Last
Concert
By 1966 the group hated
touring. They were the first group to play large stadiums
but in the 1960s amplification. During the concerts
screaming drowned out the music. ‘We can’t hear
ourselves,’ Ringo complained. ‘And we’re
getting worse.’
Touring was also dangerous. The crowds were often out of
control. On one occasion sreaming girls almost overturned
their car.
Most worrying of all was the threat of assassination,
particularly in the USA. There were several death threats.
And after a remark about religion by John there were some
demonstrations.
Brian Epstein tried to
persuade the band to continue touring. But The Beatles
played their last live concert in August 1966.
Now all their creative energy went into making records.
Revolver (1966) and ‘Sergeant Pepper’ (1967)
saw dramatic changes in their music. They also helped
popularise ‘hippy’ clothes and attitudes.
