On Tuesday 5 July 1966, The Beatles left the Philippines in chaotic and violent circumstances following an accidental snub of First Lady Imelda Marcos. What had begun as a misunderstanding escalated into a full diplomatic incident, with the group subjected to physical assault at Manila International Airport before finally boarding KLM flight 862 bound for New Delhi.
The snub that wasn't
The Beatles had never intended to snub Imelda Marcos. Their two concerts at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on 4 July 1966 had been a success, but the group had not been informed of an official invitation to attend a reception at the Malacañang Palace hosted by the First Lady. Brian Epstein had declined on their behalf, unaware of the political significance of the occasion.
The following morning, The Manila Times carried a front-page story accusing The Beatles of “snubbing the First Lady and the three Marcos children.” The hostile headlines multiplied rapidly: FURORE OVER BEATLES SNUB DAMPENS SHOW, IMELDA STOOD UP: FIRST FAMILY WAITS IN VAIN FOR MOPHEADS. A palace spokesperson declared that The Beatles had “spit in the eye of the First Family.”
The tax demand
Just after eight that morning, a man arrived at the Hotel Manila with an envelope for Brian Epstein. Tony Barrow, The Beatles' press officer, recalled what happened:
Just after eight that morning a man in a shiny suit carrying a brown briefcase came to deliver an envelope for Brian Epstein: 'Here is your bill for the income tax due on The Beatles' fee.' Our contract with Cavalcade, as with most concert promoters outside the UK, was very precise on the matter of local taxes. The responsibility for payment belonged with the promoter. Ramon Ramos Jr was contractually liable for the settlement of any tax bills. But the taxman insisted that the full fee was taxed as earnings regardless of any other contracts. His words were confirmed by the Manila Daily Mirror headline: BEATLES TOLD: PAY NOW, LEAVE LATER.
Tony Barrow, John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me
Eventually Brian Epstein filed a bond for Pesos 74,450 to settle the tax levy, leaving NEMS Enterprises with a financial loss for the Filipino leg of the tour. Hotel Manila staff refused to provide room service or handle the group's baggage, though their driver remained loyal. Epstein and NEMS employee Vic Lewis travelled ahead to the airport to check in.
The airport assault
At Manila International Airport, management and staff had been instructed to give no assistance to The Beatles' party. Escalators were switched off as they approached, forcing the group to carry heavy amplifiers and instrument cases on foot. What followed was a sustained physical assault. Tony Barrow described the scene:
When The Beatles joined us, Filipino thugs, some in military uniform, closed in on our party from all sides. Guns were brandished and fired into the air, makeshift cudgels and coshes were waved in our faces. Someone shouted in English that The Beatles were not special and deserved to be treated just like ordinary passengers. John said: 'Ordinary passengers? They don't get kicked and thumped, do they?' There was no alternative but to run the gauntlet of the menacing mob. Brian Epstein was punched in the face and kicked in the groin. The roadies got the worst of it. Mal Evans was kicked in the ribs and tripped up but he staggered on across the tarmac towards the aircraft with blood streaming down one leg. We did our best to shield John, Paul, George and Ringo from direct blows. Vic Lewis and I were the last to go. He held an open hand across his back saying it might protect his spine from a sniper's bullet.
Tony Barrow, John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me
The Manila Times reported the injuries in its own terms the following day:
Drummer Ringo Starr was floored by an uppercut. As he crawled away the mob kicked him. George Harrison and John Lennon received kicks and blows as they ran to the customs zone. Paul McCartney was relatively unhurt as he sprinted ahead. Manager Brian Epstein received the brunt of the mob's fury. He was kicked and thrown to the floor. As a result he suffered a sprained ankle and had to be helped to the customs area.
Manila Times
Chauffeur Alf Bicknall suffered a fractured rib and a spinal injury. Once on board the KLM aircraft, Tony Barrow and Mal Evans were ordered off again while immigration papers were processed — the group had technically entered the Philippines as illegal immigrants, their papers not having been properly stamped on arrival. Evans, fearing he would be stranded, turned to the others and said: “Tell Lil I love her” — a reference to his wife. Eventually the passports were stamped and they were cleared to leave. The delay lasted 44 minutes.
