international success
The National Portrait Gallery in London unveils a fresh chapter after a long renovation period that kept visitors away much longer than anyone expected. The gallery’s latest initiative offers a bold glimpse into the world of the Beatles during a pivotal moment in 1963 and 1964. A collection featuring 250 previously unseen photographs, many captured by Paul McCartney, reveals how the band members experienced the global wave of Beatlemania from the inside. The exhibit, titled 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm, is scheduled to be available until October 1 and will be accompanied by a compilation book that will reach Spanish readers through Liburuak in mid-July.
It was in 2020 that McCartney learned of a vast trove of negatives and contact sheets that document the Beatles’ early steps toward worldwide fame. The archive includes numerous shots taken with a Pentax camera, and the photos capture McCartney’s surprise at how quickly the group rose to global prominence. The musician recalls the moment with a candid memory: millions of eyes suddenly fixed on them, a sight that left a lasting impression.
behind the scenes of a rising phenomenon
The project began in November 1963 with the Beatles filming for the BBC, a stretch of weeks shown in stark black and white images that reveal a more intimate and casual side of the group. The photographs capture the quiet moments between takes, the long waits with the team, and the personal interactions with family members. McCartney’s early experimentation with the camera is evident, and the collection also documents the emotional currents surrounding the band wherever they travelled. As the exhibition unfolds, the curator notes that McCartney grows more confident behind the lens, a shift that becomes clear in the sharper composition and storytelling within the frames.
Paris becomes the next major stop of the tour, where the group spends nearly three weeks. McCartney documents daily life in the city, including moments of rest at the hotel and scenes that reveal a more human side of the quartet. The photographs show police officers, photographers, and enthusiastic fans, offering a glimpse at the social climate outside the United Kingdom. The narrative gains even more resonance when the band reaches New York a few weeks later, where the fever around their music peaks with the US hit single I Want to Hold Your Hand reaching the top of the charts.
From there, the stage shifts to television, with the Ed Sullivan Show bringing the Beatles into millions of homes across America. The book captures the moment when a new audience saw the group perform, while the accompanying images portray the relaxed, almost carefree vibe that contrasts with the demanding pace of touring, recording, and the relentless gaze of fans. McCartney’s recollections describe scenes of sunlit hospitality in Miami, where the band enjoys a holiday atmosphere far from studio lights and crowded venues. The pages reveal a side of the tour that feels almost vacation-like, with swimming, boating, and carefree humor underscoring the human bond among the members and their inner circle. The photo set closes with memories of those sun-drenched days, a departure from the studio chaos that often defined their schedule.
The organizers emphasize that many of the printed photographs have remained unseen by McCartney himself until now, making this a major memory exercise and a rare retrospective. The team highlights the value of stories behind the scenes and the people who accompanied the band on their early journeys. The exhibition goes beyond a simple catalog of Beatlemania; it presents a broader cast of characters, including anonymous supporters who helped shape the era. Broadley notes that this broader context is one of the strongest aspects of the compilation.
McCartney has remained open about the memories these images evoke. He often reflects on the early days in Liverpool, appreciating how the pictures capture a sense of youth and camaraderie. The photographer recalls how vivid the faces appear with a certain timeless charm, admiring the looks of John, George, and Ringo in their curious French hats. The gallery director explains that the collection feels more like a family album than a typical music archive, inviting visitors to question what Beatlemania looked like through the eyes of four friends who lived through it firsthand. This approach invites a fresh discovery for audiences and scholars alike, inviting them to step into a moment when a worldwide phenomenon started to take shape.