A BEATLES' HARD-DIE'S SITE


The Beatles Live in Manila July 4 1966


In July 1966, when The Beatles toured the Philippines, they unintentionally snubbed the nation’s first lady, Imelda Marcos, who had expected the group to attend a breakfast reception at the Presidential Palace. When presented with the invitation, Brian Epstein politely declined on behalf of the group, as it had never been the group’s policy to accept such “official” invitations.
The group soon found that the Marcos regime was unaccustomed to accepting “no” for an answer. After the snub was broadcast on Philippine television and radio, all of The Beatles’ police protection disappeared. The group and their entourage had to make their way to Manila airport on their own. At the airport, road manager Mal Evans was beaten and kicked, and the band members were pushed and jostled about by a hostile crowd. Once the group boarded the plane, Epstein and Evans were ordered off, and Evans said, “Tell my wife that I love her.” Epstein was forced to give back all the money that the band had earned while they were there before being allowed back on the plane.

No comments: