Ecstatic teenagers, exhausted police officers:On June 26, 1966, the Beatles gave two lightning concerts in Hamburg - and all hell broke loose in the Hanseatic city. It should be the last performances of the "mushroom heads" in Hamburg.
by Maya Ueckert
Ahrensburg station, June 26, 1966, 5:30 a.m. A deafening screech drowned out the squeaky brakes of the special train with the Beatles on board. The now world-famous guys from Liverpool arrive in the small town just outside of Hamburg to avoid the hype surrounding their concerts in Hamburg. Nevertheless, cheering and undoubtedly wide-awake fans jostle on the platform. The girls "easily compete with factory sirens in terms of volume", writes the "Ahrensburger Zeitung" later.
The Beatles are staying at Tremsbeatle Castle
The Beatles, on the other hand, need a little sleep first and disappear for a few hours in their posh accommodation. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and John Lennon stay at the Schlosshotel Tremsbüttel, dubbed "Schloss Tremsbeatle" by the media. There they sleep until 1:30 p.m., as the press of the time reported meticulously. Meanwhile, fans outside stare impatiently at the hotel windows. The meager reward an hour later:the "mushroom heads" appear on the palace balcony for about 45 seconds.
All hell is breaking loose in Hamburg
Then it's off to Hamburg in a hurry. Two short concerts are scheduled for this Sunday in the Ernst Merck Hall on the exhibition grounds near Planten and Blomen as part of the "Bravo Blitz Tour". All hell broke loose around the hall. Many an adult in the dignified Hanseatic city rubs his eyes in amazement at the mass hysteria surrounding the "adolescent mushroom boys", also known as "howlers" or "singer boys".
"It starts!" that's what they say pretty succinctly on stage inside. What then starts when the Beatles casually jump onto the stage:endless fan screams. One of the most important events in Hamburg's concert history is almost drowned out by the deafening noise of the fans. At the time, "Zeit" quoted the composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, because he had already said:"Anyone who goes to the Beatles will see them, but not hear them." Seeing instead of hearing is also the motto at the two concerts in Hamburg. But that doesn't detract from the atmosphere, the hall is boiling. Only once, according to media reports, is it almost completely silent:when Paul McCartney sings "Yesterday". Only soft female sobs can be heard.
"Redau heroes" make a ruckus
The police and organizers had feared riots in the hall before the concerts, but according to media reports, only a few chairs break during the Beatles' performances. gift. Outside, however, things are different. At the Dammtor train station, the police hardly have the crowds under control, water cannons are used. Although the fans screech gun license, most are basically peaceful and often look quite dignified. Nevertheless, there are riots on the sidelines of the concert. A group of "long-maned bullies" does a good job, as the press says.
The "Hamburger Abendblatt" summed it up the following day with clear vocabulary:"A large horde of young people who had ganged up at the Dammtor train station rampaged through the streets. At 11 p.m. large shop windows were smashed by the rowdy heroes on Mönckebergstrasse (... ) Security police and detectives grabbed rubber truncheons. Now there was no more mercy. Great alarm for the police." Accordingly, there were 117 arrests, eight police officers were injured, paramedics had to intervene in 26 cases, and two people were hospitalized.
Even if the police get stuck at one point or another on this exceptional day - according to the newspaper report, they work with remarkable German thoroughness. Beatles manager Brian Epstein is stopped at Dammtor, can't get through because he doesn't have a ticket. If everyone can say that he is the manager, he will be heard. The man must have his identity certified by a messenger.
Protest against the establishment
It is anti-establishment rebellion time. From today's perspective, nothing else happened 50 years ago than teenage concert hysteria with rioting on the sidelines, but back then the city was upside down. Ecstasy, ecstasy, hysteria - the "Hamburger Abendblatt" attributes it to the still "disorganized emotional life of adolescents". In any case, opinions on the young stars are divided, many find it all "outrageous", others go to the concert with their children and let themselves be carried away by the enthusiasm. By the way:Helmut Schmidt and Loki were there too.
Last performance in Hamburg
One thing is certain:if you didn't come up with the crazy idea of wanting to hear the music of the Beatles, you will experience an incomparable concert. For the Beatles it is the last performance in Hamburg, the city where the band grew up. The city where they used to spend the night with small club concerts and where the fans bought a round of beer at the bar. In June 1966, Hamburg celebrated the now world-famous boys until it broke. The fans are desperately hoping for another concert in Hamburg, but that never happens because the band breaks up a few years later.