1965 was an incredibly important year for The Beatles. That summer Help! was not only the band's last feature film, it was their last stand as lovable mop-tops. In October they would record Rubber Soul and begin a period of unprecedented musical and lyrical innovation that would change the face of popular music forever. It was the year The Beatles evolved from mere pop stars into the most important band in history, icons of the age.
Above: Run for your life. The Beatles hotfoot it through long grass to the scripted safety of a haystack.
It was also midway through a decade of incredible social and cultural change. If, in Britain at least, The Beatles came to reflect and embody such change, their popularity was also a result of it. As such, also included in NOW THESE DAYS ARE GONE are examples of Michael Peto's further work as a photojournalist, rooting the lives of The Beatles in the everyday world of the Sixties, of fishmongers, steel-workers and dockers.
Above: Ringo and Maureen's marriage was the first of a Beatle in the glare of Beatlemania. With one eye on dressing their new London flat in Montagu Square, Brian Epstein gave them a dinner service, while Paul McCartney brought them an exquisite silver apple from Tunisia.
Renowned music journalist Paolo Hewitt contributes an essay reflecting on the pivotal importance of 1965 in Beatle history, while Professor Jim Tomlinson of the Univeristy of Dundee provides deeper insight into the historical context of The Beatles' success.
Acclaimed photographer Colin Jones writes the book's Foreword. Michael Peto met Colin when the latter was a dancer with the Royal Ballet. He showed Colin's photos to The Observer's picture editor, and soon Colin's career on Fleet Street was underway.
Above: Outside Twickenham studios.
Above: A much-needed cuppa and a cigarette with director Richard Lester and aide Neil Aspinall, while Paul receives his mail.
The Antrobus Arms
During their stay the group was ensconced in a series of rooms on the top floor of the hotel. On the occasions they did venture into the bar and lounge area, they were largely untroubled: curious onlookers and Beatlemaniacs were definitely personae non gratae.
Despite being a modest hotel, The Antrobus Arms had a grand restaurant, sporting an etched peacock fantail window, and a view overlooking a garden adorned with statues.
The group's 1965 groundbreaking album Rubber Soul confirmed that The Beatles were now drawing deeply from their own experiences and observations rather than just languishing in formulaic - if wholly successful - writing. Lennon was at last reaching deep into his subconscious to produce his most striking work to date and, as if in competitive defiance, McCartney too was producing stunning material and lyrics to match. The Beatles were storming Nirvana, bringing back a message of deeply profound and wry observations on the mystery of living. The following year the pedestrian semantics of 'She Loves You' had finally run its course.
There were several attempts on the life of dear Ringo during Help! Aside from being bitten by a sandwich, a post box and a vicious 'Speak Your Weight' machine, the drummer also had to dodge the odd chainsaw and machete.
For yet another attempted assault on his finger, Twickenham's chippies put together a mock toilet cubicle, replete with a hand-drier primed to suck the ring off the drummer's hand. A set-dresser with a watering can is on hand, presumably ready to muck in if Paul's eventual soaking from a broken sink is deemed insufficiently wet.
MBEatles
Once the photographers got their way, the boys were turned over to the legions of news crews who wanted some first-hand reactions captured on film. Lennon was particularly amusing and, still jet-lagged from his late arousal, was able to offer some characteristically witty deliveries.
