAmsterdam. The Beatles visiting the red light districtDe Wallen was not shown. * arrival at De Doelen Hotel in Amsterdam. * the concert at the Veilinghallen inBlokker. * Waving goodbye while entering an airplane at Schiphol Airport heading for the next destinationHongkong.
Armstrong, Greg; Neill, Andy (2024).When We Was Fab: Inside the Beatles Australasian Tour 1964. Woodslane Press, Warriewood NSW, Australia.ISBN978-1-922800-68-8.
Baker, Glenn A (1982).The Beatles Down Under: the 1964 Australia & New Zealand tour. Glebe, NSW Australia:Wild & Woolley.
