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Visit the author’s website at www.beatleness.com
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Leonard, Candy.
Beatleness: how the Beatles and their fans remade the world/Candy Leonard.—First edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-62872-417-2 (hc: alk. paper) 1. Beatles—Influence. 2. Popular music—Social aspects—United
States—History—20th century. 3. Popular culture—United States—History—20th century. 4. Nineteen
sixties—Social aspects—United States.
5. Popular music fans—United States—History—20th century. I. Title.
ML421.B4L39 2014
782.42166092'2—dc23
2014009103
Cover design by Brian Peterson Cover photo © AP Images Print ISBN: 978-1-62872-417-2
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62872455-4
Printed in the United States of America
For Adam and Janna, who inspire me every day
Beatleness /be-tl-n∂s, be-tl-nis/
noun
1. the qualities or characteristics of the Beatles and their works; a manifestation
of the essential qualities that define “the Beatles”
2. an emotional or spiritual state, condition, or feeling resulting from exposure to
or thinking about the Beatles and their works 3. the cultural references and
artifacts, tangible and intangible, that evoke the Beatles; artistic or commercial
use of words and images associated with or evocative of the Beatles
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
One Setting the Stage
Two Something New
Ed Sullivan Show to A Hard Day’s Night February 9, 1964–July 1964
Three British Boys
A Hard Day’s Night to Help!
August 1964–November 1965
Four The Embodiment of Cool
Rubber Soul to Revolver December 1965–January 1967
Five I’d Love to Turn You On
“Penny Lane”/“Strawberry Fields Forever” to Magical Mystery Tour
February 1967–December 1967
Six We All Want to Change the World
“Hey Jude”/“Revolution” to Abbey Road
January 1968–December 1968
Seven The Last Leg
Abbey Road to Let It Be January 1969–May 1970
Eight Beatleness Abounds
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Preface
BEATLENESS IS THE STORY OF FIRST-GENERATION American Beatle fans—the millions
of children and adolescents who welcomed the Beatles into their lives in
February 1964. It’s about the young people who were in the right place at the
right time at the right age to observe and participate in an unprecedented
historical event that lasted for six years and left a permanent mark on them.
Beatlemania happened because a unique set of cultural and historical forces
converged in February 1964. Fifty years later, many fans are genuinely puzzled
about why the Beatles still mean so much to them. As one female fan (b. ’56)
explained, “I was seven years old and it had an effect on me I still don’t
understand.” Some wonder about it quite a bit, some are even slightly
embarrassed by it. Beatleness explains how that unique relationship was able to
develop, its impact on fans, and its impact on the world.
First-generation Beatle fans believe they experienced something truly
extraordinary. This book shows why that’s true and how it happened.
Beatleness doesn’t include the perspective of Beatle insiders, friends, or ex-
lovers. It doesn’t include opinion from the usual “Beatle experts.” It does,
however, include the perspective of people who possess authentic expertise about
the Beatles’ impact—the fans. It’s not laden with minutiae about the lives of the
Beatles or their inner circle. Instead, it chronicles and captures the experience
and the impact of growing up with the Beatles, from February 1964 through May
1970, watching them flower during a period of rapid social change, much of
which the band and their fans brought about.
My purpose in writing this book is to fill three gaps in the vast Beatles
literature. The fans have always been a main part of the Beatle story, yet the fan
experience has not been looked at from a cultural or historical perspective. There
are several books about Elvis fans, ranging from lighthearted to snarky to
thoughtful cultural analysis. Similarly, the appeal of Star Trek has been explored
from a variety of perspectives, including that of Trekkies. There are several books
about fans of the Grateful Dead, and the fandom surrounding Bruce Springsteen
has also been the subject of critical analysis. Surprisingly, there has been no
focused effort to understand Beatle fans since the spring of 1964, when Dr. Joyce
Brothers, godmother of celebrity shrinks, was asked to explain Beatlemania.
I’ve read many books about the Beatles over the years—starting at age twelve
Description:The Beatles arrived in the United States on February 7, 1964, and immediately became a constant, compelling presence in fans’ lives. For the next six years, the band presented a nonstop deluge of sounds, words, images, and ideas, transforming the childhood and adolescence of millions of baby boome
