On This Day
50 Years Ago:
The Beatles Last Public Performance
The unannounced, rooftop concert at Apple Records was to be the big finish to a film that was designed to reunify its members – but it ended up being the last straw.
On This Day
Why the Roof?
- The Beatles struggled for a location for the last scene of the film, considered filming in the Sahara desert or QE2 cruise ship.
- Decision to play on the London rooftop made just days before.
- It was 45° in London. Lennon & Starr borrowed their wives’ coats.
On This Day
How It Played Out
- Joined on the keys by Billy Preston, who’s credited with keeping the band together during this time, they played for 42 mins.
- Included iconic songs “Get Back” & “Don’t Let Me Down”.
- The Beatles, being filmed for their movie, hoped the police would arrest them, but it didn’t happen.
- Police, many fans themselves, just asked them to turn it down.
On This Day
“I’d like to thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition.”
On This Day
By September of that year, the group had unofficially disbanded with John Lennon (who was 29 years old at the time) informing other members he was leaving the group.
Read
Sources
- When The Beatles played their last live gig:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/10606503/When-The-Beatles-played-their-last-live-gig.html - Remembering the Beatles’ Rooftop Gig:
https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/30/688814122/remembering-the-beatles-rooftop-gig-50-years-later-with-someone-who-was-there - Beatles’ Famous Rooftop Concert: 15 Things You Didn’t Know:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beatles-famous-rooftop-concert-15-things-you-didnt-know-58342/ - How Billy Preston helped the Beatles “Get Back”:
https://www.rockhall.com/how-billy-preston-helped-beatles-get-back