While The Beatles were on tour in North America, a Mellotron was delivered to Kenwood, John Lennon’s home in Weybridge, England.
Lennon had seen a Mellotron for the first time on 9 August 1965, while producing The Silkie’s version ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’ at London’s IBC Studios.
The Mellotron had a range of ‘sampled’ sounds stored on magnetic tapes, which had been recorded at IBC in 1964. Lennon was intrigued and impressed with the instrument, and immediately ordered one in black.
The instrument was used on a number of recordings by The Beatles from 1966 onwards, perhaps most notably in the introduction to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.
Last updated: 25 May 2010
Also on this day...
- 2019: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
- 2003: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Mahaffey Theater, St Petersburg
- 2001: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Horseshoe Casino Tunica, Robinsonville
- 1998: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Marktrock, Leuven
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, San Diego
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Riverfest Amphitheater, Little Rock
- 1989: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Kingston Fairgrounds, Kingston
- 1973: Recording: One Day (At A Time), Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple), Out The Blue, Only People, You Are Here by John Lennon
- 1972: Wings live: Rheinhalle, Düsseldorf
- 1968: Recording: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- 1966: The Beatles live: John F Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia
- 1965: Day off in New York
- 1964: The Beatles live: Opera House, Blackpool
- 1963: The Beatles live: Odeon Cinema, Llandudno
- 1962: The Beatles live: Riverpark Ballroom, Chester
- 1962: Pete Best is fired from The Beatles
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1960: Travel: Liverpool to Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Just to clarify –
Lennon’s Mellotron was his home instrument and was first used by them to make some of the tape loops for Tomorrow Never Knows – Brass and string section sound swells.
His personal instrument was never used on Beatles albums after this. It did appear on Two Virgins, and the Lost Lennon Tapes though. Other Mellotrons were hired in for the music of Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, and the White Album.
Hi
As a matter of research, do you have any sources for the details regarding the Mellotons use? I mean where did you read it?
I didn’t ‘read’ it. I have first hand information about it as a Mellotron owner, and a legal license from one of the ‘sources’ to talk about it in educational forums. Lennon’s black MK II Mellotron was used to ‘compose’ Strawberry Fields, but it was a Mahogany coloured rental unit that was used during the Sgt Pepper sessions that made it on to the song, Flying, etc, etc. This same rental unit was used by the Zombies for Odessey and Oracle who were next in to use the studio once the Beatles left. The rental unit was eventually worn out and disposed of over the years. A BBC Sound Effects Mellotron was used for the White Album for sound effects and musical snippets like the Spanish guitar intro to Bungalow Bill.