Although they famously performed on the rooftop of Apple in January 1969, 1 May 1966 was The Beatles’ final scheduled live appearance in Britain.
It was their fourth appearance at the New Musical Express Annual Poll-Winners’ All-Star Concert, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley, London. The Beatles performed before an audience of 10,000.
The group were on a bill which also included The Spencer Davis Group, The Fortunes, Herman’s Hermits, Roy Orbison, The Overlanders, The Alan Price Set, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, The Small Faces, Sounds Incorporated, Dusty Springfield, Crispian St Peters, The Walker Brothers, The Who, The Yardbirds, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. The comperes were Peter Murray and Jimmy Savile.
The Beatles played a 15-minute set which included five songs: ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Day Tripper’, ‘If I Needed Someone’, and ‘I’m Down’.
Although ABC TV was filming the concert, Brian Epstein failed to reach an agreement over terms, so the cameras were turned off while The Beatles performed. The group were, however, filmed receiving their poll awards.
Wings performed at the Empire Pool on 19, 20, and 21 October 1976, and at the renamed Wembley Arena on 7, 8, 9, and 10 December 1979. Paul McCartney performed solo concerts there on 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 26 January 1990.
You’ve written “Dave, Dee, Dozy Beaky Mick & Titch” but it should be “Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch”. Dave Dee was one person and the others need commas between their names. Small point but I thought I’d mention it.
So I did – thanks for pointing it out Matt.
While we’re correcting things, Titch is not quite right..he was Tich.
I met Dave Dee once in Berlin. I won’t mention what kind of a person he was!
No wonder he didn’t perform on “I Me Mine!”
😉
This particular NME Show was infamous for the Who’s set – evidently Townshend and in particular, Keith Moon,really went over the top with their instrument smashing. By all accounts I’ve read of this event, they really stole the show yet no footage of their performance seems to exist.
The concert was not filmed because of legal issues regarding licensing.
I was there for this concert. the staff hammered keith moons drum kit into the floor but he still kicked it
all over the stage by the end.
I vaguely remember clint eastwood being there, did he present something?
That’s Clint Walker, not Eastwood. Apparently he was filming the movie The Dirty Dozen in the UK and was asked to be the awards presenter. Video of the presentations can be seen here.
Keith Moon’s kit was on a high riser, not the floor. He kicked it off the front of that and then it really was all over the floor!
Keith Moon seemed like a cupcake compared to the tantrum Lennon had before the show!