MANILA (Room 307)
MANILA (Room 307)
This was quite the worst collective experience that the Beatles ever had. Whilst in Japan they had been unaware of demonstrations against them, but in the Philippines they were not afforded any proper protection. There was a lack of any VIP treatment and they were treated with utter disdain by the few armed guards that followed them everywhere. Their luggage was left at the airport and they were separated from Neil, Brian, and Mal (their manager and assistants). They were taken not to a hotel but to a yacht, where armed guards whisked them into a cabin. The boys had in fact been kidnapped by a local who wanted them as some sort of trophy on his yacht. The local promoter, accompanied by the police eventually retrieved them. Things were only to get worse... much worse. The group tuned into the local TV station prior to their gig at Rival Memorial Stadium. They were horrified to see that the First Lady of Philippines, Imelda Marcos (she of the thousands of shoes fame) waiting for The Beatles at the Royal Palace. The Beatles hadn’t been told and anyway if they had. Brian routinely declined all such offers. The gig went very well but the next day all hell let loose. “The Beatles snub The Royal Family” ran the headlines. The furore in the press and on TV news was incessant. The backlash was brutal. The promoters withheld the bands fee. Drivers refused to take them to the airport. At the airport they were made to carry their own luggage and police officers punched and kicked them. The police shouted, “You treat like ordinary passengers.” John couldn’t help replying “So you kick ordinary passengers then!?” When they crossed the tarmac they were set upon by an angry mob. When they reached the apparent safety of the plane, it didn’t end there. They couldn’t take off until Brian paid a new imaginary tax! The boys were relieved that they’d escaped alive. Upon their return George’s response to a question about the Philippines in the future was that an atom bomb could be appropriate.The clock was on and ticking... The Beatles touring years were rapidly drawing to a close.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
MANILA (Room 307)
This was quite the worst collective experience that the Beatles ever had. Whilst in Japan they had been unaware of demonstrations against them, but in the Philippines they were not afforded any proper protection. There was a lack of any VIP treatment and they were treated with utter disdain by the few armed guards that followed them everywhere. Their luggage was left at the airport and they were separated from Neil, Brian, and Mal (their manager and assistants). They were taken not to a hotel but to a yacht, where armed guards whisked them into a cabin. The boys had in fact been kidnapped by a local who wanted them as some sort of trophy on his yacht. The local promoter, accompanied by the police eventually retrieved them. Things were only to get worse... much worse. The group tuned into the local TV station prior to their gig at Rival Memorial Stadium. They were horrified to see that the First Lady of Philippines, Imelda Marcos (she of the thousands of shoes fame) waiting for The Beatles at the Royal Palace. The Beatles hadn’t been told and anyway if they had. Brian routinely declined all such offers. The gig went very well but the next day all hell let loose. “The Beatles snub The Royal Family” ran the headlines. The furore in the press and on TV news was incessant. The backlash was brutal. The promoters withheld the bands fee. Drivers refused to take them to the airport. At the airport they were made to carry their own luggage and police officers punched and kicked them. The police shouted, “You treat like ordinary passengers.” John couldn’t help replying “So you kick ordinary passengers then!?” When they crossed the tarmac they were set upon by an angry mob. When they reached the apparent safety of the plane, it didn’t end there. They couldn’t take off until Brian paid a new imaginary tax! The boys were relieved that they’d escaped alive. Upon their return George’s response to a question about the Philippines in the future was that an atom bomb could be appropriate.The clock was on and ticking... The Beatles touring years were rapidly drawing to a close.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
MANILA (Room 307)
This was quite the worst collective experience that the Beatles ever had. Whilst in Japan they had been unaware of demonstrations against them, but in the Philippines they were not afforded any proper protection. There was a lack of any VIP treatment and they were treated with utter disdain by the few armed guards that followed them everywhere. Their luggage was left at the airport and they were separated from Neil, Brian, and Mal (their manager and assistants). They were taken not to a hotel but to a yacht, where armed guards whisked them into a cabin. The boys had in fact been kidnapped by a local who wanted them as some sort of trophy on his yacht. The local promoter, accompanied by the police eventually retrieved them. Things were only to get worse... much worse. The group tuned into the local TV station prior to their gig at Rival Memorial Stadium. They were horrified to see that the First Lady of Philippines, Imelda Marcos (she of the thousands of shoes fame) waiting for The Beatles at the Royal Palace. The Beatles hadn’t been told and anyway if they had. Brian routinely declined all such offers. The gig went very well but the next day all hell let loose. “The Beatles snub The Royal Family” ran the headlines. The furore in the press and on TV news was incessant. The backlash was brutal. The promoters withheld the bands fee. Drivers refused to take them to the airport. At the airport they were made to carry their own luggage and police officers punched and kicked them. The police shouted, “You treat like ordinary passengers.” John couldn’t help replying “So you kick ordinary passengers then!?” When they crossed the tarmac they were set upon by an angry mob. When they reached the apparent safety of the plane, it didn’t end there. They couldn’t take off until Brian paid a new imaginary tax! The boys were relieved that they’d escaped alive. Upon their return George’s response to a question about the Philippines in the future was that an atom bomb could be appropriate.The clock was on and ticking... The Beatles touring years were rapidly drawing to a close.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON