The Fest for Beatles Fans

Last updated

The Fest for Beatles Fans
The Fest for Beatles Fans 2024 poster.jpeg
Poster for 2024 convention
StatusActive
Genre The Beatles
FrequencyTwice per year
Location(s)New York Metro area, Chicago
CountryUnited States
InauguratedSeptember 1974
FounderMark Lapidos
Website www.thefest.com

The Fest for Beatles Fans (previously known as Beatlefest) is a twice-annual, three-day festival that honors the lasting legacy of the Beatles. The festival takes place in the New York metropolitan area, ordinarily in March or April, and in Chicago, Illinois, each August. Running Friday through Sunday, the Fest features special guests, live concerts, exhibits, art contests, a Beatles marketplace, a sound-alike contest, a Battle of the Beatles Bands, and more.

Contents

History

External image
Searchtool.svg Cover of Rolling Stone, October 24, 1974

The Fest for Beatles Fans began in 1974 after founder Mark Lapidos [1] ran the idea by John Lennon during an encounter at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Lapidos asked Lennon for permission, to which Lennon replied, "I’m all for it! I’m a Beatles fan too!" [2] [3]

The first Fest, titled Beatlefest '74, took place over the weekend of 14–15 September 1974 at the Commodore Hotel in New York City. [4] Over 8,000 Beatles fans attended. [2] The event was supported by BBC TV and Apple Corps in London; both organisations supplied archive films and promotional clips, some of which had never been seen in the US. [4] Each Beatle donated an item to be auctioned off for charity – guitars from Lennon and Paul McCartney, a table from George Harrison, and autographed drumsticks from Ringo Starr. [4] Lennon considered attending, but decided not to because he was nervous about the crowd. [5] May Pang, his girlfriend at the time, went in his place, with instructions to buy any interesting-looking memorabilia. Melody Maker journalist Chris Charlesworth helped Pang select items. [4] Beatlefest '74 was recognized on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. [6]

Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has taken place every year in the New York Metropolitan area, except for the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] It has taken place in Chicago, Illinois, every year since 1977. The Fest has also taken place in Atlanta, Boston, [8] Houston, Las Vegas, [9] Los Angeles, [10] Orlando, [11] Philadelphia [12] and San Francisco. [13]

For the 60th anniversary of the Beatles landing in America at JFK airport, The Fest for Beatles Fans was held at the new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, whose main public spaces are in the historic Eero Saarinen TWA flight Center where the Beatles landed. [14]

Lapidos' 1977 application for a registered trademark on Beatlefest was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1979 but challenged by Apple Corps in 1997 and ceded by Lapidos in 2002,; [15] thereafter, the name The Fest for Beatles Fans has been used. [16]

Events and activities

Among the events and activities at the Fest for Beatles Fans are nightly concerts by Beatles tribute band Liverpool, appearances and performances by various musical guests, photo exhibits, a Beatles museum and art contest, a Beatles sound-alike contest, the Battle of the Beatles Bands, panels and discussions with authors and Beatles experts, movie screenings, live auctions, puppet shows, and a Beatles marketplace. In 2014, the Fest included a bus trip to JFK Airport to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' arrival in America. [17]

Past attendees

Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has hosted hundreds of special guests, including:

Musicians

Other guests

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringo Starr</span> English musician and member of the Beatles (born 1940)

Sir Richard Starkey, known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on each album, including "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help from My Friends". He also wrote and sang the Beatles songs "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden", and is credited as a co-writer of four others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beatles</span> English rock band (1960–1970)

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock 'n' roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. The band also explored music styles ranging from folk and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionized many aspects of the music industry and were often publicized as leaders of the era's youth and sociocultural movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth Beatle</span> Informal title for associates of the Beatles

The fifth Beatle is an informal title that has been applied to people who were at one point a member of the Beatles or who had a strong association with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The "fifth Beatle" claims first appeared in the press immediately upon the band's rise to global fame in 1963–64. The members have offered their own views as to who should be described with the title: McCartney said on two occasions that "if anyone was the fifth Beatle", it was manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin. Harrison stated at the Beatles' 1988 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that there were only two "fifth Beatles": Derek Taylor, the Beatles' public relations manager, and Neil Aspinall, their road manager-turned-business-executive.

