“Going on buses”: What did The Beatles miss most about their pre-fame days?
Fame always comes at a cost, particularly for artists and musicians. While the alluring pull of global success, legions of dedicated fans and endless royalty cheques might appeal to budding young artists, the everyday realities of fame are often more difficult to handle. From the release of their debut single in 1962, The Beatles quickly became the biggest band in the world, but they always maintained a fairly complicated relationship with their unparalleled level of fame.
The Beatles found success almost immediately in their home nation of the UK, captivating the youth of the country from their very first releases. However, nothing exemplified the intense level of fame afforded to The Beatles quite like their visits to the United States in 1964. A colossal year for the band, which saw the release of their first feature film, along with albums Beatles for Sale and A Hard Day’s Night, visiting America was arguably the biggest thing that happened to the band in 1964, forever changing the course of The Beatles’ career.
Touching down at JFK Airport in New York in February 1964, The Beatles were one of the very first British rock outfits to travel across the Atlantic, paving the way for the age of the British invasion. While there, the ‘Mop Tops’ became a cultural phenomenon, beloved by young audiences across the States. Their first visit to the US marked the peak of Beatlemania, and there was no going back. From that point onwards, the band members could never again walk down a city street without being hassled by adoring fans.
It is worth remembering, at this point, that The Beatles were still incredibly young during this period of Beatlemania. When they reached America, George Harrison – the youngest member of the group – was only 21 years old, while Ringo Starr – the oldest – was 24. As you can imagine, this unparalleled level of fame and obsession surrounding the group meant that the band members could not exist as normal lads in their early 20s.
Recognising this, the band were asked extensively about their newfound fame during a press conference at JFK Airport on their first visit to the States. The Beatles, as they were known to do, answered many of the questions posed to them with wit and humour, with Lennon answering “We have a press agent” when asked for the secret behind the band’s success.
A particularly interesting part of the press conference came when the band were asked what they missed most about their pre-fame days that they can no longer do. While there is undoubtedly an element of wit within their responses, it is more than likely that there is an element of truth in their words, too. Starr was the first to respond, answering, “Going to the movies.” Harrison missed “Having nothing to do,” leading Lennon to chip in with a similar answer, “School because you don’t have much to do there.” McCartney, meanwhile, missed “going on buses.”
Each band member’s answers seem to reflect their personalities: Starr is fun-loving, Harrison is laid-back and unbothered, Lennon has a rebellious streak, and Paul McCartney has a strangely profound humour. Given the quick-fire nature of the band’s press conference at JFK, they were not given the opportunity to expand upon their answers, leaving them up for interpretation.
Regardless, it seems as though the group were acutely aware of how fame had already changed their lives and not necessarily for the better. So, next time you catch a bus in Liverpool pay attention to your surroundings, as they might be a disguised Paul McCartney sitting beside you, reliving his youthful glory days.
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