Expert: Elizabeth - 3/4/2010

Question
i love the beatles and i have to do a project in school and i was wondering what was the worst beatles riot and if any deaths occured during a beatles concert or appearance.

Answer
Worst Beatles riot?  Try the 1966 US tour.  In addition to the hordes of screaming Beatlemaniacs, there were many angry people reacting to John's "we're more popular than Jesus" comment.

~In Cleveland, fans began to break through the security barrier.  The Beatles stopped in the middle of "Day Tripper" and fled for their lives.  After waiting in a trailer backstage for the police to restore order, the Beatles returned to the stage, skipped the rest of "Day Tripper," and went into "Baby's in Black."

~The KKK held a rally outside the Washington DC show.

~The anti-Beatles sentiment was large outside the Memphis concert.  Someone exploded a firecracker near the stage, and the Beatles looked around nervously to see if any of them had been shot.

~Also, not riot related, but the day after the Memphis concert, the Cincinnati promoters wanted them to play outside.  During a thunderstorm.  With no cover.  Paul was sick backstage at the prospect of being electrocuted during the concert, and for the first time ever, they canceled a show.  They played in Cincinnati the next day, traveled 350 miles to play in St.Louis - and the rain followed them!

The month before, the Beatles played in the Philippines for the first time.  The Beatles had refused to appear at a luncheon with first lady Imelda Marcos, but the luncheon was held anyway.  Hundreds of disappointed children's faces appeared on tv, as the first lady had told them the Beatles were coming.  In the airport before they left, the Beatles and their entourage were kicked, pushed, and spat on, with officials yelling that they be "treated like ordinary passengers."  Their fees for performances were taken away too.

You can understand why the Beatles stopped touring after the summer of 1966.  But as far as I know, no one died.  And make sure you cite this interview in your project - otherwise, you're cheating.