<i>A Hard Days Night</i> (album) 1964 studio album by the Beatles

A Hard Day's Night is the third studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 10 July 1964 by Parlophone, with side one containing songs from the soundtrack to their film of the same name. The American version of the album was released two weeks earlier, on 26 June 1964 by United Artists Records, with a different track listing that included selections from George Martin's film score. In contrast to the Beatles' first two albums, all 13 tracks on A Hard Day's Night were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, showcasing the development of their songwriting partnership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Nilsson</span> American singer-songwriter (1941–1994)

Harry Edward Nilsson III, sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal overdub experiments, a return to the Great American Songbook, and fusions of Caribbean sounds. Nilsson was one of the few major pop-rock recording artists to achieve significant commercial success without performing major public concerts or touring regularly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatlesque</span> Resemblance to the English band the Beatles

"Beatlesque" or "Beatles-esque" describes a musical resemblance to the English rock band the Beatles. The term is loosely defined and has been applied inconsistently to a wide variety of disparate artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaus Voormann</span> German musician and artist (b. 1938)

Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann is a German artist, musician, and record producer.

Apple Records is a British record label founded by the Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger and Billy Preston. In practice, the roster had become dominated by the mid-1970s with releases of the former Beatles as solo artists. Allen Klein managed the label from 1969 to 1973, then it was managed by Neil Aspinall on behalf of the Beatles and their heirs. Aspinall retired in 2007 and was replaced by Jeff Jones.

<i>Ringo</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Ringo Starr

Ringo is the third studio album by English musician Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached No. 1 on the RPM national albums chart.

<i>Goodnight Vienna</i> 1974 studio album by Ringo Starr

Goodnight Vienna is the fourth studio album by Ringo Starr. It was recorded in the summer of 1974 in Los Angeles, and released later that year. Goodnight Vienna followed the commercially successful predecessor Ringo, and Starr used many of the same players, including Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Robbie Robertson, Harry Nilsson, and producer Richard Perry. The title is a slang phrase meaning "it's all over".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Raccoon</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Rocky Raccoon" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was primarily written by Paul McCartney, although credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. McCartney began writing the song in Rishikesh, India, where the Beatles were studying Transcendental Meditation in the early months of 1968. John Lennon and Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, who joined the Beatles on their retreat, also made contributions to the song. A cover version by Richie Havens reached number 76 in Canada in 1969.

The Beatles were an English rock band, active from 1960 until 1970. From 1962 onwards, the band's members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Their break-up is attributed to numerous factors, including: the strain of the Beatlemania phenomenon, the 1967 death of their manager Brian Epstein, bandmates' resentment of McCartney's perceived domineering behaviour, Lennon's heroin use and his relationship with Yoko Ono, Harrison's increasingly prolific songwriting, the floundering of Apple Corps, the Get Back project and managerial disputes.

"I'm the Greatest" is a song written by English musician John Lennon that was released as the opening track of the 1973 album Ringo by Ringo Starr. With Starr, Lennon and George Harrison appearing on the track, it marks the only time that three former Beatles recorded together between the band's break-up in 1970 and Lennon's death in 1980. Lennon wrote the song in December 1970 as a wry comment on his rise to fame, and later tailored the lyrics for Starr to sing. Named after one of Muhammad Ali's catchphrases, the song partly evokes the stage-show concept of the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Off Boogaloo</span> 1972 song by Ringo Starr

"Back Off Boogaloo" is a song by the English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as a non-album single in March 1972. Starr's former Beatles bandmate George Harrison produced the recording and helped Starr write the song, although he remained uncredited as a co-writer until 2017. Recording took place in London shortly after the pair had appeared together at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh shows in August 1971. The single was a follow-up to Starr's 1971 hit song "It Don't Come Easy" and continued his successful run as a solo artist. "Back Off Boogaloo" peaked at number 2 in Britain and Canada, and number 9 on America's Billboard Hot 100. It remains Starr's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas Time (Is Here Again)</span> 1967 song by the Beatles

"Christmas Time (Is Here Again)" is a Christmas song by the English rock band the Beatles, originally recorded for their fifth fan club Christmas record, Christmas Time Is Here Again! (1967). One of the few Beatles songs credited to all four members of the band, it consists of a blues based backing track as well as double-tracked vocals sung by them, George Martin and Victor Spinetti. The lyrics are mostly made up of the song's title refrain, repeated across nine verses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beatles in film</span> The Beatles filmography

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With a line-up comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they are commonly regarded as the most influential band of all time. Between 1964 and 1970, they appeared in five major motion pictures, beginning with A Hard Day's Night (1964) and ending with Let It Be (1970). From late 1965 to 1969, the group also appeared in several promotional films for their singles, which have been credited with anticipating music videos and the rise of MTV in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early 1970</span> 1971 single by Ringo Starr

"Early 1970" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as the B-side of his April 1971 single "It Don't Come Easy". A rare example of Starr's songwriting at the time, it was inspired by the break-up of the Beatles and documents his relationship with his three former bandmates. The lyrics to the verses comment in turn on Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison as individuals, and the likelihood of each of them making music with Starr again. In the final verse, Starr offers a self-deprecating picture of his musical abilities and expresses the hope that all four will play together in the future. Commentators have variously described "Early 1970" as "a rough draft of a peace treaty" and "a disarming open letter" from Starr to Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.

