Press Conference, New York City (1965, August 13)
| The Beatles flew into New York on August 13th as the first stop on their 1965 North American tour, giving a press conference at Manhatten's Warwick Hotel. They had the following day off to enjoy New York, and gave their historic Shea Stadium performance on August 15th. Q: "John, you're the chief Beatle. What is the duty of the chief Beatle?" John: "Uhh, nothing. Nothing I can think of. I was just tagged chief Beatle." Ringo: (jokingly) "It's 'cuz he's the oldest." John: "I don't do anything extra, you know." M.C: "Okay, let's go with the first question, please." Q: "How does it feel to be back in the States?" Beatles: "Great!" John: "Marvelous." Q: "John, do you always do press conferences chewing gum?" John: "Uhh, no. Only in America." Q: "Only in America you chew gum?" John: "'Cuz people give you gum all the time over here." Q: "Are the Beatles the answer to Prime Minister (Harold) Wilson's export drive?" George: "No." John: "We're one of the answers. One... of... them." Ringo: "A little answer." Q: "Since you were made a Member of the Order of the British Empire has it changed your lives in any way?" John: "Uhh, not yet, 'cuz we haven't really received it yet." Q: "Will it change your lives?" Ringo: "We'll just have a medal to wear." Q: "Ringo, what are you gonna name the baby if it's a boy or a girl?" Ringo: "Uhh..." John: "Charlie." (laughter) Ringo: "That was John answering, not me. We don't know yet. We're still talking about names." John: "How about Lyndon?" Ringo: "How about it?" (laughter) Q: "Is your popularity fading?" John: "Go and ask the record people." Ringo: "Well, you all seem to be back again." (laughter) John: "Just ask the record people." Q: "George, lots of people in this country and others are comparing you boys with those who usually are pace setters in op art and pop art and classical music - even so far as to go to compare you with Gouneau. Now, how do you react when you hear that kind of thing?" John: "Never heard of him." (laughter) John: "We don't mind being compared with anybody." Q: "You think you're that type of musician?" John: "No. I mean, if people wanna compare us, they can." Q: "Do you think you're setting styles in pop and op art?" George: "Maybe unconsciously." Ringo: "Yeah, we're always unconscious." Q: "Is matrimony in the immediate future for the two unmarried members of your group?" Paul: "Matrimony is not in the immediate future." George: (jokingly) "Paul won't have me." Q: "I noticed the two married men are sitting together, and the two single boys are sitting together." John: "That's 'cuz we're queer!" (laughter) Ringo: "But don't tell anybody, will you? It's secret." Q: "What were the sunglasses you were wearing this afternoon, John?" John: "Uhh... Sunglasses." Q: "No. I mean, were they special? They were green." John: "I just found 'em in... umm..." Ringo: "Cannes." John: "...Cannes. They're just sort of ordinary sunglasses, only they've got mirror on one side, so nobody can see in." Q: "Are the American fans the most enthusiastic?" George: "There's more of them, so it appears that way." Q: "Who are your most enthusiastic fans?" John: "The ones that are nearest." Paul: "Well, they're all enthusiastic but it depends on the size of the country. In this case - the biggest." Q: "Is there any possibility of you changing your style of performance?" John: "Uhh... not consciously." Ringo: "I told you... we're always unconscious." Q: "How do you feel about the teddyboys coming here?" John: "I don't know. I don't feel anything, you know." Q: "What happened in the Bahamas?" John: "Which bit? We were there for weeks." Q: "There were reports that you cut it up." John: "We made a film." Paul: "What do you mean, 'cut it up?' (pause) He said, 'Is it true you cut it up in the Bahamas?' and I said, 'What d'you mean, cut it up?" Q: "Any plans to visit any countries behind the Iron Curtain?" John: "Ask Mister Epstein." Paul: "No, not at the moment." Q: "Any plans for going to Vietnam and entertaining the troops?" John: "I wouldn't go there, no." Q: "Did you fellas do your own skiing in the (Help!) motion picture?" John and Paul: "Some of it." Paul: "The clever bits we didn't do." George: "We did the bits falling over. The falling over bit." Q: "Who do you consider the best actor among you?" John: "Ringo." Q: "Is this movie as good as 'Hard Day's Night'?" John and Paul: "It's better." Q: "John Lennon's press release says that Ringo..." (crowd begins talking all at once) John: (jokingly) "Hey, hold it here! What's happening, man!" Ringo: "Put your hands up and we'll snap 'em off." Q: "You Beatles have conquered five continents. What do you want to do next?" Paul and John: "Conquer six." (laughter) Q: "How much money has the group made since you organized?" John and Ringo: "We don't know." George: "No idea." Q: "Any new gimmicks for the show that you're gonna do?" George: "I don't think so, no." Q: "Are you bored with being the Beatles?" George: "No." Q: "The American press has compared you the Beatles with the Rascals. Have you heard of them, or seen 'em?" John: "No." Paul: "We've never seen 'em." Q: "George or Paul, have you worked up any new routines for the American concerts?" George: "Well, we've changed the, you know... We're doing lots more different songs from last time." Source: Audio copy of the press conference |