Ticket to Ride: Inside the Beatles' 1964 Tour that Changed the World

by Larry Kane
The only American journalist in the official Beatles press group in '64-'65

Foreword by Dick Clark

Includes CD featuring rare interviews with John, Paul, George & Ringo

"The most detailed description yet of the Beatles' American tours. . . Indispensible." --Publishers Weekly

"Larry Kane has written the definitive book about the Beatles' biggest and most successful North American concert tours. Most of the international media entourage we invited along to travel with 'the boys' on these amazing coast-to-coast trips were radio deejays or writers for teenybopper magazines. By contrast, Larry Kane brought a meticulously professional journalist's approach to the job of reporting daily events, from the ground-breaking to the trivial--some hugely hilarious, some highly dangerous, some verging upon the scandalous, and some almost disastrous. Kane was quickly recognized by the group and the rest of us as a likeable and reliable young newsman who knew his stuff and, as a result, he gained the confidence of each individual Beatle and was given extraordinary access to all areas and at all stages of these white-knuckle ride tours.

Over the years the market has been flooded with far too many second-rate books on aspects of the Beatles' history, but Larry Kane's Ticket to Ride stands out as an honest, informative, comprehensive and entertaining account of the group's summer tours of the USA and Canada in 1964 and 1965. Read and enjoy!"
--TONY BARROW, the Beatles' press officer, 1963-1968

"If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to be at the start of a phenomenon, pick up Ticket to Ride. Larry Kane balances a journalist's curiosity with an insider's access to take us on a wild 'Ride,' one we'll not likely see again in this or any other lifetime."
--AL ROKER, NBC's Today

"If you were there, it will take you back; if you weren't, get ready for a ride through true Beatlemania. Larry's stories take you from the front row to backstage--your collection's not complete without this ticket. It's like being in the Beatles!"
--JOE JOHNSON, host, Beatle Brunch radio program

Excerpt

The door swung open. The sight was baffling. About twenty young women, most of them wearing low-cut dresses, were standing in an informal line. Some of them were smiling; others looked a bit uncomfortable. These women had a different air about them than did the semi-innocent teenagers and young women who would often be hanging around. They had that "I've been there before" look. The truth was that they were on the clock. The room was heavily perfumed. I was stunned and of course, fascinated, especially when one of the women reached down so low to light Paul's cigarette, that most of her bosom, already exposed to daring dimensions, almost fell out.

Paul and Ringo were sitting on a couch, taking in an eyeful. Derek Taylor was there, his arms folded in front of his chest as always, his constantly lit cigarette dangling from his fingers, looking a bit overwhelmed. George was sitting on the floor. Mal Evans had the look of a child on Christmas morning. John, that night at least, was about to play the cheerleader.

Art Schreiber remembers, "At first, I couldn't figure it out. What the hell was the lineup all about?"

Ivor Davis says, "Looked funny to me. But as far as this group was concerned, I always expected the unexpected."

And Long John Wade cut to the chase, saying, "Remember the promoter or whatever he was? I will never forget those words. . . ."

The words astounded me as well: "Take your pick," the man in the suit said.

"Take your pick, you heard him, take your pick," said a happy John Lennon. At that moment John was providing "leadership skills," urging everyone to make a selection. It was like a sexual automat--just point your finger and go on your way.

Hearing those words, it was evident to this clueless reporter and his travel partners that the visitors were not Beatles' fans seeking autographs or pictures. Pictures in this case would have been incriminating, because those women were not on the prowl, but on the job.