Wednesday, March 2, 1966
Brian Epstein announces The Beatles’ 1966 tours
Last updated on October 22, 2023
Wednesday, March 2, 1966
Last updated on October 22, 2023
Article March 1966 • Paul McCartney runs a competition for a film script
Article Mar 01, 1966 • "The Beatles At Shea Stadium" is premiered on BBC 1
Article Mar 02, 1966 • Brian Epstein announces The Beatles' 1966 tours
Article March 3 - March 20, 1966 • Paul McCartney and Jane Asher on holiday in Switzerland
Article March 3, 1966 ? • Photo shoot with French photographer Jean-Marie Périer
On this day, Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles, unveiled the band’s tour itinerary for 1966. The Beatles were set to embark on a global tour that would include performances in Germany, Japan, and the United States. Epstein also mentioned a prospective UK tour scheduled for the end of the year, although these plans never came to fruition. At this point, specific dates were yet to be announced, as the itinerary was still under development. Additionally, it was revealed that the band would also be working on their third feature film during the year.
The initial dates for the U.S. leg of the tour were announced in early April 1966, featuring concerts in the following cities:
By late April, the dates for the German and Japanese legs of the tour were also publicized.
In a follow-up announcement in mid-May, due to overwhelming public demand, two additional afternoon performances were added for July 1 and 2 in Tokyo. The band would also perform two concerts in Manila, Philippines.
Around the same time, there were some adjustments made to the U.S. tour schedule. Specifically, the concert originally planned for Louisville, Kentucky, was cancelled. In its place, The Beatles were scheduled to perform at the Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 14.
Brian Epstein outlines this year’s plans — BEATLES TO TOUR JAPAN, U.S., GERMANY – BRITAIN
THE BEATLES will pay their first-ever visit to Japan for a tour this summer; they also return to America and Germany. The group WILL undertake a British concert tour—but not until the end of the year.
These plans were outlined by Brian Epstein on Wednesday before he flew to New York to arrange the Beatles’ fourth U.S. visit and third annual tour.
It should take place in August but the arrangement depends on a production date for the Beatles’ third film, which is already overdue. Work will begin immediately a script has been approved and the necessary preparations for filming made. However, shooting is not expected to commence before September.
Epstein said: “The Japanese and German tours will probably precede the American one.” June is a likely month for these.
Meanwhile, the Beatles have a new single and another album to record. Sessions begin at the end of this month for an April release.
From New Musical Express – March 4, 1966
BEATLES BRITISH TOUR IS ON
BEATLES will definitely make a concert tour of Britain this year! Also being negotiated are short tours of Germany and Japan, plus a possible return concert at New York’s mammoth Shea Stadium — scene of last year’s concert shown on BBC-TV on Tuesday.
A spokesman for NEMS Enterprises, told Disc Weekly on Tuesday: “Dates for all these concerts — including the British tour — are held up pending the next Beatles’ film, scripts of which are being considered.
“The Beatles were offered two return concerts the same evening at Shea Stadium, but Brian Epstein said this was out of the question. He would, however, consider one.”
No decision has yet been taken on the Beatles’ next single, but it will be several weeks before they go into the recording studio.
From Disc And Music Echo – March 5, 1966
BEATLES FOR MEMPHIS! – Details of U.S. and Japan trips revealed
THE Beatles are to appear in Elvis Presley’s home town — Memphis, Tennessee. They undertake a concert at the Coliseum there on August 19 during their third American tour, and it is likely that Presley will be at home that month between films and able to attend.
But a plan for the Beatles to record in Memphis while they are there is not expected to materialise. Brian Epstein travelled to the town during his visit to America last week to look over the recording studios, at the Beatles’ request.
He told the NME this week: “There are complications over recording in Memphis which seem too great to overcome.”
The Beatles’ American tour will open in CHICAGO on August 12, and conclude in SAN FRANCISCO (as it did last year) on August 29. Included on the schedule is a return to NEW YORK’S 56,000-seater Shea Stadium (23rd). Remaining dates on the itinerary are DETROIT (13th), LOUISVILLE (14th), WASHINGTON (15th), PHILADELPHIA (16th), TORONTO (17th), BOSTON (18th), CINCINATTI (20th), ST. LOUIS (21st), SEATTLE (25th) and LOS ANGELES Dodge Stadium (28th).
