Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Was wondering if anybody knew if the boys ever spent any time rehearsing before going on tour? I know some bands would get together a few weeks before to work things out. Have never heard if the Beatles would spend any time rehearsing. Judging from some of the 1966 shows I've seen & heard it doesn't seem like they did. There were some pretty rough sounding shows in '66.

I always heard that the poor-quality PA systems and/or lack of stage monitors made it impossible for the lads to hear themselves, which helped to result in rough or sloppy performances.

I'm aware of the lack of monitors (By 1966 I still don't understand why they didn't have them)and the incredible crowd noise. But by 1966 the crowds were a little less. They weren't selling out everytime & in some concerts (Japan)for one, the crowds weren't quite as loud as earlier years, plus the stage gear was somewhat better. So I would think they could hear themselves a little better. Still it seems like not a lot of preparation or concern went into many of the 1966 shows in particular. - Out of Tune instruments, Blown lyrics, Badly out of tune vocals, etc,etc..... Some went a little better than others. But in general it doesn't seem to me any rehearsing was done ahead of time.

I believe somewhere in the Anthology DVD's John was asked about rehearsals. He said that they played so much that the only thing they had to rehearse was smiling.

Just noticed #400

I agree with everyone else. They didn't rehearse, because they were always touring anyway. And when they were doing the club shows they had marathon sessions with few breaks. I think the only rehearsing they did back then was when they picked up a new cover to do.

Yeah, I think that's the case. From reading Anthology, etc., they were forced to do rehearsals occasionally, the Sullivan shows, the Royal performances, etc., but I gather there wasn't much for them to rehearse...they'd been playing their hands/lungs off for years.

Bill

pretty much they were playing so much anyways they didn't rehearse a lot. However there are pix of them during the American tours that say "Beatles rehearse before show bla bla bla" ... however its also possible that these pix are simply pre-show runthroughs for the benefit of show staging/lighting/etc.

Dang, If I was playing live as much as the fabs were from 62 through 64 I wouldn't practice much either, unless it was to work out new material.

Remember that from 1962-1965, the Beatles were almost continuously playing live shows, radio shows, TV appearances and studio work. They didn't need to rehearse in those days. The sloppy performances didn't really happen until 1966, when their schedules opened up some.

yup... but you can bet that whatever practicing they did do during that time was done at the urging of Paul.

And couldn't it be said about those "sloppy performances" around the 1966 era,that it might have been that none of them really gave a damn about live performances anymore?
Weren't they so sick and tired of the touring, and the screaming etc, that they really didn't care?
Those Japan concerts were almost too bad to be true,although i have them on dvd, and enjoy them for their historical value!
John singing "Rock and roll music",....he really can't be bothered!!

In Japan, especially, they were also living under pretty lousy conditions--constantly monitored and shut up in their hotel--I don't think I'd want to play too well either if I were treated like that.

I think their early and late live work is great, some of the middle stuff had some issues. The Washington Collosseum concerts are a bit "rough" sounding, but great rock and roll, and I think the energy of the Shea Stadium show is worth something. And they were great on the rooftop, even with some flubbed lyrics and such.

The lads could always play, the albums attest to that, '66 was just a rough year to be fab. John, especially, was feeling pretty out of it.

All that said, I think I read somewhere that Eptstein had them spend a few weeks in rehersal before the '66 tour.

You're right, Joe. I am not sure if it was after Munich or Japan, but Epstein did get them into the studio to rehearse before touring America in 1966.

Most bands if they play that much don't really wanna rehearse very much. I do because I enjoy playing. But I find that most people don't and the older they get the worse it gets trying to get them to reshearse.
Macca may have been a prefectionist as well as wanting to play that drove him to want to rehearse more than the others did.

Good point Greg... by '66 they were burned out concertwise and didn't give a hoot anymore. Perhaps if they had been able to play smaller venues where they could hear themselves (and be heard) they might have gotten re-inspired (oh if only that had happened!). But I agree, the Japan stuff was pretty bad music-wise.