1964

More about the book

In 2020, a remarkable collection of nearly a thousand photographs taken by Paul McCartney during the pivotal months of late 1963 and early 1964 was rediscovered. These images capture the explosive rise of Beatlemania in the UK and the band's first visit to the USA, marking their ascent to global fame. McCartney's personal record from this time, which he describes as being in the "Eyes of the Storm," features 275 photographs from six cities: Liverpool, London, Paris, New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami, including many never-before-seen portraits of John, George, and Ringo. In his Foreword and city portfolio introductions, McCartney reflects on the chaos of the era, describing it as "pandemonium" and sharing his impressions of Britain and America in 1964, a time when cultural shifts began to define the Sixties. The collection also includes a Coda on the latter months of 1964, alongside insightful contributions such as an Introduction by historian Jill Lepore and a Preface by Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery. Additionally, Senior Curator Rosie Broadley offers an essay titled "Another Lens," enriching the narrative of this iconic period in music history.