The flight out
KLM flight 862 departed at 4.45pm. Tony Barrow recalled the moment of departure:
As soon as KLM flight 862 aircraft rose up from the runway at 4.45pm that afternoon our entire party broke into spontaneous applause. George leant across the aisle between his seat and mine and said to me: 'The only way I'd ever go back to that place would be to drop a dirty big bomb on it.' Paul asked me if I had recorded Brian's television statement and if so could he hear it. I told him: 'I have it on a cassette. You can hear the newsreader's introduction but the rest is a blur. They blotted out the whole of Brian's explanation.'
Tony Barrow, John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me
Before leaving the Manila Hotel, Paul McCartney had given a radio interview apologising for The Beatles' failure to meet Imelda Marcos and explaining that they had known nothing of her lunch party. Back in London he gave the press a graphic account of the departure: “We were being pushed and banged around from one corner to another. With the escalators switched off we couldn't go anywhere very fast. When they started knocking over our road managers everyone was falling all over the place. I swear there were at least 30 of them surrounding us.”
George Harrison had the final word. Asked on his arrival in London what was next on the group's agenda, he replied with only the merest hint of a smile: “We're going to have a couple of weeks to recuperate before we go and get beaten up by the Americans.”
The aftermath
Just minutes after the aircraft left Filipino soil, President Marcos issued a press statement absolving The Beatles of any wrongdoing: “There was no intention on the part of The Beatles to slight the First Lady or the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.”
The flight was bound for New Delhi, where The Beatles hoped to enjoy a relaxing break. They arrived the following day to unwelcome scenes of Beatlemania, strengthening their resolve to end touring. The Manila incident — coming just weeks before the final concert of their career at Candlestick Park, San Francisco on 29 August 1966 — was one of several events in 1966 that convinced the group that live performance was no longer sustainable.
Summary
| Date | Tuesday 5 July 1966 |
|---|---|
| Event | The Beatles depart the Philippines |
| Flight | KLM flight 862, departing 4.45pm |
| Destination | New Delhi, India |
| Tax bond paid | Pesos 74,450 (filed by Brian Epstein) |
| Key injuries | Mal Evans (ribs), Alf Bicknall (fractured rib, spinal injury), Brian Epstein (sprained ankle) |
| Source | Tony Barrow, John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me |
Frequently asked questions
Why did The Beatles leave the Philippines in 1966?
The Beatles left the Philippines on 5 July 1966 after an accidental snub of First Lady Imelda Marcos. Brian Epstein had declined an invitation to a palace reception without realising its political significance. The resulting furore led to a tax demand, withdrawal of hotel services, and a violent assault at Manila International Airport.
Were The Beatles attacked at Manila Airport?
Yes. At Manila International Airport on 5 July 1966, The Beatles and their party were subjected to a sustained physical assault by a mob, some in military uniform. Mal Evans was kicked in the ribs, Brian Epstein was punched and kicked, Ringo Starr was floored by an uppercut, and chauffeur Alf Bicknall suffered a fractured rib and spinal injury.
What did George Harrison say about the Philippines?
As the KLM aircraft left Manila, George Harrison told Tony Barrow: “The only way I'd ever go back to that place would be to drop a dirty big bomb on it.” On arrival in London he quipped that the group were going to “have a couple of weeks to recuperate before we go and get beaten up by the Americans.”
Did President Marcos apologise to The Beatles?
Minutes after the aircraft left Filipino soil, President Marcos issued a statement saying: “There was no intention on the part of The Beatles to slight the First Lady or the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.”
How did the Manila incident affect The Beatles?
The Manila incident, combined with the controversy over John Lennon's “more popular than Jesus” comments, strengthened The Beatles' resolve to stop touring. Their final concert took place at Candlestick Park, San Francisco on 29 August 1966.
Who was Tony Barrow?
Tony Barrow was The Beatles' press officer from 1962 to 1968. He was present at Manila Airport during the assault and documented the events in his memoir John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me, published in 2005.
→ John Lennon | Paul McCartney | George Harrison | Ringo Starr
Shop Beatles Merch: The Beatles: LP Here Now T-Shirt | Shop Beatles Clothing
0 comments