The Beatles Last Concert At Candlestick Park: The Dream Is Over

Forty-six years ago this Wednesday, The Beatles held their final 'official' public concert ever, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Aug. 29, 1966 marked the last time that a large audience would ever watch the Fab Four perform on stage (although smaller crowds would see them play 'Hey Jude' on the David Frost show in the summer of 1968; and an even more select crowd would delight in their famous Apple rooftop concert in January 1969).

Candlestick marked a dramatic turning point in The Beatles' career and lives - since their music had already become far too complex and sophisticated to play as a four-piece band on stage, they 'retired' to make their magic in the confines of the EMI recording studios in London.

In addition, touring no longer made any sense - the group had become so overwhelmingly popular that they did not really have to do anything so strenuous as a world tour to promote their next single or album.

More importantly, touring turned into a debilitating and even dangerous undertaking - the worst incident likely occurred in The Philippines where, having offended First Lady Imelda Marcos by not appearing before her highness, The Beatles were physically and violently threatened by army troops before they could escape the country (never again to return).

1966 also marked a sharp change in The Beatles' music - before that year, the group adhered to a strict (even exasperating) schedule of concerts, TV appearances and films, with recording sessions squeezed in between.

Consequently, songs from this period tend to have been concise, quick, with a melodious hook - rather like an assembly-line.

From 1966 onward, they could afford to spend enormous time and money in the studio, using all kinds of tricks and gimmicks, in order to make some truly immortal and monumental albums and singles.

A portion of Beatles fans prefer the charm, simplicity and nostalgia of the 1962-1966 period, while, I suspect, a much larger percentage of listeners prefer the more adventurous and ambitious 1967-1970 era.

I don't really make such a distinction since I treasure every year of The Beatles' existence and love practically every single and album they ever recorded (even the more mediocre offerings possessed something interesting to them).

However, 1966 and the end of touring clearly indicated a point of no return - and perhaps kicked off a series of events that would lead to the group's break-up three years later.

To 'honor' the Candlestick concert, I decided to read (actually re-read) the famous interview John Lennon gave to Rolling Stone magazine in December 1970 - when the world fully realized the group had really broken up and were eager to find out all the details behind it.

I had not read this epic interview in at least two decades and it left me feeling sad and frustrated (I can only imagine what 1970 readers felt about it).

The interview (which coincided with the release of the excellent 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' LP) presents Lennon as a confused, vaguely-angry , rambling, perhaps drug-addled, man who doesn't have a clue what he really wants to say.