Family/Friends who don't share your Beatles fascination
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Do any of you feel alone in your admiration of Paul and/or The Beatles when it comes to family and friends? I can't tell you how many times I ask someone who's in their 50's/60's what their favorite music is and they usually tell me they like classic rock or oldies but many will tell me outright that they don't like The Beatles (some without even knowing I'm a fan so why did they even need to say that?) Do you all have significant others in your life who share your passion for The Beatles? If they don't share it, do they at least accompany you to concerts just to be good sports or are you on your own on this one? It's not as if this is some obscure band we're talking about! Do you get a lot of rolling of the eyes each time you sing along with The Beatles? Is your spouse/partner tired of going to see Beatles tribute bands? I have a daughter who'll be getting married. I overheard her telling her friends that she hopes I'm not disappointed that she doesn't intend on having any Beatles songs played at the wedding reception. WHAT????? What kind of fun wedding reception would THAT be? Another child of mine used to plan events at the university. I asked if there had been an unlimited budget, who would be the dream singer to put on a concert on campus? It was too tough to answer. When I suggested Paul McCartney, I was told that if he came to campus, no students would attend. I really find that hard to believe! Come on!
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There are some people who don't understand The Beatles' music and impact on the world, and will never like them. But I've been a lifelong fan from the age of 7. I used to have people sort of ridicule and make fun of me for it. Back in the 70's after they broke up, there was a film touring U.S. colleges. It was a film put together by Neil Aspinall called The Long and Winding Road. It was the early version of the Beatles Anthology and it was never officially released, but it did make the rounds for a few years. It was coming to my town and being shown at our local college. I was pretty excited about it, and went to see it with several friends. One of them said to me - "What's so special about The Beatles?" I said I couldn't explain it fully and she should just go see the movie with us. She went, and she watched, and came away amazed. She simply said "Now I understand." She's been a Beatles' fan ever since. Around the time of the remasters being released in 2009, I remember seeing an article titled "It's The Beatles' world, we all just live in it." I realized then that people had caught on. People understood their importance, and it felt pretty good that I have remained a Beatles' fan for all these years, and didn't let the naysayers get to me. This year with the 50th Anniversary, I have had that same feeling again. Back in the 60's some people knew those guys weren't just a flash in the pan, they were here to stay. The signs those kids made that said "The Beatles Forever" has in fact come true.
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beatlesfanrandy:
There are some people who don't understand The Beatles' music and impact on the world, and will never like them. But I've been a lifelong fan from the age of 7. I used to have people sort of ridicule and make fun of me for it. Back in the 70's after they broke up, there was a film touring U.S. colleges. It was a film put together by Neil Aspinall called The Long and Winding Road. It was the early version of the Beatles Anthology and it was never officially released, but it did make the rounds for a few years. It was coming to my town and being shown at our local college. I was pretty excited about it, and went to see it with several friends. One of them said to me - "What's so special about The Beatles?" I said I couldn't explain it fully and she should just go see the movie with us. She went, and she watched, and came away amazed. She simply said "Now I understand." She's been a Beatles' fan ever since. Around the time of the remasters being released in 2009, I remember seeing an article titled "It's The Beatles' world, we all just live in it." I realized then that people had caught on. People understood their importance, and it felt pretty good that I have remained a Beatles' fan for all these years, and didn't let the naysayers get to me. This year with the 50th Anniversary, I have had that same feeling again. Back in the 60's some people knew those guys weren't just a flash in the pan, they were here to stay. The signs those kids made that said "The Beatles Forever" has in fact come true.
That was really beautifully worded, Randy.
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Definably but they have learnt to tolerate my passion. Fortunately there are a lot of like minded people on Facebook who understand a Beatles obsession.
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I know I do. My Father represented himself as A Hater of al things Rock and Roll. So when my family moved to Burbank, Ca in the Summer of '64, it came as a surprise to me that my Father, Ray, who worked at Wayne Watson's Shell Service Station on Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, Ca, came home one afternoon and told us that he serviced a Rolls Royce that was escorting four young well-dressed men. He said that they were very well mannered. He said that he asked them where they were from, and one of them answered, "Liverpool". This was during their Hollywood Bowl concerts in '64. I remember the DJ's talking about it on KRLA. My old man Never openly Liked rock music. He was strictly traditional Country. But for some reason he was very impressed by the visitors. I doubt that he would make that story up. It wasn't like him at all. If the story that he told us is true, I wonder if Sir Paul might remember the encounter? My Father worked as a gas station attendant, and the striking thing of it is, he had lost his right hand in a hunting accident when he was 19.
