Sid Bernstein 1918-2013

22 Aug 2013

Music promoter Sid Bernstein has died aged 95. Bernstein helped bring The Beatles to America in 1964, playing a crucial role in the British Invasion.

‘George had been to the States the year before and when he came back he said, "Oh, it’s going be so hard, they don’t know us over there.” But by the time we got there to do The Ed Sullivan Show, we were Number One!’ – Ringo Starr in PHOTOGRAPH

‘The first dozen groups of the British Invasion were my imports, but it was no stroke of genius. I was just doing my homework at the time.’ – Sid Bernstein

Bernstein organised the Beatles’ Shea Stadium gig, which was the first concert ever to be held in a stadium, and staged the first rock show at Madison Square Garden. He also booked artists including the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.

Above: The Press on the train to Washington with The Beatles, 1964. Photograph by Ringo Starr.