“We’re more popular than Jesus now”
The above statement came out of John Lennon’s mouth in America during one of the Beatles tours in 1966. Before we draw any presumptuous conclusions about the egoism of the statement, let’s take a look at some facts that make it easier to understand why the co-leader of the Beatles might have uttered such a statement, “In January, 1964, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ arrived on American charts. One week later, ‘She Loves Your’ careened onto the charts---wooo! The week after that came the headlong rush of ‘Please Please Me,’ and by April, the top five singles in the country were all Beatles records. By year’s-end they had logged a head-spinning 29 hits on the U.S. charts” (Loder 1). It is a feat that has never been close to being challenged and likely may stand forever. Beatlemania had already gripped Europe, but the Fab Four arrived in America in February of 1964. They arrived here on the invitation of Ed Sullivan who had seen the furor they created in England firsthand. The Sullivan broadcast was seen by a then record 73 million Americans and the Beatles began their first U.S. tour the week after (Hirshberg 5). Yet, six short years later the Beatles would be no more. While the hysteria their presence and sound created had a great deal to do with their breakup and dissolution, there were other crucial factors that attributed to the end of the band. This analysis will discuss the affect Beatlemania among U.S. fans and enemies of the group had on its dissolution, as well as the death of long-time friend and manager Brian Epstein and the creative infighting among the group.
The Beatles hit American shores in 1964 and flew into Washington D.C. on February 7, to appear at the Coliseum. Journalists had described them as “asexual and homely” but 7,000 plus fans crammed the stadium to find out for themselves (Hirshberg 5). Even though the Beatles first single...