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Fascinating story, Audley. I apparently inspired my brother to get into R 'n R. I saved my money and bought Beatles' records and played them all the time. Later, after my collection was stolen, he bought everything of theirs that he knew about through about the, oh, early 2ooos. As far as I know, no one in my family now, aside from me, is into them. One close friend is, but he lives in another state and not nearby. I do wonder how we who have such good taste are spread so far apart, in some instances. None of my girlfriends, locally, have any interest in seeing Paul. If I get decent tickets for a concert this summer, I suppose I'll go alone. I'm getting used to the idea now
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My old man's story might be plausible due to the location. If so, then the route would have been from a nearby hotel near Hollywood/Burbank Airport at the height of Beatlemania, to the service station on Glenoaks Blvd., then west on Glenoaks to Hollywood Way while enjoying the sparse desert sands along the hillside. Travel south on Hollywood Way past the airport and all the way down. Turn right at Hollywood Way and Olive Ave., in front of the Warner Bros. Studios main gate. On Olive, cut to the left onto Barham Rd., then turn left onto The Cahuenga Pass. Cahuenga turns into Highland Ave. right in front of The Bowl. And that route also makes sense given that the group stopped at Bob's Big Boy Restaurant on Pass Ave. during their '65 appearance at The Bowl. The restaurant is still open and they have a plaque marking the booth where they sat. It is located within a mile of Hollywood Way near Alameda and the west coast studios of NBC. The plaque was reported stolen last year. Perhaps that is now appropriate. Barham Rd. was also the location of Jackson Browne's step-father's liquor store.
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Audley's Piano:
I know I do. My Father represented himself as A Hater of al things Rock and Roll. So when my family moved to Burbank, Ca in the Summer of '64, it came as a surprise to me that my Father, Ray, who worked at Wayne Watson's Shell Service Station on Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, Ca, came home one afternoon and told us that he serviced a Rolls Royce that was escorting four young well-dressed men. He said that they were very well mannered. He said that he asked them where they were from, and one of them answered, "Liverpool". This was during their Hollywood Bowl concerts in '64. I remember the DJ's talking about it on KRLA. My old man Never openly Liked rock music. He was strictly traditional Country. But for some reason he was very impressed by the visitors. I doubt that he would make that story up. It wasn't like him at all. If the story that he told us is true, I wonder if Sir Paul might remember the encounter? My Father worked as a gas station attendant, and the striking thing of it is, he had lost his right hand in a hunting accident when he was 19.
I really enjoyed your story, Audley. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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As a child, my mom said, "Lennon is too rebellious" and wouldn't buy me his albums but she bought me Paul's. (Paul always was her favorite for being so cute) When I got friends in college, they all like the Beatles and I got to know a lot more about them as people rather then just their songs. For decades, most of my friends were Beatles fans. It was just something that seemed to happen. I raised a nephew who when he was 4, gave me two Beatles puzzles I still have. His mom said he wanted to buy it because, "She loves those guys." But in Science fiction fandom, it's another story. I retreated back into Beatles fandom to escape the drama around me. It was great for a few years. I'm an out of the closet Beatles slasher. It's never effected my relationship with my boyfriends I've had. They've chuckled at it and enjoy my knowledge of Beatles history (as well as showing off their own). In sci fi fandom, I've lost friends for being a Beatles fan. I got a two page Dear Jane letter from a friend who said he and nobody can stand that side of me. also, in recent years, I've met my first nasty Beatles fans. Never had a negative encounter in Beatle fandom ever. I've heard about the bad side but now, I've met it. they're mostly folks my age too (though a few are still kids who don't know any better). One never quite got over Paul announcing the break up and runs groups bashing him with lots of horrible name calling. I won't bore you with the pettiness of the other groups. so, lately it's been a mixed bag for me. If you asked me this about three years ago, I'd say no. It was all good.
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Almost all of my friends actually. And even if some of them happen to like the Beatles to some extent, still it's all John John John...
