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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Inclusion in the tour 3 Arrival 4 Civic Receptions and Other Social Activities 5 Beatles Performances

[edit] Introduction

Capital of the Australian state of South Australia. Visited by the Beatles on their 1964 tour of Australia.

[edit] Inclusion in the tour

Adelaide was originally not included in the tour itinerary but was added by tour promoter Kenn Brodziak after local disc jockey Bob Francis organized a petition of local fans which collected over 80,000 signatures. At the time Adelaide boasted only one suitable venue (Centennial Stadium) which demanded an exorbitant price for the shows. The tour was able to go ahead when the costs were met by local businessmen.

[edit] Arrival

The Beatles (John, Paul, George and Jimmy Nicol) landed in Adelaide at 11:57 am on June 12th 1964. Estimates of the crowd size that lined the route from the airport to the South Australia hotel range from 200,000 to 350,000 the largest turn-out for a Beatles visit anywhere in the world and an incredible event for a city with a population of under a million people.

[edit] Civic Receptions and Other Social Activities

The Beatles were met by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide James Campbell Irwin and his family at City Hall on the 12th of June. They presented the Beatles with toy koalas.

The crowds constantly camped outside the hotel made any further socializing in the city impossible and the Beatles confined themselves to gatherings in their rooms.

[edit] Beatles Performances

The Beatles performed two shows a night (6pm and 8pm) on the 12th and 13th of June at Centennial Hall. The shows were attended by 12,000 fans. The setlist for all 4 shows:

• I Saw Her Standing There
• I Want To Hold Your Hand
• You Can't Do That
• All My Loving
• She Loves You
• Till There Was You
• Roll Over Beethoven
• Can't Buy Me Love
• This Boy
• Long Tall Sally
• Twist And Shout

The shows were compered by Local DJ Bob Francis who replaced English comedian Alan Field. All shows were opened by Australian instrumental group The Phantoms who stayed onstage as the backing group for New Zealander Johnny Devlin and Australian Johnny Chester. Sounds Incorporated ended the first half of the show, the Beatles performed after a brief intermission.

The Beatles performed without Ringo who was recovering from tonsillitis. Jimmy Nicol played drums with the Beatles for the last time during the Adelaide dates.

Ticket for the Adelaide shows were sold out in five hours as thousands of fans queued for up to 70 hours to secure a seat.

One of the shows on the 12th was broadcast on local radio. This performance has been bootlegged many times since.