# The Beatles' 1964 world tour

The Beatles 1964 world tour was the Beatles' first world tour, launched after their 1964 UK tour. The reception was enthusiastic, with The Spectator describing it as "hysterical". It was followed by their subsequent North American tour in August of that year.

## Tour history

Negotiations for an Australasian tour started in October 1963, and Epstein signed in January 1964 (a month before the Beatles’ American tour). The price had increased from £1500 a week to £2500 a week plus airfares and excess baggage for drums and amps. The negotiations between Robert Kerridge of Kerridge Odeon in Auckland, Aztec Services (Kenn Brodziak) in Melbourne, their London agent Cyril Berlin of The Grade Organisation and Brian Epstein were by telegram (many reproduced in the 2024 book).
The Beatles were stated to have made £250,000 from their Australasian tour.

### Jimmie Nicol temporarily replaces Ringo

On the morning of 3 June 1964, the day before the tour was to begin, Ringo Starr fell ill during a photo session. He fainted and was taken to hospital with a strong fever, where he was diagnosed with severe tonsillitis and hospitalized for a few days in London.
The Beatles, especially George Harrison, wanted to postpone the tour, but manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin decided to use drummer Jimmie Nicol to temporarily replace Starr. When Ringo heard this, he was convinced he was about to be permanently replaced.
During rehearsals, when the Beatles asked Nicol how he was doing, his answer was always "It's getting better"; this phrase later inspired McCartney's song "Getting Better" from the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Years later, Nicols said that he would have done the tour for free, but Epstein offered him £2,500 per performance and a £2,500 bonus. "I couldn't sleep that night, I was one of the fucking Beatles!" he said in a 1988 interview.
The tour began on 4 June 1964 in Copenhagen, Denmark; Nicol played nine shows across six cities until Starr rejoined the band in Melbourne, Australia, on 14 June. Nicol, a very shy person, did not say goodbye to the group and left at night while they were sleeping. At the airport, Brian Epstein gave him £500 and a gold watch with the inscription "From The Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmie - with appreciation and gratitude". On the return journey on the plane he was very sad, feeling "like a bastard child rejected by his new family".

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| Europe ||||
| 4 June 1964 | Copenhagen | Denmark | K.B. Hallen |
| 5 June 1964 | Hillegom | Netherlands | Treslong. TV appearance for VARA. |
| 6 June 1964 | Blokker | Netherlands | Veilinghallen |
| Asia ||||
| 9 June 1964 | Kowloon | British Hong Kong | Princess Theatre |
| Australasia ||||
| 12 June 1964 | Adelaide | Australia | Centennial Hall |
| 13 June 1964 | Adelaide | Australia | Centennial Hall |
| 15 June 1964 | Melbourne | Australia | Festival Hall |
| 16 June 1964 | Melbourne | Australia | Festival Hall |
| 17 June 1964 | Melbourne | Australia | Festival Hall |
| 18 June 1964 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Stadium |
| 19 June 1964 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Stadium |
| 20 June 1964 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Stadium |
| 22 June 1964 | Wellington | New Zealand | Wellington Town Hall |
| 23 June 1964 | Wellington | New Zealand | Wellington Town Hall |
| 24 June 1964 | Auckland | New Zealand | Auckland Town Hall |
| 25 June 1964 | Auckland | New Zealand | Auckland Town Hall |
| 26 June 1964 | Dunedin | New Zealand | Dunedin Town Hall |
| 27 June 1964 | Christchurch | New Zealand | Majestic Theatre |
| 29 June 1964 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Festival Hall |
| 30 June 1964 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Festival Hall |
| Europe ||||
| 12 July 1964 | Brighton | England | Hippodrome Theatre |
| 19 July 1964 | Blackpool | England | ABC Cinema |
| 23 July 1964 | London | England | London Palladium |
| 26 July 1964 | Blackpool | England | Blackpool Opera House |
| 28 July 1964 | Stockholm | Sweden | Johanneshovs Isstadion |
| 29 July 1964 | Stockholm | Sweden | Johanneshovs Isstadion |
| 2 August 1964 | Bournemouth | England | Gaumont |
| 9 August 1964 | Scarborough | England | Futurist Theatre |
| 16 August 1964 | Blackpool | England | Blackpool Opera House |

## Typical set list

The typical set list for the shows was as follows (with lead singers noted):
* "I Saw Her Standing There" (Paul McCartney)
* "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (John Lennon and Paul McCartney) or You Can't Do That" (John Lennon)
* "All My Loving" (Paul McCartney)
* "She Loves You" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison)
* "Till There Was You" (Paul McCartney)
* "Roll Over Beethoven" (George Harrison)
* "Can't Buy Me Love" (Paul McCartney)
* "This Boy" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison)
* "Twist and Shout" (John Lennon)
* "Long Tall Sally" (Paul McCartney)