ROOF TOP (Room 411)
ROOF TOP (Room 411)
In early 1969 Paul had been trying to persuade his fellow Beatles that they had to perform live again. His pleas fell on deaf ears, especially George who couldn’t think of anything more painful. Suggestions of a Roman Amphitheatre in Tunisia or an African desert were met with total indifference. Paul had previously suggested making a TV documentary about the band and their new album and all had agreed to a live performance. However what was originally envisaged as a documentary of the band at work became the bands final epitaph, as it merely chronicled the disintegration of the group. Originally entitled ‘Get Back’ filming began in Twickenham Studios in early January 1969. After a little over a week of recording George and John had an argument and Paul and George had also exchanged words, the result being George stormed out declaring “I’ll see you in the clubs.” The atmosphere in Twickenham was dreadful; the huge set was cold, spartan and unrelenting – George returned the following week to declare he would only continue as a Beatle if the live performance was dropped and the project was moved from Twickenham. Hasty plans were made to move the filming to the Beatles new studios at Apple in Savile Row. George also invited Billy Preston to join the session believing an outsider would put everybody on their best behavior, which it did. After a constant month of filming and recording they were not happy with the results. Towards the end of the month Paul resurrected the idea of a live performance but the others were having none of it until a compromise was reached. The solution was to play live but not to an audience and with a determination to make it as hassle free as possible it was decided to stage the event on the roof top of Apple. And so it was on that Thursday 30th January 1969 The Beatles performed for the very last time. Miraculously, the four put their differences to one side, to produce a remarkable live performance, which they clearly enjoyed. They were momentarily transported back to more innocent and less complex times, playing for the fun of it. They ripped through a twenty-minute set including ‘Get Back’, ‘One After 909’, and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ amongst others. The police were perplexed when large crowds gathered at ground level craning their necks to find out where the music was coming from. It quickly became apparent that it was The Beatles and with chaos and pandemonium, which was disrupting both business and traffic, The Police entered the Apple offices in a vain attempt to get them to stop playing. When the police gained access to the roof The Beatles smiling carried on playing regardless. Once the film was in the can it was left to John to make an announcement. “I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.” They certainly had!
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
ROOF TOP (Room 411)
In early 1969 Paul had been trying to persuade his fellow Beatles that they had to perform live again. His pleas fell on deaf ears, especially George who couldn’t think of anything more painful. Suggestions of a Roman Amphitheatre in Tunisia or an African desert were met with total indifference. Paul had previously suggested making a TV documentary about the band and their new album and all had agreed to a live performance. However what was originally envisaged as a documentary of the band at work became the bands final epitaph, as it merely chronicled the disintegration of the group. Originally entitled ‘Get Back’ filming began in Twickenham Studios in early January 1969. After a little over a week of recording George and John had an argument and Paul and George had also exchanged words, the result being George stormed out declaring “I’ll see you in the clubs.” The atmosphere in Twickenham was dreadful; the huge set was cold, spartan and unrelenting – George returned the following week to declare he would only continue as a Beatle if the live performance was dropped and the project was moved from Twickenham. Hasty plans were made to move the filming to the Beatles new studios at Apple in Savile Row. George also invited Billy Preston to join the session believing an outsider would put everybody on their best behavior, which it did. After a constant month of filming and recording they were not happy with the results. Towards the end of the month Paul resurrected the idea of a live performance but the others were having none of it until a compromise was reached. The solution was to play live but not to an audience and with a determination to make it as hassle free as possible it was decided to stage the event on the roof top of Apple. And so it was on that Thursday 30th January 1969 The Beatles performed for the very last time. Miraculously, the four put their differences to one side, to produce a remarkable live performance, which they clearly enjoyed. They were momentarily transported back to more innocent and less complex times, playing for the fun of it. They ripped through a twenty-minute set including ‘Get Back’, ‘One After 909’, and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ amongst others. The police were perplexed when large crowds gathered at ground level craning their necks to find out where the music was coming from. It quickly became apparent that it was The Beatles and with chaos and pandemonium, which was disrupting both business and traffic, The Police entered the Apple offices in a vain attempt to get them to stop playing. When the police gained access to the roof The Beatles smiling carried on playing regardless. Once the film was in the can it was left to John to make an announcement. “I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.” They certainly had!
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
ROOF TOP (Room 411)
In early 1969 Paul had been trying to persuade his fellow Beatles that they had to perform live again. His pleas fell on deaf ears, especially George who couldn’t think of anything more painful. Suggestions of a Roman Amphitheatre in Tunisia or an African desert were met with total indifference. Paul had previously suggested making a TV documentary about the band and their new album and all had agreed to a live performance. However what was originally envisaged as a documentary of the band at work became the bands final epitaph, as it merely chronicled the disintegration of the group. Originally entitled ‘Get Back’ filming began in Twickenham Studios in early January 1969. After a little over a week of recording George and John had an argument and Paul and George had also exchanged words, the result being George stormed out declaring “I’ll see you in the clubs.” The atmosphere in Twickenham was dreadful; the huge set was cold, spartan and unrelenting – George returned the following week to declare he would only continue as a Beatle if the live performance was dropped and the project was moved from Twickenham. Hasty plans were made to move the filming to the Beatles new studios at Apple in Savile Row. George also invited Billy Preston to join the session believing an outsider would put everybody on their best behavior, which it did. After a constant month of filming and recording they were not happy with the results. Towards the end of the month Paul resurrected the idea of a live performance but the others were having none of it until a compromise was reached. The solution was to play live but not to an audience and with a determination to make it as hassle free as possible it was decided to stage the event on the roof top of Apple. And so it was on that Thursday 30th January 1969 The Beatles performed for the very last time. Miraculously, the four put their differences to one side, to produce a remarkable live performance, which they clearly enjoyed. They were momentarily transported back to more innocent and less complex times, playing for the fun of it. They ripped through a twenty-minute set including ‘Get Back’, ‘One After 909’, and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ amongst others. The police were perplexed when large crowds gathered at ground level craning their necks to find out where the music was coming from. It quickly became apparent that it was The Beatles and with chaos and pandemonium, which was disrupting both business and traffic, The Police entered the Apple offices in a vain attempt to get them to stop playing. When the police gained access to the roof The Beatles smiling carried on playing regardless. Once the film was in the can it was left to John to make an announcement. “I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.” They certainly had!
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON