Cheap Line

Fifty-five years ago today, the Beatles played the Royal Variety Performance.  It had been a swift rise to the top.  A year before, they'd only just recorded their first single, and now here they were, dominating the British charts.  In a few months, they'd conquer America.

But the performance is best remembered for one thing--John Lennon's quip:

For our last number, I'd like to ask your help.  Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands?  And the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewelry?



He'd threatened to say it in a much nastier way, but the Beatles in 1963 wouldn't have done that, not even John.  You can see he knows he's being cheeky, and the audience loves it.

The Beatles were different in that they generally said what they wanted to, and didn't have managers that controlled them that way.  It was refreshing, though sometimes got them in trouble.

You may be thinking of John's statement about the Beatles being bigger than Jesus, but I'm not even referring to that.  That was from an old interview that hadn't caused much of a stir until it was reprinted and played up in America.  On the other hand, Paul was the first to admit he took LSD (though I believe John and George were more enthusiastic about it) and that was a big deal immediately.

When The Beatles got their M.B.E.s (making them members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1965, it was a big deal, and somewhat controversial.  They wouldn't have imagined then being flippant or dismissive about it.  But by 1969, they were so big, or maybe so jaded, the John returned his with a note to the queen:

I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts.

At this point, John was doing a lot of bizarre political stunts, though I have to admit, this one's pretty funny.

I wonder how the rest of the band felt about John.  Not that they could have done anything--he started the band, after all.  I wonder if they ever get tired of him going on like that?  I doubt it had much to do with them breaking up--that was probably going to happen sooner or later anyway.