The year is 1964, and at the peak of their fame, the Beatles visited New Zealand, where they were met with an all-too-familiar phenomenon — Beatlemania.
The iconic British boyband washed up on our shores to waves of screaming, adoring fans.
No one could anticipate the chaos the 'fab four' would bring to Aotearoa's streets as fans flocked, desperate to catch a glimpse of the Beatles. Many in the older generation were alarmed and even taken aback as they witnessed the devotees' outrageous reactions to the group.
The Beatles touched down at Wellington Airport on June 21, 1964 to the sight of 7000 crazed fans, each clawing to get as close as possible.
The group were officially welcomed with a traditional Māori hongi — a gesture the boys were evidently unfamiliar with — as well as Hei Tiki pendants.
Their fan frenzy welcome was a sign of what would come over the next seven days as chaos clung to the band. The Beatles played shows in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. They were touring their debut studio album; Please Please Me, and performed a 30-minute, 11-song set.
The main goal for many concert attendees was to get as close to the stage as possible, rather than enjoy the music. Audience members recall being unable to hear any of the songs as the crowd's screams were more powerful. It was pandemonium and the streets surrounding anywhere the Beatles ventured, were even more chaotic.
Auckland City Mayor Dove-Myer Robinson held a civic reception in the city, where a haka was performed for the Liverpool lads.
The mayor attempted to calm the crowd of hysterical fans but his pleas were simply met with more screams.
The crowds provided a lot of trouble for the Beatles, who were mobbed wherever they went. The group were not provided adequate security which led to egging, trampling, and even mauling by "devoted" fans.
Drummer Ringo Starr was hurt and John Lennon, one of the band's lead singers, lost a clump of hair when he got caught in the crowd's crossfire.
The rest of the shows were almost cancelled as a result.
Sixty years after Beatlemania's onset and with two of the quartet now dead, artificial intelligence has enabled the release of what is promised to be the last "new" Beatles song.
The track, called Now And Then, was released as part of a single paired with Love Me Do, the very first Beatles single that came out in 1962 in England, and will likely bring up memories of those who attended arguably one of the most memorable music tours in Aotearoa's history.
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This story is from the New Zealand Television Archive.
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