"Six O'Clock" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr from his 1973 album Ringo. It was written by Starr's former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney and the latter's wife, Linda, who also participated in the recording of the song. It was the first time McCartney and Starr had worked together since the Beatles' break-up in 1970. Their collaboration reflected an easing of the tensions that had existed between the two musicians for much of that period.

<i>Everyday Chemistry</i> 2009 remix album credited to the Beatles by James Richards

Everyday Chemistry is a remix album that was made available as a free digital download on 9 September 2009. The album was released along with a story of anonymous authorship. It mashes up various songs from the Beatles' individual solo careers, including tracks from 27 albums. The album portrays itself as being taken from an alternate universe in which the Beatles had not broken up.

References

  1. Hester, Jere (January 24, 2014). "Fascination with Beatles continues to grow long after Fab Four's infamous breakup". Daily News. New York.
  2. 1 2 "History of The Fest". The Fest for Beatles Fans. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  3. Lapidos, Mark (April 1, 2007). "Preface: The Beatles, In My Life". In Berman, Garry (ed.). 'We're Going to See the Beatles!': An Oral History of Beatlemania as Told by the Fans Who Were There . Santa Monica Press. pp.  11–14. ISBN   978-1-59580-032-9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Badman, Keith (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 132–33. ISBN   978-0-7119-8307-6.
  5. Robinson, Lisa (April 22, 2014). There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll. Penguin. p. 69. ISBN   978-1-101-63208-6.
  6. "Strange Rumblings in Pepperland". Rolling Stone. October 24, 1974.
  7. Mosca, David (March 23, 2022). "Get back! The Fest for Beatles Fans Returns After a Two Year Hiatus". NJ.com. The Jersey Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Beggy, Carol; Shanahan, Mark (November 10, 2003). "Beatlemania rocks Danvers; Red Sox GM turns Esquire 'rebel'". Boston Globe .
  9. 1 2 3 Brown, Joe (June 30, 2008). "Embracing commercialism". Las Vegas Sun .
  10. 1 2 "The Guide: Fairs, Fetes & Fests". Los Angeles : 174. December 1988.
  11. 1 2 Badman, Keith (October 27, 2009). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the break-up, 1970-2001. Omnibus Press. p. 1572. ISBN   978-0-85712-001-4.
  12. Badman, Keith (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the break-up, 1970-2001. Music Sales Group. p. 498. ISBN   978-0-85712-001-4.
  13. Beckerman, Jim (March 18, 2015). "Fest for Beatle Fans, this weekend, enters fifth decade". The Record. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  14. "Fest For Beatles Fans NYC 2024". facebook. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  15. "Case 73118612 Beatlefest". Trademark Status & Document Retrieval. USPTO. Retrieved July 3, 2020.; Mark Lapidos Productions Ltd. v Apple Corps Limited:
  16. Gerber, Michael (July 23, 2015). "The Future of Beatlefest". Hey Dullblog. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  17. "The Fest for Beatles Fans 2014". Time Out. New York. January 13, 2014.
  18. 1 2 "44th Annual Fest For Beatles Fans Announced, 3/9 - 11". Broadway World. February 9, 2018.
  19. Kane, Larry (July 30, 2013). When They Were Boys: The True Story of the Beatles' Rise to the Top . Running Press. pp.  141, 246, 248. ISBN   978-0-7624-4014-6.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hoffman, Dave (March 26, 2004). "Back in Secaucus Thirtieth Fest for Beatles Fans celebrates 4Oth anniversary of Fab Four's arrival in States". Hudson Reporter .
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Krasner, Bob (February 14, 2024). "Come together: Three-day 'Fest for Beatles Fans' marks 60 years since Fab Four arrived in America, and changed music forever". The Villager.
  22. 1 2 3 Beckerman, Jim (March 26, 2019). "Beatles Fest celebrates an iconic album, and an iconic hoax". North Jersey Record.
