The Beatles live: NME Poll-Winners’ All-Star Concert

The Beatles were second on the bill for the New Musical Express 1962-63 Annual Poll-Winners’ All-Star Concert, held at the Empire Pool in Wembley, London. Topping the 14-act bill were Cliff Richard and The Shadows.

The venue was filled with 10,000 people. The Beatles won no awards on this day, as the polling had taken place towards the end of 1962 and they were insufficiently known nationwide, but the NME made them the penultimate act of the day due to the success of their recent singles.

The Beatles performed four songs: ‘Please Please Me’, ‘From Me To You’, ‘Twist And Shout’, and ‘Long Tall Sally’. Afterwards a number of media commentators suggested they stole the show from the headliners.

The Beatles headlined the NME Poll-Winners’ concerts in 1964, 1965, and 1966, the last of which was their final UK concert.

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.