The eighth date of The Beatles’ final tour took place at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee, where they performed two concerts.
The Coliseum was able to accommodate 13,300 people. For the first show, which began at 4pm, The Beatles were seen by 10,000 people; the second started at 8.30pm and was attended by 12,500.
The support acts were The Remains, Bobby Hebb, The Cyrkle and The Ronettes. The Beatles’ set for both shows consisted of 11 songs: ‘Rock And Roll Music’, ‘She’s A Woman’, ‘If I Needed Someone’, ‘Day Tripper’, ‘Baby’s In Black’, ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘Yesterday’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Paperback Writer’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’.
The Beatles’ final tour was mired in controversy arising from John Lennon’s comments that The Beatles’ were “more popular than Jesus. Although they had sought to downplay the statement in press conferences and interviews, there was much opposition to them, manifested in record-burning, radio boycotts and protests outside venues.
The anti-Beatles feelings were particularly strong in America’s Bible belt, and a local preacher, the Reverend Jimmy Stroad, staged a rally outside the Coliseum. Six members of the Ku Klux Klan also picketed outside the venue wearing full robes.
During their second Memphis concert an event which subsequently became known as the ‘Cherry Bomb’ incident took place. A cherry bomb firecracker was thrown onto the stage. The Beatles each looked at one another, thinking a shot had been fired and wondering who had been hit.
One night on a show in the South somewhere somebody let off a firecracker while we were on stage. There had been threats to shoot us, the Klan were burning Beatle records outside and a lot of the crew-cut kids were joining in with them. Somebody let off a firecracker and every one of us – I think it’s on film – look at each other, because each thought it was the other that had been shot. It was that bad.
The concert was recorded by two teenage girls; the tape reveals that the explosion took place during ‘If I Needed Someone’, and The Beatles finished the song with increased urgency. If there was a single catalyst that led them to the decision to quit touring, this may well have been it.
After the show various decoy cars were used to fool protestors, but The Beatles’ coach was still surrounded by demonstrators. They were driven to Memphis Metropolitan Airport, from where they flew to Cincinnati, Ohio. They arrived at 1.35 the following morning.
Also on this day...
- 2010: Paul McCartney live: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh
- 2009: Paul McCartney live: Cowboys Stadium, Dallas
- 2003: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Alico Arena, Fort Myers
- 2001: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Frontier City, Oklahoma City
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
- 1989: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: CNE Grandstand, Toronto
- 1972: Wings live: Martinihal, Groningen
- 1969: Recording, mixing: The End, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, Something, Here Comes The Sun
- 1967: Jason Starkey is born
- 1965: The Beatles live: Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston
- 1964: The Beatles live: Cow Palace, San Francisco
- 1963: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Aintree Institute, Liverpool
- 1960: The Beatles live: Indra Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
I was at the evening show and witnessed the cherry bomb incident. Was watching Paul and noticed the his eyes darted towards JL as soon as the cherry bomb went off. To his credit, Paul was able to continue playing without a hitch. Scary! No wonder they quit touring!!
Have a look at this 1968 interview with John and Paul, particularly the bit at 8:40.
“Out of all your experiences in the United States, what would you say was the highlight of your career here?”
“Escaping from Memphis.”
As with the previous night, the tape of this date has Long Tall Sally as the final song in both sets.
Why aren’t there any promotional posters for this concert? Haven’t seen any ripoffs either.
Does anyone know if they appeared on a radio program around this time? My dad used to say that he won a radio call in and was able to talk to Lennon and McCartney about the controversy.
I was at the night show on August 19 at the Mid-South Coliseum. Contrary to what many people say, the cherry bomb was not thrown on the stage. I had center seats near the stage, and when the cherry bomb exploded I looked to my left and the cops were hauling away some guy about 75 feet or so from the stage. All I remember is that the Beatles seemed to duck in time and did not miss a beat on If I Needed Someone. Great show.
I was at the first show. I am the one looking between the bars above Paul’s head.
I was there too. I was on the floor in the nineteenth row. The guy that threw the cherry bomb was up in the balcony seats in the first row. I saw the cops taking him away.
I was at the evening show. The picture taken of them on stage shows me looking under the guard rail just above Pauls head. I was 16 years old then. I am 66 now. My brother was in the audience in front.
I was at the afternoon show in Memphis sitting about 10 rows off the corner of the stage. I also attended their concerts in Atlanta 65 and Jacksonville 64. The sound in Memphis was a little better than the others but not much.
I wonder why John and Paul had to change to another mike in such a hurry? John at the beginning of the first song, Rock & roll music. Then Paul did the same during Yesterday. Somebody films him as he quickly leaps over to George´s mike so the filmer loses him temporarily. I know the story about electrical shocks because of rain on the equipment, but that was the outdoor show at St.Louis, not this one. They can be heard singing and used the same mike for the other songs so it can´t be faulty mikes-
I just saw this about the ‘cherry bomb allegedly thrown on stage. Not true! I was there and it was a firecracker that was thrown down from above me and landed in the stairs aisle. I was sitting stage left and next to the aisle. I saw the ‘fire’ from what I thought was a cigarette someone tossed down until the firecracker exploded next to my seat. (Next to the aisle) Not on the main floor but the 1st set of seats on the 1st riser. I was 15 yrs old. I even got the Life magazine that had the article about the firecracker. No Cherry Bomb on Stage. The show went off like planned. Excellent.