In addition to these injuries, chauffeur Alf Bicknall suffered a fractured rib and a spinal injury. The Manila Times newspaper carried an exaggerated story the following day detailing how they wished the events to be seen.
Drummer Ringo Starr was floored by an uppercut. As he crawled away the mob kicked him. George Harrison and John Lennon received kicks and blows as they ran to the customs zone. Paul McCartney was relatively unhurt as he sprinted ahead. Manager Brian Epstein received the brunt of the mob’s fury. He was kicked and thrown to the floor. As a result he suffered a sprained ankle and had to be helped to the customs area.
Once they made it on board the KLM aeroplane the turbulence continued. Tony Barrow and Mal Evans were ordered off once again. Stricken with anxiety, Evans turned to the others and said: “Tell Lil I love her,” a reference to his wife.
Evans and Barrow were worried that they would miss the flight and be stuck in Manila at the mercy of the locals. To their relief, it turned out that The Beatles’ party’s immigration papers had not been properly processed upon their arrival. This left them technically as illegal immigrants, with potentially serious ramifications. Eventually the passports were stamped and they were free to leave.
The flight’s departure time had elapsed, but Epstein and Lewis persuaded the pilot to wait for Barrow and Evans. The delay lasted 44 minutes.
As soon as KLM flight 862 aircraft rose up from the runway at 4.45pm that afternoon our entire party broke into spontaneous applause. George leant across the aisle between his seat and mine and said to me: ‘The only way I’d ever go back to that place would be to drop a dirty big bomb on it.’ Paul asked me if I had recorded Brian’s television statement and if so could he hear it. I told him: ‘I have it on a cassette. You can hear the newsreader’s introduction but the rest is a blur. They blotted out the whole of Brian’s explanation.’ Before Paul left the Manila Hotel in a typical gesture of PR goodwill on behalf of the group, he did a radio interview apologising for The Beatles’ failure to meet Imelda Marcos and saying that they knew nothing of her lunch party. At all times, even in adverse conditions, Paul carried an ample supply of oil for pouring onto troubled waters. Back home in London he gave the press a graphic account of our departure: ‘We were being pushed and banged around from one corner to another. With the escalators switched off we couldn’t go anywhere very fast. When they started knocking over our road managers everyone was falling all over the place. I swear there were at least 30 of them surrounding us.’ George had the final word. Asked on his arrival in London what was next on the group’s agenda he replied with only the merest a hint of a smile: ‘We’re going to have a couple of weeks to recuperate before we go and get beaten up by the Americans.’
John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me
Just minutes after the aeroplane left Filipino soil, a press statement was issued by President Marcos which absolved The Beatles of any wrongdoing.
There was no intention on the part of The Beatles to slight the First Lady or the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
The Beatles’ flight was bound for New Delhi, where they hoped to enjoy a relaxing break. They arrived the following day to unwelcome scenes of Beatlemania, strengthening their resolve to end touring.
Also on this day...
- 2014: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: WinStar World Casino, Thackerville
- 2014: Paul McCartney live: Times Union Center, Albany
- 2010: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: State Theatre, New Brunswick
- 2008: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi
- 2007: Paul McCartney live: iTunes Festival
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Ravinia Festival, Highland Park
- 1968: Recording: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
- 1963: The Beatles live: Plaza, Old Hill
- 1963: The Beatles live: Plaza, Handsworth
- 1962: The Beatles live: Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Hi Joe, thanks for these very informative articles. Now I know the real story behind this Beatles visit/show here in our country as I read it here now. At that time, as just a 4-year old kid, I’m not aware of this Manila concert of The Beatles and I only heard and read of it years later from stories on journals & old magazines.
I could say, this event, a bad experience for The Beatles was very unfortunate and I tell you for those many Filipinos who just learned about this incident years later were very furious to know how the government (the Marcos administration) treated the Beatles. History told the world how oppressive this government was at their time and how the people ousted this government many years after.
From the years of Beatlemania and up to present, like the rest of the world, the Filipino people so much adored the Beatles and their music which became part of their lives.
I knew many young Filipinos in the 1980s & 1990s (outside The Beatles era) who became Beatles fans because their parents are Beatles’ fans.
