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When We Was Fab
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January 5, 2025
This book is epic in size and scope. Literally the book is huge! It is a giant square-shaped hardback, which is both the size and shape of a 45 LP - which must be deliberate. In scope, the two authors have done extremely extensive research regarding The Beatles tour of both Australia and New Zealand in 1964, often going into minute detail about what happened when, where and how. For example, the book begins very dryly, with a lot of names, dates and details regarding the machinations it took between the tour organisers in Australasia, and The Beatles' management, in order to even bring them Down Under. The Fab Four do not even properly show up in the book until around chapter 7, so for those reading specfically to find out about how The Beatles spent their time in Australia and New Zealand, there is quite a delay.
However, the committment to detail is impressive, and once The Beatles have properly entered their own story, the added detail really brings to life their time spent Down Under. It really shows what an absolute phenomenon The Beatles were to the youth of the world, and the mania that followed them everywhere they went on the tour: from thousands thronging the airports and the streets upon their arrival, to first hand accounts from teenagers who managed to contrive to meet them, it really demonstrates what a seachange The Beatles ushered in in the 1960s. The Beatles were so famous that they were basically trapped in their hotel rooms for the entirety of the tour, and often had trouble leaving their hotels in order to get to their concert venues. Not to mention being drowned out by the screaming when they got to perform!
Being from New Zealand I did find it sad that the book emphasised how much less The Beatles enjoyed their time in my country in comparison to their time in Australia, but one of the authors is Australian, so that may explain it!
I think this book is a must-read for any serious Beatles fan as it is chock full of first hand stories and anecdotes from eyewitnesses on the tour, as well as photos and images of memorabilia from the time. The epilogue at the end covers what subsequently happened to major "characters" featured in the story, such as Jimmy Nicol, who filled in as drummer for Ringo for the first half of the tour due to Ringo being ill. Beatles fans will devour this book!
However, the committment to detail is impressive, and once The Beatles have properly entered their own story, the added detail really brings to life their time spent Down Under. It really shows what an absolute phenomenon The Beatles were to the youth of the world, and the mania that followed them everywhere they went on the tour: from thousands thronging the airports and the streets upon their arrival, to first hand accounts from teenagers who managed to contrive to meet them, it really demonstrates what a seachange The Beatles ushered in in the 1960s. The Beatles were so famous that they were basically trapped in their hotel rooms for the entirety of the tour, and often had trouble leaving their hotels in order to get to their concert venues. Not to mention being drowned out by the screaming when they got to perform!
Being from New Zealand I did find it sad that the book emphasised how much less The Beatles enjoyed their time in my country in comparison to their time in Australia, but one of the authors is Australian, so that may explain it!
I think this book is a must-read for any serious Beatles fan as it is chock full of first hand stories and anecdotes from eyewitnesses on the tour, as well as photos and images of memorabilia from the time. The epilogue at the end covers what subsequently happened to major "characters" featured in the story, such as Jimmy Nicol, who filled in as drummer for Ringo for the first half of the tour due to Ringo being ill. Beatles fans will devour this book!
Displaying 1 of 1 review