It has also been decided that the Beatles will play concerts in three German cities at the end of June, and then fly from there to Japan for either two or three days in Tokyo (appearing at the same stadium) commencing July 1.
From New Musical Express – April 8, 1966
14 dates set for Beatles States tour
THE Beatles are expected to play 14 dates — including one at a stadium seating 103,000 people — when they tour America in August. And they will return to New York’s Shea Stadium, scene of their fantastic concert last August which was filmed and shown recently on BBC-TV.
At least six outdoor sports parks — each with seating capacities of over 40,000 — have been set for the tour and it is believed that the group have turned down a 75,000-dollar appearance in Honolulu.
The tour opens in Chicago on August 12 (20,000 seats) and the rest of the tour set so far is: Detroit Olympia Hocket Stadium (13); State Fair Grounds, Louisville, Kentucky (14); Washington DC Stadium (15) which has a capacity of over 50,000; Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, seating capacity 103,000 (16); Toronto (Canada) Maple leaf Gardens (17); Fenway Park, Boston (18); Memphis Coliseum (19); Cincinnati Crosley Field (20); St Louis Busch Stadium (21); New York Shea Stadium (23); Seattle (25) and Los Angeles (28).
They are also expected to play a date in San Francisco, but this has not yet been confirmed.
A plan to record the Beatles in Memphis, Elvis Presley’s home, has been dropped because of “complications”.
From Melody Maker – April 16, 1966
Beatles’ British tour in autumn
All this week, and from the Wednesday before Easter, the Beatles have been hard at work in the recording studios, preparing material for their next album and single. The single will not be out for at least four or six weeks.
Meanwhile, dates have been announced for the Beatles’ forthcoming tour of America — their third major tour of the States. They will also visit Germany and Japan — the latter for the first time.
Depending on the schedule of their next film — which may run from September through November — their next British may start at the beginning of December.
Dick James, Beatles’ music publisher, told Disc Weekly on Tuesday he was getting an unprecedented demand for Beatles song material from America, Germany and Japan.
“Although the Beatles story started in Hamburg,” says Dick James, “the Germans were slow starters on the Beatles’ scene, but now their own writers find it more profitable to write lyrics in English rather than German.”
James added special Beatles’ song albums would be put out in the States to tie in with the Beatles’ tour
The massive Beatles trailer will again precede the tour from venue to venue bearing song copies, which will be replenished by supplies flown into local airfields…The Beaties’ Stateside itinerary comprises Amphitheatre, Chicago (August 13), Fairground Stadium, Louisville (14), Washington Stadium (15), Philadelphia Stadium (16), Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens (17), Boston Fenway Park (18), Memphis Coliseum (19), Cincinnati Crosby Field (20), St. Louis Busch Stadium (21), New York Shea Stadium (23) – scene of their triumph last year and recently shown on TV – plus Seattle (25), Los Angeles (28) and San Francisco (29) where the tour ended last year.
The Beatles tour Germany from the end of June, then fly on to Japan the first week in July.
From Disc And Music Echo – April 16, 1966
Beatles To Appear In Japan
A spokesman for Brian Epstein’s NEMS Enterprises confirmed in London today that a contract was signed last week for the Beatles to appear in Japan at the end of June.
“The exact date for the tour and the venues have not yet been fixed,” he said, “but they will be announced later this week. I expect the Beaties will play in Tokyo. There will probably be several shows, but the tour will be very brief — just a few days.”
The spokesman added that Epstein’s organisation had signed the contract with Kyodo Kikaku Productions of Tokyo.
From Liverpool Echo – April 18, 1966
Beatles’ tour dates – THEY PLAY TO 32,000 IN GERMANY, 36,000 IN JAPAN
BEATLES will make six special concert appearances in Germany (playing to a total of 32,000 fans) and three in Tokyo in June!
They fly to Munich on June 24 and appear that evening at the Circus Croner (capacity 3,000); Essen Grugahalle (7,500) on June 25; Hamburg Ersst Merck Halle (5,500) on June 26. They play twice at each date.