From these articles, it said, the gate attendance of this Manila concert totalled to 80,000 people. That number surpassed the 1965 Shea Stadium attendees of 60,000. This only showed how Filipinos endeared The Beatles like most countries of the world.
Don’t forget they played two shows in Manila, so the comparison with Shea isn’t entirely fair.
Its all Imelda’s fault!!!!!!
Some story in the Philippines recently was a hoax. Stating Imelda tried to protect the Beatles. They try to change the history. Now they voted for Bongbong smearing the image of the Beatles. But Sir Paul knows and he never returned the islands.
If Marcos kicked the Beatles out of the Philippine soil, the Marcos were also kicked out of the Philippine soil and were brought to Hawaii.
We all love the Beatles. The Filipinos love the Beatles. I never stop loving the Beatles. I always go to Barnes & Nobles or Jewels or Target to buy magazines that featured them, and their LPs from the Philippines from way back, posters etc. although I lost them to typhoon Haiyan , CDs.etc.
no, it was the Americans, kicked the Marcos family out! check the details.
Baloney! They were scared of the people power. Learn your history!
How was it that a luncheon was prepared for them to attend and The Beatles didn’t get notified?
The ineptitude was on the part of someone in the Phillipines.
The great mystery needs explaination.
Well according to some music historians from the Philippines; Brian Epstein was notified, but thought it was nothing. He didn’t say it to the band. So all the fault should go to Brian Epstein. He knew about the invitation but didn’t tell the boys, also other singers [who were actually their front act during the time] were furious about his attitude. Brian Epstein had pushed one of the most famous singers in the Philippines at that time [I forgot her name] onstage where she almost fell. now you’re blaming Imelda Marcos for the hostilities she gave to them? Why not blame Epstein first for his inordinate confidence that he could do whatever he wanted outside his own country because he’s the manager of the fab 4?
Typical response.
Let’s try and put it this way: Brian was a rude dick (according to you). On the other hand, Imelda used her status as the First Lady to spite a rock band because they — politely — declined to come to lunch, resulting in multiple injuries to multiple members of staff and the band members themselves, as well as temporary anxiety for everyone as a whole; surely Imelda had ALL the right to s**t on them, as she’s a Marcos anyways —
Haha, nope. Please, there is no way in hell anything you say could ever justify the s**t she’d pulled. She is the actual personification of all the horrible characteristics our country possesses: immaturity, pettiness, power hunger… What she did back then is reminiscent of a tantrum thrown by some spoiled, bratty child who didn’t get exactly what she wanted.
Epstein politely declined – as was the band custom. Imelda Marcos freaked out and the Filipinos acted in typical Filipino fashion… So with their overreaction the Beatles promised they would never return to the Philippines without an H-bomb. Completely Marcos fault. And the tax/immigration issues were just her flexing her bureaucratic bullshit.
As soon as the Beatles arrived they were ushered around like cattle. Read Harrison’s I Me Mine book for the details. Imelda thought that the world revolved around her and her demands without any thought for the schedule of the Beatles. After all, the Beatles were there to perform in concerts, not to be at the whim of Imelda’s plans.
As I understand it from the actual testimonies of George, Paul and Ringo in their anthology DVD set, the lunch invitation was on one of the band’s few days off. Brian did politely decline. The Beatles during that time were constantly touring and had few days to actually decompress. As was stated, Epstein usually tried to keep those types of events to a minimum specifically because they had so little time for themselves. Imagine what it must have been like for them. I believe it was likely mostly the doing of Imelda Marcos. The Filipino people were in no way to blame. The mistreatment of the Beatles was just a peek into the far greater atrocities committed by that regime on it’s own people.
Damn mob of filipinos are so embarrassing! They just had to go and make a mess and show the world that they’re uneducated people.
Kyle, you have just revealed your lack of education.
Julio, well said.
I do agree that Filipinos have done (and continue to do) a lot to embarrass themselves and their future generations, but I’d suggest wording your sentences a bit more carefully. Not all Filipinos approve of the way our grandparents’/parents’ generation handled (or, rather, mishandled) things – heck, most of us new generation fans get headaches just thinking of what happened back then – and we most certainly are not uneducated.
the beatle concert is end but thier music never end.
