The Beatles' triumphant return to Liverpool – archive, 1964
The Beatles returned to Liverpool last night to attend the northern premiere of their film A Hard Day’s Night and, presumably, to put an end to the rumours that their popularity on Merseyside was on the wane.
In case any readers have just come from Mars, the Beatles are the four long-haired musicians who sing rock’n’roll music and have become as permanent a part of the Liverpool scene as the sight of ferry boats on the Mersey. But, unlike the Mersey ferries the Beatles have been playing in foreign waters: America, Australia, France, and what is even more obnoxiously foreign to Liverpudlians, London.
Thus the care and caution of Mr Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager, in organising this triumphant return. If Mr Epstein did spend any sleepless nights worrying about the Beatles’ honour in their own country he was wasting his time. Long before their aircraft from London arrived at Speke airport all the signs of a successful re-entrance to Liverpool were there. The rooftop at the airport was crowded with screaming teenagers, a prerequisite to Beatles’ entrances and exits, and there were so many policemen on duty that it looked as if they were there to protect each other.
Hysteria
The mere sight of the aircraft coming in, sent hysterical shrieking up from the rooftop. The teenagers cheered even the luggage that was being taken from the aeroplane’s hold. There were no “Welcome Home” banners, a point which John Lennon, the author of Beatle, did not miss. He pointed to an airport sign reading “Naked lights and smoking Prohibited” and wondered what kind of a welcome that was.
Source: theguardian.com
