The Beatles walked to an overgrown cricket pitch with high grass, where George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr stood in a row while being filmed and photographed from a variety of angles.
Lennon and Ono then led two donkeys from the nearby stables, and The Beatles posed with them.
The Beatles were then photographed in several locations:
Underneath the cypress tree near a statue of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt.
Beneath and in front of two weeping blue atlas cedar trees.
Last updated: 11 July 2024
Also on this day...
- 2023: Ringo Starr announces Rewind Forward EP
- 2019: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake
- 2012: John Lennon’s killer denied parole for seventh time
- 2012: Magical Mystery Tour to be released on DVD and Blu-ray
- 2003: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Riverfest Amphitheater, Little Rock
- 2001: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont
- 2001: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Minnesota State Fair, Saint Paul
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Pier 62/63, Seattle
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Iowa State Fair, Des Moines
- 1972: Wings live: Kinema Roma, Antwerp
- 1968: Recording: Back In The USSR
- 1968: Ringo Starr quits The Beatles
- 1968: Cynthia Lennon sues John for divorce
- 1967: Recording: Your Mother Should Know
- 1966: Junior press conference: Warwick Hotel, New York City
- 1966: Press conference: Warwick Hotel, New York City
- 1965: The Beatles live: Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon
- 1964: The Beatles live: Empire Stadium, Vancouver, Canada
- 1963: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
- 1963: Television: Day By Day
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime) – their first television appearance
- 1960: The Beatles live: Indra Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Is the absolute last photo the color one on the balcony, that later appeared on the cover of RS? Also, why would Paul and Ringo stand on the balcony edge, isn’t that dangerous?
They’re all classic and timeless photos of them. I had not seen all of the last photo sessions. Thanks for sharing them to all of us!
Is there ANY way to get any posters from that session ? There is some great color shots that would make incredible posters.
This is probably my favorite photo session, hands down. They look so natural, as opposed to others where they look more posed.
Is that the house where John shot Imagine?
Yep! Same one.
Interesting that the covers of “Beatles Monthly” #75 and #77 took shots from the end of this photo shoot.
The wild flowers they are surrounded by are called “Fireweed” (epilobium angustifolium)! Aka rosebay willow herb in UK, and earned moniker “bombweed” in UK for its tendency to sow itself on scorched earth. Seems about right and very fitting for the last photo shoot and the group dynamics at this time, don’t you think?
Why does Paul haves light jacket in one of tne shots?
To me these sessions stay “stiffness.” I see little or no eye contact, little or not joy, little or no”We are the Beatles!” Lots of wariness and lots of “Thank God Allen Klein got us some decent money at last.”
Interesting to think that these photos were taken on a Friday, and that Monday had been the day Jimi Hendrix gave his legendary performance on final morning of Woodstock. What a week in rock and roll.
Not my favorite Lennon look. Trim that beard. Can imagine Yoko trying to kiss John’s lips?? Yuck. Then again, junkies are not not known for their grooming habits as William Burroughs once mentioned. Around this time, Lennon was still on the “H.”
The H thing is blown way out of proportion John flew to Canada 3 times that year 2 Beatle albums one Beatle movie Peace campaign on & on very busy John year. Tons of footage of him straight around the world that year. He sniffed a bit here and there is all John said on the weekend. Not a strung out junky like Eric, Kieth, Ginger etc.
Check out what all John accomplished that year of 1969 pretty mind blowing pile of work. Somewhere he had time to write all those songs besides recording them.
.
GREAT article……thanks for posting it!
I have NEVER seen SO many awkward pictures of people that probably wished they could be just about anywhere else, doing just about anything else (though interestingly, in all these ‘unhappy’ shots, surprisingly, there are a number of good ones…….amazing what a smile can do to people’s faces…..even if they’re “fake” smiles!).
Oddly, the one for me that’s MOST awkward, is that shot on this page (one), of Linda and Yoko…….why do I get the distinct impression that, just like this particular shot, they didn’t spend too much time looking each other directly in the eyes (though, obviously, not having been there, I could be (and probably am) TOTALLY WRONG !!)!
Good Stuff !!
.
And seeing Yoko in jeans is a shock! I’m sure she made no effort to make Linda comfortable.
My favorite pic is one of Paul patting the donkey, totally relaxed and happy in the moment. And you see John staring at him, as if fascinated. Though in the rest of the shots he looks totally disconnected, bored, and sometimes angry.
John is wearing weird clothes… he looks like a rabbi!
Sadly, they could be mistaken for any other run of the mill band from the late sixties/early seventies if you didn’t know who the Beatles were
I found this comment on this photo session in a recent interview with Ethan Russell interesting and revealing.
“George Harrison was miserable from frame one to frame 500. He was so over it. I don’t think he did anything but scowl for three hours.
“Paul was trying to hold it together. He had his arms crossed like, ‘Come on, lads!’ But the concept of the Beatles just didn’t sync with who they were any more. I could have asked them to smile, but it would have been totally fake and I’m glad I didn’t. This marriage had come to an end – and boy does it show.”
What a fabulous interview, thanks for sharing it. He took some of the most iconic photos from that early rock era.
In terms of location and poses they’re decent, nothing great. But there’s always something fascinating about looking at the Beatles and their facial expressions and the feeling I get off them, particularly Paul. I can see why Paul wanted to keep the Beatles together, as being with them brought out his interesting expressions and “cool” factor.
What has always amazed me in these last pictures is the sharp difference in appearance between Paul and the rest of the lads. While in the winter of 1969 during the shootings of “Let It Be” Paul had looked even the most bohemian of them all with his beard etc., now he looks so “clean” in comparison – no beard and significantly shorter hair. The stark difference between Lennon’s and McCartney’s looks is quite symbolic…an era was coming to an end and they were about to go parted ways for good.
Somewhat of a sad photoshoot. You no longer get the feeling of the band as a single ‘unit’. They look akward and uncomfortable, like a couple who’s been miserable for a while, but has to pose for photos. Lennon looks gaunt and unhealthy, George looks distracted and out of place, Paul is simulating a certain casual mood as best as he can, and Ringo is just there.
I’ve always been fascinated by these photos. I have several posters (one of which I got a a convention in the 80s that I believe was used for promo purposes back in the day). I think it is precisely because they look so scruffy – so very far removed from the smiling young and impeccably groomed lads of only a few years before. I found the contrast between how they looked – and the beautiful music they were producing at that time to be striking. How could these people create “Here Comes The Sun” and the Abbey Road medleys?