What was Imelda Marcos complaining about…she got free tickets and best seats for one of the Beatles concerts. Some people are never satisfied!!!!!
Just one of the atrocities the Marcos’s have done to the country of the Philippines. And the sad thing is, a lot of Filipinos forgets about these stuff in the end. They almost elected another Marcos to be in power again. SMH!
I believe George Harrison later made a comment along the lines that the Philippines should be nuked.
Though some reports have it as Lennon saying he would drop an H bomb on them. ‘The incident shook the Beatles so much that all four of them swore never to come back to our country. Peace-loving John Lennon was even quoted in a 1966 Associated Press report as saying he wanted to drop an H-bomb on us. “No plane’s going to go through the Philippines with me on it. I wouldn’t even fly over it,” he later said in The Beatles Anthology.’
Well, his son Julian came here in the Philippines (for a white feather foundation) He even took a photo of John Lemon (a lemon drink mini store)
However, Julian had a bad experience this time because of one of the local airlines. He just hates the customer service (you can go to his IG, he mentioned that airline) good thing he appreciate our country. He even responding to his Filipino fans and even comforted him.
Then again, I wouldn’t blame the Paul and Ringo for not coming back here, especially now.
That’s why few of Marcos Apologists asked me why I don’t like the Marcoses, my usual response is “aside from Martial Law, they gave the Beatles horrible experience, that’s why they hate it here”
Such an informational article! Thank you for this, now I know the real cause of this bad story/experience of The Beatles.
Marcos era ended…. does this mean Paul still mad at Filipinos upto now?
I will answer your question,Macy. The Marcos era ended. Then Ely Buendia,former vocalist of a former Beatlesque band known as “Erasherheads”, launched a campaign to bring back Ringo Starr to hold a concert in the Philippines back in 2015 by sending the former Beatles drummer postcards and asked many Filipinos to do the same. Then,Filipino promoters tried to talk to Ringo as well as Sir Paul McCartney to perform in the Philippines in 2016. What happened? The surviving members of the Beatles – Sir Paul and Ringo – rejected the offer. The Beatles have stuck to their will to never to perform in the Philippines again. This is not about Marcos and the Beatles. This is about the Philippines and the Beatles.
The 1995 Beatles documentary entitled, “The Beatles Anthology” reflected how strongly the Beatles hated the Philippines. Sir Paul McCartney was quoted saying,” I have never been back to the Philippines and I will never be back”. Ringo Starr was quoted saying, “I hated the Philippines”. The late George Harrison stated, “The Philippines is a horrible place”.
Yeeesh, poor Filipino fans..
Imelda Marcos is now reaping what she sowed.
Here is the latest news from CNN just two days ago –
“Imelda Marcos ordered arrested for seven counts of graft.”
~ CNN Philippines
Did the group performed at Araneta Coliseum aside from Rizal Memorial Stadium back in July 1966?
Here’s Mrs. Marcos’ side
http://www.philstar.com
“I would never dream of hurting the world’s No. 1 band. Whatever motivated the people to treat them that way was not my doing. They could have done it out of sympathy and I think it was wrong. I abhor violence.”
Listening to her narration cleared the issue in my mind and I fully believe she had nothing to do with it at all. Logically speaking, had she professed anger and contemplated revenge, she could have had the concert cancelled and deported them outright but she didn’t. What happened at the airport could have been sympathetic action from overzealous people who felt insulted by the snub and reacted accordingly.
Another factor that instigated the violence was how the press blew the issue out of proportion.”
(I don’t want to be biase so i think this will help.)
