July in Beatles History
July in Beatles History
July is one of the most significant months in the Beatles calendar — spanning the group's earliest Cavern Club residencies, landmark recording sessions at Abbey Road, the death of John Lennon's mother Julia, and decades of live performances by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr across the world. This page collects every event we have documented for July, organised by day.
July Day Pages
→ 4 July in Beatles History
→ 5 July in Beatles History
→ 11 July in Beatles History
→ 12 July in Beatles History
→ 13 July in Beatles History
→ 14 July in Beatles History
→ 15 July in Beatles History
→ 16 July in Beatles History
→ 17 July in Beatles History
→ 18 July in Beatles History
→ 20 July in Beatles History
More days coming soon as we continue building out the full July archive.
Key Events in July
4 July
5 July
11 July
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening) – 11 July 1962
One of the group's regular Cavern Club appearances during the summer of 1962, weeks before the release of Love Me Do.
→ Paul McCartney live: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford – 11 July 1990
Part of the Paul McCartney World Tour 1989–90, one of the largest-grossing tours in history at the time.
→ See all 16 events on 11 July →
12 July
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime) – 12 July 1962
A lunchtime session at the Cavern Club during the summer of 1962.
→ Paul McCartney live: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles – 12 July 2019
Part of the Freshen Up Tour, with Ringo Starr joining for the encore.
13 July
→ US single release: A Hard Day's Night – 13 July 1964
The title track from the band's third studio album and first film, released in the US on Capitol Records.
→ Paul McCartney live: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles – 13 July 2019
The final show of the Freshen Up Tour, with Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh joining for the encore.
→ See all 21 events on 13 July →
14 July
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime) – 14 July 1961
The Beatles' 15th appearance at the Cavern Club.
→ Radio: Top Gear – 14 July 1964
The Beatles recorded seven songs for the first edition of BBC Radio's Top Gear, including the only live performance of 'And I Love Her' outside EMI Studios.
→ Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen silenced onstage in London – 14 July 2012
McCartney joined Springsteen at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park before the microphones were cut due to a curfew overrun.
→ See all 18 events on 14 July →
15 July
→ Julia Lennon dies – 15 July 1958
John Lennon's mother Julia was killed by an off-duty police officer's car outside Menlove Avenue, Liverpool. She was 44. Her death profoundly shaped Lennon's songwriting throughout his life.
→ Paul McCartney live: Yankee Stadium, New York City – 15 July 2011
The opening show of the On The Run Tour — the first ever live performance of 'The Night Before'.
→ See all 22 events on 15 July →
16 July
→ Ron Howard to direct documentary about Beatles' touring years – 16 July 2014
Announced on this day, the documentary would become Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years, released in 2016.
→ Paul McCartney live: Yankee Stadium, New York City – 16 July 2011
A second sold-out night at Yankee Stadium on the On The Run Tour.
17 July
18 July
→ Recording: Cry Baby Cry, Helter Skelter – 18 July 1968
A key White Album session at Abbey Road, including the first recording of Helter Skelter.
→ Paul McCartney live: Citi Field, New York City – 18 July 2009
One of the first concerts ever held at the newly opened Citi Field stadium.
→ See all 21 events on 18 July →
20 July
→ The Beatles Live At The Hollywood Bowl to be released in September – 20 July 2016
The announcement of the remastered Hollywood Bowl album, timed to coincide with the Ron Howard documentary.
→ Paul McCartney live: Plains of Abraham, Quebec City – 20 July 2008
A landmark outdoor concert on the Plains of Abraham, drawing an estimated 200,000 people.
July in Beatles History: Themes
Tragedy. 15 July 1958 is one of the most significant dates in Beatles history: the death of Julia Lennon, John's mother, killed by a car outside her home in Liverpool. The loss shaped Lennon's emotional life and his songwriting — most directly in the song 'Julia' on the White Album and 'Mother' on his debut solo album.
The Cavern Club. July was a busy month at the Cavern Club during the early 1960s. The Beatles played multiple lunchtime and evening sessions in July 1961 and 1962, honing the live sound that would soon conquer the world.
Recording. Key Abbey Road sessions took place in July across the Beatles' career, including work on the White Album in July 1968 — among them the first recording of Helter Skelter — and Abbey Road sessions in July 1969.
Live performance. Paul McCartney has performed major concerts in July throughout his solo career — from Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia (1990) to Citi Field, New York (2009), Yankee Stadium, New York (2011), Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis (2013), Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln (2014), and the Plains of Abraham, Quebec City (2008). Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band has toured North America and Europe in July in 1992, 1995, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Documentary. 16 July 2014 saw the announcement that Ron Howard would direct a documentary about the Beatles' touring years — the film that became Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years (2016). And on 20 July 2016, the release of the remastered Live At The Hollywood Bowl album was announced, timed to coincide with the film.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in July in Beatles history?
July is one of the most eventful months in the Beatles calendar. Key events include the death of Julia Lennon (15 July 1958), multiple Cavern Club performances in 1961 and 1962, the BBC Top Gear radio session (14 July 1964), landmark Abbey Road recording sessions in 1968 and 1969 — including the first recording of Helter Skelter — Paul McCartney's World Tour dates (July 1990), Paul McCartney at Citi Field (2009) and the Plains of Abraham (2008), and the announcement of the Ron Howard Beatles documentary (2014) and the Hollywood Bowl album reissue (2016).
When did Julia Lennon die?
Julia Lennon died on 15 July 1958, struck by a car driven by an off-duty police officer outside her home on Menlove Avenue, Liverpool. She was 44 years old. John Lennon was 17. Her death had a profound and lasting impact on his life and music.
Did The Beatles play the Cavern Club in July?
Yes. The Beatles played multiple Cavern Club shows in July 1961 and July 1962, including lunchtime and evening sessions. These performances were part of the intensive live schedule that forged the group's reputation on Merseyside before their national breakthrough in 1963.
What Paul McCartney concerts happened in July?
Paul McCartney has performed major concerts in July throughout his solo career, including Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia (15 July 1990), Citi Field, New York City (18 July 2009), Plains of Abraham, Quebec City (20 July 2008), Yankee Stadium, New York City (15–16 July 2011), Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis (14 July 2013), and Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln (14 July 2014).
When did Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band tour in July?
Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band has performed in July on many occasions, including the Montreux Jazz Festival (13 July 1992), Radio City Music Hall, New York City (13 July 1995 and 20 July 2006), Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake (14 July 2008), Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi (18 July 2010), Salzburgarena, Salzburg (14 July 2011), Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane (13 July 2012), and City National Civic, San Jose (13 July 2014).
What Beatles documentary was announced in July?
On 16 July 2014, it was announced that Ron Howard would direct a documentary about the Beatles' touring years. The film — Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years — was released in 2016. On 20 July 2016, the remastered Live At The Hollywood Bowl album was announced to coincide with the documentary's release.
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
→ Paul McCartney: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ George Harrison: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ Ringo Starr: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy