Wellingtonian editorial: When The Beatles came to town

The Bootleg Beatles revived happy memories for some Wellingtonians this week. The four English musicians make their living touring the world giving "Beatles" concerts. There are a few Beatles imitators, including an impressive group of New Yorkers called the Fab Faux. But The Bootleg Beatles are so good that they've had ringing endorsements from Beatles manager Sir George Martin and from Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison. They are playing at the St James until Sunday, and no doubt their shows will be well received. People will be twisting and shouting to their hearts' delight. However, it's doubtful if The Bootleg Beatles will bring any more joy to people than they did on Tuesday lunchtime when they stepped on to the balcony of the former St George Hotel and belted out a few Beatles classics. The real Beatles stood on the same balcony in June 1964 and waved to 7000 adoring fans. The Bootleg Beatles' appearance this week recalled one of the maddest weeks in New Zealand history. The Beatles arrived in Wellington from Sydney on Sunday, June 21, after a sensationally popular tour of Australia. They were met at Wellington airport by nearly 8000 fans and received a Maori welcome, including a haka and a hongi. Drummer Ringo Starr stepped behind a policeman and whispered in his ear jokingly: "Tell them we come in peace." Once the Fab Four had checked into the St George, a crowd gathered outside and began calling for The Beatles until they finally appeared on the now famous balcony. The Beatles played four shows at the Town Hall: two on Monday evening, two on Tuesday evening. Their shows comprised 11 songs and lasted just over 22 minutes, which doesn't sound much, but they left the full houses of 2500 fans more than satisfied. Their shows also included other musicians such as Johnny Devlin, Sounds Incorporated and a couple of blond American male singers with unusually high-pitched voices. After their second show each evening, The Beatles returned to the St George, where again crowds gathered and called for them, until they appeared at a window and waved. Ringo Starr played in Wellington, having missed most of the Australian tour because of tonsilitis. A fill-in drummer had taken his place. The Beatles were in New Zealand for seven days and were immensely popular - Beatlemania was just as big in New Zealand as it was in Britain, the United States and Australia. New Zealanders loved them and The Beatles were very friendly in public, although it later transpired, from books they wrote, that they had been rather bored while they were here and couldn't believe how early our one television channel closed for the evening. Ad Feedback Wellingtonians with an eye for these things were impressed with The Bootleg Beatles up on the St George balcony. Steve White, who plays Paul McCartney, even plays left-handed like the master and uses a Hofner bass, with its distinctive violin shape. A crowd quickly gathered to watch them this week, and some began calling out the names of favourite Beatles songs they wanted to hear. No-one seemed to want to leave. Perhaps there were too many warm memories from a time long past. - The Wellingtonian http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/7858197/Wellingtonian-editorial-When-The-Beatles-came-to-town