These concerts were the premiere of the Beatles 1964 world tour (June 4th-August 16th).
Due to public security, the Chief Of Police (P. Stavstrup) wouldn't allow the concerts in the first place....
I've seen this nonsense on TV and film. It's worse than Tommy Steele.
His decision was later overruled by the Minister Of Justice (Hans Hækkerup). This delay forced ticketsales to be postponed from Sunday April 26th 9am to Sunday May 3rd 9am, as can be seen on the original posters.
Original correspondance between the arranger and the Police
To be able to 'clear the streets', the Police demanded a 90 minutes gap between the two concerts. The second show then had to be postponed 15 minutes, from 9.15 pm to 9.30 pm. Note the time on one of the tickets is 9.15 pm and the time in the newspaper ads is 9.30 pm (see below).
One of the original posters is on display at the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen.
Typically for the 60s, the concerts were arranged with multiple support acts on the bill. They were announced in newspaper ads and in the program, among them Papa Bue's Viking Jazz Band, The Weedons, Rosita Thomas, The Hitmakers, Jimmy Justice, The Excheckers and The Beethovens. The final line-up in order of apperance ended up as being The Weedons, The Beethovens, The Hitmakers and The Beatles.
Tickets were priced at 15,-, 20,- 30,- 35,- 40,- and 50,- Danish kr. To be able to keep their place in the line, people received que-numbers.
Que number
The 20-page concert program
(click to view in new window)
The Beatles arrived at Kastrup airport at 1.20 pm, approx. 15 minutes late. The plane was a British European Airways (BEA) Trident 1C G ARP-C, bearing an ekstra flag and the letters 'TLES' added to the logo. They were of course welcomed by 1000s of screaming fans. From the airport, The Beatles were taken to the SAS Royal Hotel in a Pontiac 1962 Catalina, escorted by the police. All entrances to the hotel were completely blocked by fans, so The Beatles were taken to the back of the hotel, and had to pass thru the kitchen, signing autographs on the way. They had suites at the 28th floor.
Shortly after arriving at the hotel, the Beatles held a press conference. Excerpts from the press conference were shown on Danish National TV.
Invitation to the press conference
Excerpts from the press conference
Shortly after the press conference, Jimmy Nicol managed to sneak out from the hotel, and was spotted in central Copenhagen, shopping for clothes. In the afternoon, The Beatles were taken to the venue, where they did a short sound-check together with the supporting bands.
The setlists for The Weedons and The Beethovens are unknown, but we have the setlists for The Hitmakers. Their 1st performance was great, and the audience demanded an encore. The Hitmakers then did Long Tall Sally, unaware that The Beatles had that song in their set. The Beatles then decided not to do Long Tall Sally in their first set, and requested that The Hitmakers didn't do that song in their second set. This was important for The Beatles. They knew that their version of Long Tall Sally would be released as a single in Denmark the next day.
The Beethovens on stage in K.B. Hallen
1. A Shot Of Rythm And Blues
2. Tricky Dicky
3. Da Doo Run Run
4. Good Golly Miss Molly
5. Needles And Pins
6. 'Drum solo'
7. Everybody
8. What'd I Say
1. Long Tall Sally
1. A Shot Of Rythm And Blues
2. Tricky Dicky
3. Da Doo Run Run
4. Good Golly Miss Molly
5. Needles And Pins
6. 'Drum solo'
7. Everybody
8. What'd I Say
1. I Want To Hold Your Hand
2. I Saw Here Standing There
3. All My Loving
4. She Loves You
5. Till There Was You
6. Roll Over Beethoven
7. Can't Buy Me Love
8. This Boy
9. Twist And Shout
1. I Saw Here Standing There
2. I Want To Hold Your Hand
3. All My Loving
4. She Loves You
5. Till There Was You
6. Roll Over Beethoven
7. Can't Buy Me Love
8. This Boy
9. Twist And Shout
10. Long Tall Sally
This Youtube-clip is an edit of avalible silent movies, combined with an audience-recording of one of the concerts
After spending the night at the SAS Royal Hotel, the Beatles left Kastrup Airport at 11.30 am, on SAS flight SK551. The plane was a SE-210 Caravelle 'Arne Viking', with registraion number SE-DAC.
My aunt, Ranghild Carlsen, was one of the maids looking after The Beatles at the Hotel. She managed to get both a photo and a set of autographs.
In 1964 I was 19, and engaged to Niels Wenkens (one of the concert arrangers). Niels invited me and my sister to attend the two Beatles concerts. In the afternoon I also went to the Press Conference at the hotel.
At the hotel I remember Paul singing a lullaby to the daughter of Knud Thorbjørnsen.
I didn’t have a seat at the concerts, but sat at the staircase next to the scene. I was backstage during the break between the two concerts, and the Beatles politely shook hands with my sister, when I introduced her. Near the end of the break, I was powdering my nose, and George asked if I could powder his nose too, which, of course, I did 😊
After the concerts we had Smørrebrød (Danish open sandwiches) at the SAS Royal Hotel. Afterwards they wanted to go out, and I suggested “10’eren”, a private nightclub in the street Badstuestræde, but they instead ended up going to the strip-club “Kakadu Bar” in the street Colbjørnsensgade, not far from the hotel. Not a place for a nice girl like me, so I went home to get some sleep. Just before I went to bed, Derek Taylor called to let me know that they would rather go to the private club I suggested. “Are you coming” he asked, I said “No, I have to get up early for work” and went to sleep. That’s how I missed a night out with The Beatles. But I still have the autographs. I got them at the SAS Hotel, just before the start of the Press Conference.
