September 8 may have been a sleepy day, but four decades ago it was rocking quite nicely on David Frost’s television show.
That is when The Beatles delivered their last live TV performance, imploding not long thereafter in a collision of McCartney’s ego, Lennon’s distraction and George’s inability to get his songs on wax.
The Frost performance is instructive on those fronts. Lennon spaces out during a musical lampoon of Frost, and McCartney sings “Hey Jude,” a song about divorce for Lennon’s son Julian, directly into the camera.
But those short glimpses are quickly overwhelmed by Frost’s audience, which crowds the band at the ballad’s finale, as if they didn’t want to let The Beatles go.
It’s amazing to think that it has been 40 years since The Beatles last appeared on television, or released what I would argue is one of their best efforts, The Beatles, also known as The White Album. (That particular anniversary is Nov. 22.)
And it’s even more amazing to think generations have grown up not really knowing much about the band.
Even so, The Beatles will remain the greatest pop band to ever live, until someone comes and takes the crown.
One can’t help but think that will be a long wait, indeed.
This article appeared at Wired
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