When Beatlemania first swept the United States in 1964, a moment marked in time by the band's first televised performance in The Ed Sullivan Show That February, only four people knew exactly what it was like to be at the center of such a revolutionary cultural frenzy: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
Now, almost exactly 60 years later, American fans have the rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain at the Beatles' unprecedented rise to fame, all thanks to McCartney documenting the period with his personal Pentax camera more than half a century ago. . After being recovered from the living legend's archives, more than 250 of his photographs were exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London last year and have now arrived at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City.
Revealed on Friday (May 3), Photographs of Paul McCartney 1963-1964: Eyes of the storm takes outsiders into the surreal reality of the Liverpool native when he was just 21 years old, on the brink of becoming one of the four biggest music stars history has ever seen. The immersive exhibition (a sample of which you can see below) also features video footage and archival materials and traces the Beatles' rise from touring in small concert halls in England to dodging hordes of rabid fans and paparazzi in the USA.
“Since he first arrived in New York in February 1964, Paul McCartney has built a strong and lasting connection with the city,” says Catherine Futter, director of curatorial affairs and senior curator of decorative arts at the Brooklyn Museum, in a statement. . “His vibrant photographs of the Beatles' first visit capture the energy of the city, the enthusiasm of American fans, and the frenzy of the band's celebrity status.”
“However, the images also record the Beatles' fun and delight in each other,” adds Futter. “Through McCartney's lens, we feel the intensity of being at the center of such extraordinary events.”
The collection is now available to visit at the Brooklyn Museum until August 18, 2024. See a selection of rare McCartney photographs below.
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Photographers
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Photographers in Central Park. New York, February 1964. Pigmented inkjet printing.
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Paul McCartney
Image credit: 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Self-portraits by Paul McCartney. Paris, January 1964.
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NY
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
New York street scene, February 1964. Pigment inkjet print.
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Paul McCartney
Image credit: © 1963 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Self-portrait of Paul McCartney. London, 1963. Pigment inkjet print.
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Juan and Jorge
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
John Lennon and George Harrison. Paris, January 1964. Pigmented inkjet printing.
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unknown girl
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Unknown Girl, Washington, February 1964. Pigment inkjet print.
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John Lennon
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
John Lennon. Paris, January 1964. Pigment inkjet print.
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Ringo Starr
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Ringo Starr. London, January 1964. Pigment inkjet print. © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
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fans
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Fans, press and police await the arrival of The Beatles at the Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue, photographed from the car, February 1964. Pigment inkjet print.
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NY
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
West 58th Street, crossing Sixth Avenue. New York, February 1964. Pigmented inkjet print.
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George Harrison and John Lennon
Image credit: © 1963 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
George Harrison and John Lennon, December 1963. Chromogenic print, reproduced from a contact sheet.
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Miami
Image credit: © 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP
Welcome scenes at Miami airport, February 1964. Pigment inkjet print.
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