  23. "Glen Burtnik". Styxtoury.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Fest Guests 1974-2013". The Fest for Beatles Fans.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kozinn, Allan (January 31, 2014). "Beatle Fans Hear Yesterday Again". The New York Times.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 Farber, Jim (February 4, 2014). "New York City celebrates 50 years of the Beatles with special events". Daily News. New York.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 Mikrut, Michael (August 25, 2014). "Peter Noone Performing at The Fest for Beatles Fans Chicago 2014". People and Places. Leydon Township, IL. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  28. "Donovan Plays Concert at Fest for Beatles Fans, New York City, February 7/8/9, Also He Will Give a Talk 'Meditation & The White Album'". Donovan Official Website. January 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 Program from 2008 August 22–24 Chicago Beatlefest
  30. 1997 "Wings" photo page by Michael Cimino Archives Archived December 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine .
  31. "Wings Alumni to Take Flight". ClassicRockCentral.com. July 10, 2007. Archived from the original on August 26, 2007.
  32. Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970-1980. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 221. ISBN   978-0-87930-968-8.
  33. 1 2 3 4 Gomez, Sal (October 29, 2014). "Entertainment Corner: The Fest for Beatles Fans". Mid Valley News. El Monte, CA. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Guests - New York City". The Fest for Beatles Fans. 2014. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grochowski, John (August 8, 2012). "Fest for Beatles Fans: Yeah, yeah, yeah!". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012.
  36. 1 2 Gehman, Geoff (April 23, 1980). "Covering The Beat At Beatlefest Reverence, Reminiscences And Revenues Spark New York Event For '90, Reporter Finds". The Morning Call.
  37. Nilsson, Harry (2010). Who is Harry Nilsson? (And Why is Everyone Talkin' About Him?). New York: Authorized Pictures/Lorber Films. Archived from the original (DVD) on June 9, 2011.
  38. Shipton, Alyn (August 8, 2013). Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter. Oxford University Press. pp. 256–257. ISBN   978-0-19-975657-5.
  39. Johnson, Joe (February 17, 2013). "RIP Tony Sheridan". Beatle Brunch Club News. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  40. Kessler, Jude (August 14, 2009). "Live from the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans". BeatlesNews.com. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  41. 1 2 Abrams, Erika (August 19, 2015). "Why the 2015 Chicago Fest For Beatles Fans Was the Best One Yet". REBEAT Magazine. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  42. 1 2 "Biography". Klaus Voormann. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  43. 1 2 Valadez, Eloise Marie (August 8, 2019). "Explore everything 'Fab Four' at The Fest for Beatles Fans". nwitimes.com.
  44. Johnson, Joe (August 24, 2010). "Beatle Brunch Newsletter" . Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  45. Abrams, Erika (March 23, 2015). "NY Metro Fest for Beatles Fans: Day 3 Recap and Wrap-Up". REBEAT Magazine. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  46. Julien, Alexander (August 28, 2024). "An Interview With Music Journalist and Biographer Aaron Badgley". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine . Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  47. Kennedy, Mike (February 12, 2024). "Aaron Badgley Interview". Apple Podcasts (Podcast). SleeveNotes. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  48. Pearce, Nigel (January 28, 2024). "January 28, 2024 from 3-5 pm Aaron Badgley Interview". Groove Britain. Future Radio . Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  49. 1 2 3 Barrow, Tony (2005). John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me: The Real Beatles Story. Da Capo Press. ISBN   1-56025-882-9.
  50. Clayson, Alan (April 22, 1992). "Chicago Breakdown". The Beat Goes On.
  51. "Fest for Beatles Fans celebrates the Fab 4". ABC7 Chicago. August 12, 2018.
  52. "Fest For Beatles Fans 2014 Invades Airport Marriott". Hollywood Revealed. October 12, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  53. "L.A. Fest a Hit With Beatles Fans". Something New. October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  54. "Cynthia at Beatlefest". Meet the Beatles for Real. February 14, 2012.
  55. Germain, Rory (March 26, 2015). "Fest for Beatles Fans 2015". Thisismelo.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  56. Schultz, Linda, ed. (2004). Tales of the Awesome Foursome: Beatles Fans Share Personal Stories and Memories of the Fab Four. Infinity Publishing. p. 194. ISBN   0-7414-2079-1.
  57. Hughes, Rob (2008). "Legendary Pink Floyd Producer Hurricane Dies". Uncut .
  58. Patterson, R. Garry (October 29, 1998). The Walrus Was Paul: The Great Beatle Death Clues. Simon and Schuster. p. 53. ISBN   0-684-85062-1.