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All Things Must Beat. Share Anything Beatles!!

#2,703
hrodbert696 said:
These are older posts, but I'm quoting them just because I've been reading the Spitz biography myself and was curious about it. Without more information, the bit about factual errors is difficult to assess, because it's hard to tell if the errors are substantive or just trivia, or if they're allegations of errors around Spitz' interpretation and way of constructing the narrative by people with an interest in protecting the Beatles' legacy.

Certainly, as Spitz portrayed them, I find the Beatles very unlikeable people, narcissistic and maybe sociopathic - John and Paul certainly, maybe less so George and Ringo. It seems incredible that they would devote themselves to writing sweet romantic songs like "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" and so on in the earlier period while tearing through groupies and Reeperbahn hookers like popcorn. That seems like more of a lifestyle that would get you KISS or Van Halen lyrics than what they actually produced. Either there was a huge moral and psychic disconnect between their lives and their art, or Spitz's portrayal is indeed slanted and distorted.

The other thing that strikes me in Spitz's depiction is just how miserable the entire Beatles experience seems. They go from poverty and obscurity playing in dank basements and sleazy Hamburg brothels, to full-roar Beatlemania where they can't hear themselves play. It's funny in that respect, because it seems like most band histories and rock star biographies have this hopeful struggle to reach the top, a bright window of everything going their way, then it falls apart in drug addictions and infighting and creative and commercial collapse. The Beatles never really seem to have had the bright window; the mania wrecked it as soon as they were there.

But now I'm curious to read other takes on their career.
Click to expand...
Spitz' biography on Dylan was similar in that regard. I still like the Beatles and I still like Dylan.

Speaking of Beatles, I was inspired to look up the closed circuit movie featuring the The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Leslie Gore and found this article:
“Beatles’ D.C. Gig”Feb-March 1964 | The Pop History Dig
 
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#2,709
"All My Loving" from the Washington gig, just a few days after the first Ed Sullivan appearance. As most of you probably know, halfway through their show they had to turn 180 degrees to perform to the other side of the room. Ringo was on a riser which could rotate (he had to turn it himself!), but the other guys now had their amps facing away from their backs. Crazy. Of course, no monitors. That drum riser looks like it was borrowed from a local high school music or theater department. The MCs -- most likely local DJs who would normally be working a rock 'n' roll package tour show -- are wearing Beatle wigs. :vomit:
But listen to the atomic John/Paul/Ringo rhythm section (wheee!) and the Paul/George vocal harmony on the last verse!
I think their adrenaline/mojo levels were overflowing at this show. Just try to imagine what it felt like to be them during this week...
 
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#2,711
Band On the Run’s 50th year anniversary is here. No overdubs in this edition.

IMG_2990.jpeg
 
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