In the fall of 1964, The Beatles gave an interview with Jean Shepherd (who would be forever known as the "Christmas Story" guy) for Playboy magazine. The interview ran in the February 1965 issue of the magazine and I would guess that most female Beatle fans were only able to read the interview if they someone were sneaky in looking at their father or big brother's Playboy and if they got caught---well that would have been pretty awkward.
You no longer have to sneak into the pages of Playboy magazine to read the Beatles interview. The interview is available as an e-book simply called "The Beatles: The Playboy Interview."
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The interview itself isn't full of any "new" information, although it might have been new in 1965. He interviews all four Beatles at the same time, which is a bit confusing. One thing I really believe is that the interview itself would have made more sense and have been more entertaining if you were listening to it instead of reading the words on the page. Much of the Beatles banter comes across better when you listen to it.
The interview itself took place in the middle of the Beatles 1964 Autumn tour of the UK. Shepherd traveled with the lads on the tour and got to do the interview at a hotel in Torquay after the concert in Exeter, which according to my files made the interview occur either late on October 28 or early on October 29.
I found it strange that Shepherd described George as "the most egotistical." Really? Everything I have always read has said that George was the most down-to-earth But his description of the other Beatles sounded about right.
The Beatles same some strange things in this interview. I am sure that much of it was said to be funny or as a joke, and when heard aloud, it was funnier than reading it. Things such as when George is asked if he has any brothers and sisters and George answers that he has two brothers and John says "and no sisters to speak of." Why did he say that? The fans all knew about George's sister. Was he not speaking to her at that time or something? I guess it was a joke, but I just read it and shook my head. And then Paul called Jayne Mansfield a "clot" and then admits that he never met her! What was that about?
The part that was the most interesting to me is when Paul and the other guys are talking about religion and John states that the group is agnostic. John also says how much he dislikes the hypocritical side of religion (doesn't he same something similar a year later?). And then Paul says how in America they are "fanatical about God." Little did Paul know just how true those words would be!
Another interesting part is when the Beatles are asked about the "homosexual problem." I liked how the Beatles talked about it, knowing now that their manager was a gay man, they did bring up his name or talk badly about homosexuals. They even talked about a transvestite that they had met.
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The one thing that stood out to me is that the part of the interview that Pete Best ended up suing the Beatles for defamation of character was completed deleted from this e-book. Early in the interview Ringo was asked about being the last to join the group and he talks about the drummer he replaced. Since I own the original Playboy magazine, I will show you the text of what was originally printed.
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On January 19, 1969, Pete Best settle for an undisclosed amount in a defamation lawsuit against the band because of what Ringo said about Pete taking pills. While it was obvious to me that Ringo was making a rhyming joke, it can be read to sound that Pete was a pill addict (which actually was far from the truth---Pete was someone who did not take pills in Hamburg while the others would partake).
In the e-book the line John said about Pete having a "periodic illness" and Ringo's jab about the pills is totally removed.
This e-book is just 99 cents and well worth a read over. Beatle interviews are fun to read and while this one isn't shocking, the Beatles do have their guard down a little bit with Playboy and even say "tits" at some point. It is definitely worth getting.
Available in e-book form from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Playboy-Interview-50-Years-ebook/dp/B0092U34IO?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top
You no longer have to sneak into the pages of Playboy magazine to read the Beatles interview. The interview is available as an e-book simply called "The Beatles: The Playboy Interview."
The interview itself isn't full of any "new" information, although it might have been new in 1965. He interviews all four Beatles at the same time, which is a bit confusing. One thing I really believe is that the interview itself would have made more sense and have been more entertaining if you were listening to it instead of reading the words on the page. Much of the Beatles banter comes across better when you listen to it.
The interview itself took place in the middle of the Beatles 1964 Autumn tour of the UK. Shepherd traveled with the lads on the tour and got to do the interview at a hotel in Torquay after the concert in Exeter, which according to my files made the interview occur either late on October 28 or early on October 29.
I found it strange that Shepherd described George as "the most egotistical." Really? Everything I have always read has said that George was the most down-to-earth But his description of the other Beatles sounded about right.
The Beatles same some strange things in this interview. I am sure that much of it was said to be funny or as a joke, and when heard aloud, it was funnier than reading it. Things such as when George is asked if he has any brothers and sisters and George answers that he has two brothers and John says "and no sisters to speak of." Why did he say that? The fans all knew about George's sister. Was he not speaking to her at that time or something? I guess it was a joke, but I just read it and shook my head. And then Paul called Jayne Mansfield a "clot" and then admits that he never met her! What was that about?
The part that was the most interesting to me is when Paul and the other guys are talking about religion and John states that the group is agnostic. John also says how much he dislikes the hypocritical side of religion (doesn't he same something similar a year later?). And then Paul says how in America they are "fanatical about God." Little did Paul know just how true those words would be!
Another interesting part is when the Beatles are asked about the "homosexual problem." I liked how the Beatles talked about it, knowing now that their manager was a gay man, they did bring up his name or talk badly about homosexuals. They even talked about a transvestite that they had met.
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| These are from an auction for the Playboy Beatles photos |
On January 19, 1969, Pete Best settle for an undisclosed amount in a defamation lawsuit against the band because of what Ringo said about Pete taking pills. While it was obvious to me that Ringo was making a rhyming joke, it can be read to sound that Pete was a pill addict (which actually was far from the truth---Pete was someone who did not take pills in Hamburg while the others would partake).
In the e-book the line John said about Pete having a "periodic illness" and Ringo's jab about the pills is totally removed.
This e-book is just 99 cents and well worth a read over. Beatle interviews are fun to read and while this one isn't shocking, the Beatles do have their guard down a little bit with Playboy and even say "tits" at some point. It is definitely worth getting.
Available in e-book form from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Playboy-Interview-50-Years-ebook/dp/B0092U34IO?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top