I WAS THERE We track down the Scots fans who enjoyed The Beatles’ Magical Mystery tour 50 years on
This group of Scots are members of a unique club of their own, having seen John, Paul, George and Ringo live before the group quit touring forever in 1966.
BEATLEMANIA swept the globe over half a century ago as the Fab Four became the biggest band on the planet. But a group of Scots are members of a unique club of their own, having seen John, Paul, George and Ringo live before the group quit touring forever in 1966.
One even invented the phrase Bealtemania for the chart-toppers that was used to describe their frenzied followers. Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS tracks down the Scots who feature in a new Beatles’ book of fans’ memories.
FORMER music promoter Andi Lothian booked The Beatles for just £40 – just weeks before they shot to No1 around the world.
The Glasgow-born musician had booked the band for the Museum Hall in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, on January 5, 1963 – before they enjoyed their first major hit Please, Please Me the following month. But only rowdy, drunk farmers came to the historic show with one yob throwing a coin which chipped the guitar of a 20-year-old Paul McCartney.
He says: “I remember the whole evening so clearly. When they started She Loves You, I couldn’t get off my seat. “They were unbelievably good. Like nothing else around.” Lothian immediately arranged a meeting with The Beatles’ shrewd manager Brian Epstein – to try to re-hire the group for just £30 a night.
He says: “They played Bridge Of Allan on Saturday night and I was in Brian Epstein’s office in London by Monday lunchtime. “I suggested they come back to Scotland for £30 a night but Brian demanded £500 – which is £10,000 in today’s money. So we said yes.”
By: Matt Bendoris
Source: The Scottish Sun
