Rare and Unseen Photos From the Beatles’ Final Concert at Candlestick Park
Their Aug. 29, 1966, performance in San Francisco marked a dividing line in the Beatles' career, as studio innovation became their focus
Jim Marshall first photographed the Beatles when they played San Francisco’s Cow Palace on Aug. 31, 1965, almost exactly one year before their last show. This shot from that night shows that well over a year after the Beatles first came to America, even a glimpse of them could bring fans to tears.
The Beatles kicked off their 1966 Candlestick Park show with a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Rock and Roll Music,” featuring George Harrison on lead vocals, and Paul McCartney and John Lennon singing harmony together. They somehow did this even though they could barely hear each other over the screaming.
Shortly before the tour began, John Lennon sparked a huge, global controversy when he told a reporter that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus now.” Religious groups all across America protested the tour, and some even staged mass burnings of Beatles records. These fans, however, were unbothered.
Jim Marshall was given full access to the Beatles throughout their day at Candlestick Park. In this shot, they’re having tea with San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ralph Gleason. Just over a year later, Gleason would co-found a rock magazine called Rolling Stone.
Before the show, Ringo Starr conducted an interview with writer Marilyn Doerfler while seated in a locker used by one of the San Francisco Giants, whose lineup that year included stars like center fielder Willie Mays and pitcher Juan Marichal. The team was in the middle of a road trip when the Beatles descended on their stadium. They played the Atlanta Braves that night, and won 7 to 6.
Joan Baez brought her two sisters, Mimi Fariña and Pauline Baez, to the show at Candlestick Park. In this photo, Pauline is shaking hands with George Harrison. Months earlier, Mimi’s husband, novelist/songwriter Richard Fariña, died in a motorcycle accident. But the sight of a Beatle still brought a smile to her face.
The Ronettes served as the opening act for the Beatles throughout their last tour, but Phil Spector refused to let his girlfriend, Ronettes lead singer Veronica Bennett, take part. The group recruited a cousin, Elaine Mayes, to take her place. (Bennett married the producer two years later and took the name Ronnie Spector.)
Beatles super fan Sue Cox jumped into a photo with John Lennon during a meet-and-greet event in the Candlestick Park locker room.
Journalist Naomi Marcus, Joan Baez, KYA DJ Gene Nelson, Ralph Gleason, and KSAN DJ Tom Donahue all crammed into the locker room to grab a few moments with the Beatles before the show.
Marshall himself stepped in front of the camera for this photo with Gleason and the Beatles.
This photograph of the Beatles taking the stage at Candlestick Park is one of the most famous shots of the group ever taken. Marshall would take countless other iconic photos throughout his long career, but this one always stood out.
The Beatles played a mere 11 songs at Candlestick Park, wrapping up with a cover of Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally.” By most reasonable standards, it’s their last concert. Some grant that title to their rooftop performance at Apple Records in 1969, but that was really more of a recording session staged for the Let It Be cameras.
Two Beatles fans hug on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport as the Beatles fly back to England, and begin a whole new chapter in their saga, away from the concert stages.
The Beatles by Jim Marshall: Live at Candlestick Park 1966 arrives in stores this week.