Actually, nobody is telling the full story here. The Beatles were not originally scheduled to play any dates in the Philippines at all. Their tour had been planned almost a year earlier…and it was supposed to be just the U.S. and Japan. But Imelda Marcos, wanting to impress her voters…..promised that she could bring the Beatles to the Philippines. Brian Epstein received a phone call with a request and promise of something like a million dollars if the boys would agree to add concerts to their already scheduled shows. In order to do this…they had to give up some of their off days. According to one account by John Lennon….the guys were sitting around a table playing cards when Brian came in and told them that they had been offered an exorbitant amount of money if they would agree to go to the Philippines. John said that they never even looked up from their card game and just said, “whatever you want, Brian.” They were tired and just wanted to finish the tour and go home. Don’t forget that this was the same year that the American press and U.S. public were upset about the statement that John had made earlier about the Beatles being more popular that Jesus Christ. So it had already been a hectic tour with riots and protesters at a lot of the concerts. The Beatles had already told Brian that this tour would be their last because of safety issues and death threats. The money offered by Marcos…did not impress them. They came as a favor…to appease her….with the stipulation that they would just play two shows and then be on their way. (they hated functions where politicians or royalty were present because those people only had them there….to impress their friends, and the Beatles were usually treated with disdain by these high-powered politicians.) They made it clear before they came…that they just wanted to play the two shows and then leave. So when they were asked to do more….like show up for additional functions where they were expected to preform AGAIN…for a private performance for the Marcos Family and friends…the Beatles felt like they had been hoodwinked because their requests had not been honored. The whole idea of them attending a private function like that…was only done for political purposes. So when they turned it down…they reminded the Marcos’s that coming to the luncheon was not part of the plan. Of course they had no idea what a nightmare it would cause and it resulted in them swearing to never return. And for the rest of their lives…John and George, never went back and Paul and Ringo will not go back either. The Marcoses were scum. This story was relayed to the British Press but American audiences didn’t hear about it for years!
That’s sad. I’m a young Filipino Beatles fan. That’s really sad. I hope the two remaining Beatles would change their minds.
Hi @SJStrick great comment. If you have the references, would love to read them. A story is never really finished.
“Don’t forget that this was the same year that the American press and U.S. public were upset about the statement that John had made earlier about the Beatles being more popular that Jesus Christ. So it had already been a hectic tour with riots and protesters at a lot of the concerts. The Beatles had already told Brian that this tour would be their last because of safety issues and death threats.”
I think there are some problems with the timeline here. There were some protests in Japan over the use of the Budokan arena for a pop music concert, but that was the only real trouble they faced prior to the Philippines. The “more popular than Jesus” quote was ignored when it was first published in the Evening Standard in March and only began to cause controversy after it was reprinted in Datebook magazine on July 29, weeks after their visit to the Philippines. And I don’t think any decision had been made at this point to stop touring, although it probably was on their minds. AFAIK, by the US tour (which started more than a month after the end of this tour anyway) John and George were voicing opposition to further touring but Paul resisted until (as he later said in Anthology) the August 20 date in Cincinnati where they faced the threat of electrocution after a rainstorm. At that point Paul says he relented, but they still decided to keep quiet about it until after the US tour. FWIW, following the penultimate concert in Los Angeles Brian Epstein was still telling the press that the group had been invited to do a third Shea Stadium concert in 1967. He may have known of their decision and was hoping it wasn’t final, or he may have been out of the loop on that.
“Brian came in and told them that they had been offered an exorbitant amount of money if they would agree to go to the Philippines. John said that they never even looked up from their card game and just said, “whatever you want, Brian.” They were tired and just wanted to finish the tour and go home.”
Also, if this is meant to imply that the Philippines concerts were added on at some point during the tour that would just be wrong. Brian Epstein had announced the 1966 touring schedule, including the Philippines, back in March, a good four months before the Philippines concert date.
Some eye-witness accounts and interviews in our new BBC World Service documentary “When The Beatles didn’t meet Imelda” via this link. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct2zvk
Both side are emotional. I agree that the Marcoses wants to impress from other and the Beatles bein’ dorks ’cause they’re in the entertainment and wether they like it or not, Fans demand their performances. I’d rather sing OPM song than store some of their songs! Yup, I don’t have anything of their songs.
And now, the Marcoses are back in power in The Philippines. I’m really disappointed in my country; so much blatant disinformation fed to my people brought them back. If Paul or Ringo knows about the current state of my country, they’d probably be disappointed too or just indifferent– Can’t blame them or any foreigner if they think that.