We're Going to See The Beatles!: An Oral History of Beatlemania as Told by the Fans Who Were There

by Garry Berman

Foreword by Sid Bernstein
Legendary Concert Promoter

Introduction by Mark Lapidos
Founder and Producer of The Fest for Beatles Fans

Comprised of fans’ anecdotes, photographs, personal stories, and mementos, the contributors’ stories reconstruct the entire history of Beatlemania in America, dating from the earliest whispers about the group to The Beatles’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and from the breakup to the present day. The stories range from hilarious to compelling and poignant—one group of friends stole maid uniforms in an attempt to sneak into the Plaza Hotel during The Beatles’ first visit to New York, one fan camped out overnight in front of a movie theater in order to be the first to buy tickets for the premiere of A Hard Day’s Night, and another attended a strict Catholic school but was so devoted to the group that she declared out loud to her class that she would rather see The Beatles than the Pope. What emerges from these stories is a richly detailed and entertaining history of the profound impact that The Beatles and their music had on their fans' personal lives—an effect that continues to be meaningful to this day.

Garry Berman is a regular contributor to Beatlefan magazine and the author of Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous. He lives in Westampton, New Jersey. Sid Bernstein is the legendary agent, promoter, and manager who brought The Beatles to America as part of the British Invasion. He has worked with many musicians, including Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, the Moody Blues, and the Rolling Stones. He lives in New York City. Mark Lapidos is the producer of The Fest for Beatles Fans (formerly known as Beatlefest). He lives in Westwood, New Jersey.