20 May in Beatles History
20 May in Beatles History
From the Silver Beetles' first professional tour in 1960 to the UK première of Let It Be in 1970, 20 May is one of the richest dates in Beatles history. Here is everything that happened on this day.
1960
The Silver Beetles live: Town Hall, Alloa, Scotland – 20 May 1960
The Silver Beetles opened their Scottish tour backing Johnny Gentle at the Town Hall in Alloa — the first professional tour of the group that would become The Beatles. Paul McCartney performed as Paul Ramon; George Harrison as Carl Harrison; Stuart Sutcliffe as Stuart de Staël; John Lennon as Long John.
1961
The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg – 20 May 1961
Night 50 of 92 at the Top Ten Club, Reeperbahn — the midpoint of The Beatles' longest Hamburg residency. Peter Eckhorn's club; 35DM per Beatle per day; up to eight hours on stage on a Saturday night.
1962
The Beatles live: Star-Club, Hamburg – 20 May 1962
Night 37 of 48 at the Star-Club, Grosse Freiheit — weeks after signing to EMI and days after Stuart Sutcliffe's death. Manfred Weissleder's club; Little Richard, Gene Vincent, and Ray Charles also on the bill that season.
1963
The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Southampton – 20 May 1963
The third date of the Roy Orbison UK Tour. The Beatles had already taken over the headline slot from Orbison within days of the tour opening. 'From Me To You' was at number one; the Please Please Me album was at number one. Setlist: 'Some Other Guy', 'Do You Want To Know A Secret', 'Love Me Do', 'From Me To You', 'Please Please Me', 'I Saw Her Standing There', 'Twist And Shout'.
1966
Filming: Paperback Writer and Rain at Chiswick House – 20 May 1966
Michael Lindsay-Hogg directed location filming for the 'Paperback Writer' and 'Rain' promotional clips at Chiswick House, west London — shot on 35mm colour film. Among the earliest examples of what would become the modern music video.
Mixing: And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert, I’m Only Sleeping – 20 May 1966
George Martin and Geoff Emerick made stereo mixes of three Revolver tracks at EMI Studios, with separate versions prepared for the UK (EMI) and US (Capitol/Yesterday… And Today) markets. None of The Beatles was present.
1967
The BBC bans A Day In The Life – 20 May 1967
Kenny Everett previewed Sgt Pepper on BBC radio's Where It's At, playing every track except 'A Day In The Life' — banned the previous day for allegedly promoting drug use. John and Cynthia Lennon, George and Pattie Harrison, and Brian Epstein took afternoon tea at Ringo's home, Sunny Heights, Weybridge.
1970
UK première of Let It Be – 20 May 1970
The Beatles' final film had its British première at the London Pavilion and the Gaumont Cinema in Liverpool. None of The Beatles attended. Guests included Richard Lester, Mary Hopkin, Spike Milligan, Lulu, Cynthia Lennon, and Jane Asher. First week receipts: £6,229 from 41 screenings.
1975
Listening party: Venus And Mars by Wings – 20 May 1975
The second of two listening parties for Wings' fourth album was held at Capitol Records' New York offices, hosted by US publicist Dennis Fine. The album was released ten days later and reached number one in the UK and US.
1977
Recording: Morse Moose And The Grey Goose – 20 May 1977
Wings continued recording the London Town track aboard the Fair Carol yacht in Waterlemon Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands. By the end of the day, the 'Morse Moose' section was an instrumental lasting 6:40.
1991
UK album release: Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) by Paul McCartney – 20 May 1991
McCartney's live album recorded at an MTV Unplugged taping at Limehouse Studios on 25 January 1991 was released in the UK, reaching number 7. The vinyl edition was limited to 250,000 individually numbered copies worldwide.
1997
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Palace Theatre, Myrtle Beach – 20 May 1997
Night 17 of 30 on the fourth All-Starr Band's US tour. Band: Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Mark Rivera, Simon Kirke.
1999
Paul McCartney meets Heather Mills – 20 May 1999
McCartney met his future second wife at the first Pride Of Britain Awards at the Dorchester Hotel, London. He was presenting the Linda McCartney Award For Animal; Mills was making an appeal for her landmine victims charity. They married on 11 June 2002 and divorced on 18 February 2008.
2000
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Uncas Pavilion, Uncasville – 20 May 2000
Night 7 of 32 on the sixth All-Starr Band's North American tour, and the second of two consecutive nights at the Mohegan Sun venue. Band: Ringo Starr, Dave Edmunds, Jack Bruce, Eric Carmen, Mark Rivera, Simon Kirke.
2014
Paul McCartney cancels remainder of Japanese tour dates – 20 May 2014
McCartney cancelled the remaining dates of the Japanese leg of the Out There tour after falling ill with a virus, including shows at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo and the Nagai Stadium in Osaka.
2023
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix – 20 May 2023
Night 2 of 43 on the 15th All-Starr Band's North American tour, and the first of two consecutive nights at the Celebrity Theatre. Band: Ringo Starr, Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Hamish Stuart, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette.