A not-so-fab tour

John Lennon relaxes in the Beatles' dressing room at the Budokan
Tim Ingham|Metro5 April 2012
The Weekender

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On June 30, 1966, the Beatles flew into Japan to begin the second leg of what was to be their final world tour - three performances at Tokyo's Budokan Hall followed by two at Manila's Rizal Track and Field Stadium in the Philippines.

Neither the band, nor accompanying photographer Bob Whitaker - whose behindthescenes images of the trip can be seen in a new London exhibition - could have known the dates would be the deciding factor in the band's decision to stop playing live.

As soon as they landed in Japan, the Beatles were imprisoned in a hotel room for their four-day stay for security reasons.

Whitaker documented the visible tension as the band waited for their evening performances, largely spurning offers of ornamental souvenirs from visiting Japanese merchants. The concerts were no more comfortable, with an unprecedented police presence dampening the crowd's enthusiasm.

Outside, students protested against the band playing the Budokan, a shrine to Japanese war dead. Being so popular had never been less fun for the Fab Four.

Their second Asian stop, Manila, was to become the most infamous trip in the Beatles' career. Lying in their hotel beds the morning before their July 4 performance seemed fairly innocuous to the group.

However, the first lady of the Philippines, the notoriously fiery Imelda Marcos, was expecting the Beatles at her Malacanang Palace. Switching on the TV news after they eventually woke up, the band were greeted with images of children sobbing at Marcos's side, devastated their heroes hadn't shown up as they expected. George Harrison later recalled: 'We sat in amazement, watching ourselves not arriving.'

The band's struggle from the hotel room to the plane the following day - through a mob of aggrieved Filipino patriots - was so frantic it could have formed part of a madcap Fab Four movie: John Lennon and George Harrison even hid behind nuns to help them make their way through customs unscathed.

The Beatles Asian Tour Of 1966, Getty Images Gallery in association with GQ, until August 21, 46 East Castle Street, W1, Mon to Fri, 10am to 6.30pm (7.30pm on Thu), Sat midday to 6.30pm, free. Tube: Oxford Circus. www.gettyimages.com

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