The boys arrive in Tokyo on June 27 and do three shows at the Budo Kan (capacity 12,000) on June 30, July 1 and July 2.
From Disc And Music Echo – April 23, 1966
BEATLES GERMAN AND JAPANESE DATES SET
THE Beatles’ visits to Germany and Japan have now been finalised. The group fly to Munich on June 24 to do two shows at the 3,000 capacity Circus Kroner, the following day (25), they play two shows at the Grugahalle, in Essen (capacity 7,500), followed by two shows at the 5,500 capacity Ernst Merck Halle, in Hamburg, on June 26.
The following day, June 27, they fly to Japan where they open at Tokyo’s Budokan on June 30. They will appear for one show per night for three nights – June 30, July 1 and July 2 – at this venue, which has a capacity of 12,000.
The Beatles spent the whole of last week in EMI’s recording studios cutting their new LP and working on their next single release. But neither record will be out until the end of May “at the latest”
From Melody Maker – April 30, 1966
FUTURE TOUR PLANS
It is now more or less confirmed that the boys will undergo a three week tour of the States in late August to the middle of September, and will cover some fourteen cities. Prior to the American trip they will probably make a short tour of Japan and Germany. It has been stated that they will definitely not be playing at the Star Club in Hamburg, although they might drop in for a social call. Finally their long awaited British tour — this will be towards the end of the year, but no venues have been fixed.
From The Beatles Monthly Book – April 1966
Beatles: extra Far East dates!
BEATLES MAKE a special guest appearance on “Saturday Club” on June 4, when they are interviewed by Brian Matthew in the programme’s birthday edition.
So many ticket applications have been received for the group’s Far East concerts that extra shows are being put on. The Beatles give two shows in Manila at the National Football Stadium on July 4.
They also do two afternoon performances on July 1 and 2 at the Budo Kan in Tokyo as well as their evening performances; 200,000 ticket applications have been received for these Tokyo concerts.
Peter and Gordon, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers have been added to the Beatles tour of Germany on June 24 25 and 26.
From Disc And Music Echo – May 21, 1966
BEATLES PLAY TWO EXTRA JAPAN DATES
THE Beatles will play two extra afternoon concerts in Tokyo, Japan, on July 1 and 2. The Japanese promoter received 200,000 applications for tickets for the shows on June 30, July 1 and July 2 at Tokyo’s Budo Kan and the afternoon dates were slotted in to meet the demand for seats.
Total seating capacity at each performance is 33,000 which means that over 150,000 Japanese fans will see the Beatles during their three days in Japan.
Following their Tokyo appearances, the group will fly to Manila for two shows at the 12,500 capacity National Football Stadium on July 4 before returning to Britain to prepare for their new American tour.
There has been a date switch on the U.S. tour. The appearance at Louisville, Kentucky, has been cancelled and the Beatles will appear on August 14 at the Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, which has a seating of 100,000.
From Melody Maker – May 21, 1966
BEATLES 1966 TRIP
The following dates have now been confirmed for the Beatles American, German and Japanese trips:
June: 24th Circus Kroner, MUNICH; 25th Grugahalle, ESSEN; 26th Ersst Merck Halle, HAMBURG — there will be two performances at each venue. On the 27th they fly to Tokyo for three days holiday before appearing at the 12,000 seater Budo Kan on the 30th and 1st and 2nd of July.
The boys American tour begins with a show at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago on August 12th. The following night they move on to the Olympic Stadium in Detroit. The rest of the schedule takes in Washington (15th), Philadelphia (16th), Maple Leaf, Toronto (17th), Boston (18th), Memphis (19th), Cincinnati (20th), St. Louis (21st), Shea Stadium, New York (23rd), Seattle (25th), Dodge Stadium, Los Angeles (28th) and San Francisco (29th).
It has been said that as the stadium at Philadelphia holds 100,000 people, it will be the Beatles greatest concert ever. But, owing to the fact that they are only issuing 40,000 tickets for the Philadelphia Show (because no one would be able to see anything in the rear seats), the Shea Stadium concert will still be the biggest.
From The Beatles Monthly Book – May 1966
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