The Beatles Decided to Stop Touring After a Series of Disastrous Shows in the United States

In 1966, The Beatles were at the peak of their fame, but touring was draining the life out of them. Live performances had been how they built an audience and catapulted to fame. By 1966, though, it not only strained their creativity but put their lives at risk. Paul McCartney was the last Beatle to keep pushing for live performances. After a disastrous tour leg in the United States, though, even he agreed that it was time to take a break.

The Beatles’ 1966 tour saw them face trouble nearly wherever they went. They received death threats, battled nasty weather, and had all of The Philippines turn against them. Even when people were well-intentioned, the sheer number of fans became dangerous.

They arrived in the United States already exhausted, but things only continued to get worse. John Lennon had recently said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus, and many people in the South boycotted the band. They felt their lives were in danger.

Source: Emma McKee/cheatsheet.com

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