The Beatles 1964 US Tour

presented through the eyes of the late Curt Gunther.

'As expected from Genesis, the production values of Mania Days is beyond everyone else's standards. In an inspired stroke that further elevates this beautiful book, many of Gunther's images have been double-exposed and presented as sepia-toned Beatles montages. As with the endpapers, pictures that might otherwise have been overlooked merge to form dreamlike spreads that are every bit as open and impressionistic as the vignettes Derek Taylor used to write; snatches of life preserved as art. Limited to 2500 copies, Mania Days is a gift of a Beatles book. Its contents are as gilt-edged as its gold-leafed pages. Large-format, quarter-bound in leather and housed in a silk-screened slip-case, it's something to treat yourself to and to treasure.'
Record Collector

(The Deluxe edition is now sold out.)

In 1964 America was a far-off place and in August of that year The Beatles were preparing for their first tour of the great nation. Their apprenticeship days in Liverpool and Hamburg had passed, Europe, Asia and the Antipodes were under their spell and now America lay in wait, with press and promoters already primed through The Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. In his epic book Fifty Years Adrift, published by Genesis Publications, the late Derek Taylor, Press Officer and friend of The Beatles, wrote:

"The air was heavy with late summer warmth and Beatlemania, and we were ready for the greatest show on earth to begin."

And begin it did. In that summer of '64 hearts and souls across America were captivated by the music, charm and wit of The Beatles whose songs assaulted the US charts as a backlog of records took over the top positions. Beatlemania had touched down in the American heartlands, and it seemed that everyone wanted to touch, or be touched, by this new phenomenon.

"The star of the press gang [was] Los Angeles freelance Curt Gunther, who was to become my closest friend in America."

Although Brian Epstein wanted no photographers to accompany The Beatles, Derek persuaded him to allow Curt and one or two other privileged members of the press to join the touring party. Now Genesis Publications is proud to present this new signed limited edition book of Gunther's superb photographs taken throughout the entire length of the tour. This is your unique opportunity to board The Beatles' chartered Lockheed Electra jet and join them on their historic travels around America in that heady summer of '64, to witness the ear-splitting, mind-blowing experience known the world over as Beatlemania.

Genesis Publications is honoured to work with the world's most talented artists. The archive of the late Curt Gunther is no exception to that rule. His photographs taken from the position of the privileged insider intimately show The Beatles onstage, backstage, meeting fans and press, relaxing and travelling. Mania Days is an essential complete photo-documentary record of life on the road with the most famous band of the Twentieth Century.

(The Deluxe edition is now sold out.)

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