Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

Friday, July 8, 1966

Interview for Reuters

Interview for Reuters

TV interview • Interview of The Beatles

Last updated on November 4, 2023


Details

  • Published: Jul 08, 1966
  • Published by: Reuters

Location

  • Interview location: Heathrow airport, London, UK

Timeline

Related tour

Related concerts

Other interviews of The Beatles

This interview remains the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately.


On July 5, 1966, The Beatles left Manila after being physically threatened because they didn’t join an invitation by the Philippines’ First Lady, Imelda Marcos. In the early morning of July 6, after a brief refuelling stop in Bangkok, they arrived in New Delhi, India, for a two-days stop. They left New Delhi on the evening of July 7.

They arrived at London Airport at 6 am on July 8, where a brief press conference was held. They were also interviewed by the ITN network and by Reuters, where they discuss their troubled time in the Philippines.


Q: John, what exactly happened at the Manila airport?

John Lennon: We got kicked and pushed around by some monkeys and we were very frightened.

Q: How was it for you, George?

George Harrison: Um… Terrified, I’d say. You know, it was very bad. There were about five sort-of real big funny-looking fellas with guns and all the rest of the gear…

John Lennon: … who did all the kicking.

George Harrison: Yeah. And you know, they just had arranged… You know, it was so obvious they’d arranged to give us the worst time possible, before we arrived at the airport. So we just got pistoled about and just, you know… Personally, I just kept dodging those people because they were the ones hysterical…

John Lennon: There were about five of them, the others weren’t bothering.

Q: Did you have to carry your luggage and make your own way across the airport

Ringo Starr: Only our hand baggage, you know. Our road managers took the big ones… They turned the escalator off on them. They had to carry them off the escalator. The amplifier…

John Lennon: That’s how intelligent they are…

Q: How many people were involved in this demonstration?

Paul McCartney: Well, I thought there was thirty. I’ve been telling everyone thirty. George says it was five.

John Lennon: It was sort of like a little army, to beat us off. And there was about another ten at the back of a crowd of ordinary people throwing “Boo, boo” and we looked around and they were just little kids smiling.

Q: Apart from the Philippines, did you enjoy the trip?

Paul McCartney: Yeah, it was great….

George Harrison: Japan was fantastic, very nice. It was great. Great people in Japan.


Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.