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The Beatles perform Rain and Paperback Writer on BBC TV show Top Of The Pops in London on June 15, 1966. (From left): John Lennon (1940-1980), Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr and George Harrison (1943-2001). Photo / Getty Images

Kiwi Beatlemania: New book celebrates 60-year anniversary of The Beatles' Australasian tour

Author: Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2024, 11:01am

This weekend marks 60 years since Beatlemania took New Zealand by storm.

In June 1964, The Beatles touched down in New Zealand as part of their historic world tour, playing sold-out shows in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch.

To mark this anniversary, the new book When We Was Fab: Inside The Beatles Australasian Tour, has been released.

Rock historian and co-author Andy Neill says the hysteria from fans was unlike anything the nation had seen before.

"This was this new force that was coming over from the other side of the world, this new pop force. It wasn't only just the music - which of course, was extremely fresh and original and vital - but it was also the look."

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