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From the sweaty clubs of Liverpool to screaming stadiums across the U.S., The Beatles played hundreds of shows between 1960 and 1966. But not all gigs are created equal—some were era-defining, record-breaking, and even history-making.

At Rockaway Records, we’re not just fans—we’re collectors, historians, and full-time Beatles nerds. Here’s our curated list of 25+ of The Beatles’ most iconic live performances, complete with facts, trivia, and a bit of Rockaway-style commentary.

1. The Cavern Club, Liverpool (1961–1963)

Where it all began. The Beatles played nearly 300 times at this steamy underground club.
Fun Fact: Their final Cavern show on 3 August 1963 was so packed the walls literally sweated.
Collectable Angle: Early Cavern-era flyers and autographs are among the rarest Beatles artefacts.

2. Star-Club, Hamburg (1962)

The Beatles cut their teeth in Hamburg, playing long, booze-fuelled sets.
Notable Night: New Year’s Eve 1962—recorded and released unofficially decades later.
These gigs were wild. George was underage, and Paul and Pete Best once got arrested for lighting a condom on fire in their room.

3. The Royal Variety Performance (London, 4 Nov 1963)

Their first big mainstream moment. Performing for the Queen Mother, John famously quipped:

“The people in the cheaper seats, clap your hands... and the rest of you, if you'd just rattle your jewellery.”

A bold move—and an iconic quote.

4. The Ed Sullivan Show, New York (9 Feb 1964)

Not technically a concert, but it deserves a place here.
Watched by 73 million Americans, this is when Beatlemania truly went global.
“All My Loving” was the opening track. TV history was made.

5. Washington Coliseum, D.C. (11 Feb 1964)

Their first-ever U.S. concert—just two days after Ed Sullivan.
The stage was in the round and they had to physically rotate between songs!
? Tickets were $2 to $4. The chaos? Priceless.

6. Carnegie Hall, NYC (12 Feb 1964)

The Beatles played two shows at the most prestigious venue in the U.S.
Fun Fact: It was the first time Carnegie Hall hosted a rock band.

7. Hollywood Bowl, LA (23 & 30 August 1964, 1965)

So legendary they recorded a live album here.
Screams drowned out the band, even on tape.
The 1977 Live at the Hollywood Bowl LP is a fan-favourite.

8. Shea Stadium, NYC (15 Aug 1965)

The BIG one.

• 55,600 fans
• $304,000 gross (record-breaking)
• First-ever stadium rock concert
• Opened by The King Curtis Band, Cannibal & the Headhunters, and Sounds Incorporated
  Paul played I’m Down while John went mad on the organ, laughing maniacally.

You can thank this show for every stadium concert that came after.

9. Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto (17 Aug 1965)

The band’s connection to Canada was strong—George even had family there.
Fun Fact: RCMP had to protect the band from fans breaking through barricades.

10. Atlanta Stadium (18 Aug 1965)

The first Beatles show with proper on-stage monitors so they could finally hear themselves.
A major turning point—though they still hated the lack of sound control.

11. Cow Palace, San Francisco (19 Aug 1964 & 31 Aug 1965)

Another chaos-filled U.S. stop.
Highlight: A girl jumped on stage mid-song and was gently tackled by security.

12. Blackpool Night Out TV Special (1 August 1965)

This televised gig gave us one of the earliest live performances of "Help!"
John deadpans the intro while Ringo gives it his all.

13. Festival Hall, Melbourne (17–20 June 1964)

Beatlemania hit Australia hard.

• Crowds of 250,000+ lined the streets
• Ring was sick, so Jimmie Nicol filled in on drums
• Rockaway has sourced some amazing Aussie tour programs and fan souvenirs from this leg.

14. Nippon Budokan, Tokyo (30 June – 2 July 1966)

A sacred martial arts arena turned concert venue—controversial in Japan at the time.
The Beatles’ performances here were surprisingly restrained and respectful.

15. Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila (4 July 1966)

The infamous gig where the band accidentally snubbed First Lady Imelda Marcos.
They fled the country under military escort and swore off touring not long after.

16. Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich (24 June 1966)

One of the last German shows before they stopped touring.
There’s incredible colour footage from this concert, showing just how tight they were as a live unit.

17. NME Poll Winners’ Concerts (1963–1965)

A staple of the British music calendar.
In 1965, they closed the show with She’s a Woman and Ticket to Ride—electric stuff.

18. Dodger Stadium, LA (28 August 1966)

One of their final shows. Fans stormed the field mid-performance.
The band had to hide in an armoured van just to escape.

19. Candlestick Park, San Francisco (29 Aug 1966)

The last official Beatles concert ever (excluding rooftop performance).
Paul took a camera on stage to snap photos—he knew it was the end.

20. The Rooftop Concert (Apple HQ, London, 30 Jan 1969)

The swan song.

• Unannounced
• Filmed for Let It Be
• Shut down by police
• This was the band’s only live performance in over two years—and their last together.

⚡️ Honourable Mentions:

1. Paris Olympia Theatre (1964) – Played to a stoic French crowd who barely clapped.
2. Bournemouth Gaumont (UK Tour 1963) – Hometown-style crowd response.
3. Scotland Tour (early 1960) – Backing Johnny Gentle under pseudonyms.
4. Empire Theatre, Liverpool (Dec 1963) – Their Liverpool homecoming as global stars.
5. Seattle Coliseum (1964) – First-ever gig in the Pacific Northwest.
6. Cleveland Public Auditorium (1964) – Gig was literally shut down mid-show by police due to rioting.
7. ABC Cinema, Blackpool (UK TV 1964) – Live broadcast with A Hard Day’s Night.
8. Hippodrome, Birmingham (1964) – Key stop on UK tours.
9. Empire Pool, Wembley (1965) – Played at the New Musical Express Awards show.
10. ABC Cinema, Ardwick, Manchester (1965) – One of their last UK gigs.

The Legacy Lives On at Rockaway

From vintage tour programs to original concert posters, signed memorabilia, and rare live albums, Rockaway Records continues to collect, authenticate, and share pieces of Beatles live history with fans across Australia and the world.

Every piece has a story—and if you're lucky, you'll find something from your favourite gig in our collection. Visit us at Westfield Carindale, Brisbane, or browse online at rockaway.com.au.

“We really were a great little band, y'know.” – George Harrison