Sixty years since Beatles in Australia

It’s coming up, the sixtieth anniversary of The Beatles’ tour of New Zealand and Australia. So, both fans and mainstream media downunder is taking this opportunity to celebrate. Here’s a film from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, “The Beatles in Australia – remembered by those who were there”.

Video by Tom Compagnoni.

Here’s an old newsreel from Pathe

The film was captured at a concert where Ringo Starr had returned to the group, and temporary replacement drummer Jimmie Nicol had been sent home. And speaking of Nicol, Jim “Mister Rock And Roll Detective” Berkenstadt is out with a new edition of his book about “The Beatle Who Vanished”.

Although I must say, he didn’t vanish immediately, he had a stint with the Swedish group, The Spotnicks. This also meant that he then became kind of “the first Beatle to visit Norway”! Of course, Norway, unlike our neighbouring countries Sweden and Denmark, was never visited by The Beatles as a group. Anyway, Jim says that this new edition of his book brings some updated information about Jimmie.

“The Beatle Who Vanished: 60th Beatles Anniversary Tour” edition finally answers the question: What happened to Jimmie Nicol? Is he dead or alive? If he is alive, what is he doing? Where is he?

The book is officially launched tomorrow, June 11, 2024, and Jim will be appearing on WGN-TV live in Chicago on the Morning News Show at 8:15 am CT.

Sales link: Click banner below

Another book, all about the Australian Tour is “When We Was Fab: Inside the Beatles Australasian Tour 1964” by Greg Armstrong and Andy Neill, to be published June 18, 2024.

“When We Was Fab – Inside The Beatles Australasian tour 1964”

The Beatles 1964 Australian tour dates:
12-13 June 1964, Adelaide Centennial Hall
15-17 June 1964, Melbourne Festival Hall
18-20 June 1964, Sydney Stadium
29-30 June 1964, Brisbane Festival Hall

The back of the book cover

You’ll be pleased to find that 30 sample pages from the book can be found here. It is available to purchase from Amazon U.K. (sales link) and lots of outlets in Australia. If you live in a country where it hasn’t been launched, try to order it from your local book store, referencing ISBN-10: ‎ 1922800686 and ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1922800688.