Alvin Tofler, in his 1970 bestseller, Future Shock, posits that individuals and entire societies may suffer from certain psychological states such as a shock from “too much change in too short a period of time.” Sometimes, the shock requires people to run to escape.
On July 4, 1966, 50 years ago today, future shock showed its negative capabilities when the Beatles, who were in Manila for a two-show concert at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, and their management failed to cope with unfolding events.
11:00 A.M. When First Lady Imelda Marcos entered the flower-decorated corridor leading to Malacanan Palace’s dining hall, 300 youngsters, mostly children of government officials, military officers and business tycoons, including media people, waited for the Beatles to arrive.
At the Manila Hotel, bangs on his suite door awakened business manager Brian Epstein. He was not used to such intrusions and he was trying to snatch up some rest from the Beatles’ bothersome billet in the Marima yacht and their transfer to Manila Hotel at 4 a.m.
Forced to open up, he was faced with concert promoter Ramon Ramos, who entered and demanded, “Come on! You’re supposed to be at the palace.” Epstein could not believe what he heard, but could not protest as two persons with him carried guns.
But he announced John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr could not be awakened until it was time for them to leave for the concert. As the discussion had started to heat up, Epstein stated firmly, “If they want to see the Beatles, let them come here.”
12:00 P.M. Tired of waiting, Imelda walked out. Daughter Imee said, “I really do not like their music.” Son Bongbong stated, “I’d like to pounce on the Beatles and cut off their hair!” The docile Irene had warning words, “I only like one Beatles song and it’s ‘Run for Your Life.’”
The local media quickly called the non-appearance by the Beatles as “snubbing” the First Lady, angering Marcos friends and followers, including many Beatles fans. They were fast at hatching up a get-even scheme.
Hilarion Henares Jr. buzzed that Norberto “Kokoy” Romualdez Jr., Imelda’s brother, planned to lynch them. J.V. Cruz, his right-hand man, suggested organizing “a lynch mob” instead of making fun of Kokoy in a huddle at the Manila Oversees Press Club in Admiral Bldg.
The British ambassador advised Epstein to reconsider his decision since the Beatles’ security was courtesy of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, adding the latter and his wife badly wanted to be recognized as world leaders that they sought acknowledgement by being photographed with the Beatles.
2:00 P.M. Traffic had snarled around the Stadium. A total of 720 uniformed policemen, 35 detectives and the entire contingent of the Manila Fire Department saturated the stadium and surrounding areas.
Tickets priced at P20 for the field reserved section and P30 for the grandstand ringside section had been sold out. Many ticket holders had queued since early morning. When the gates opened, there was a mad rush for the best seats.
The Beatles arrived at the Stadium and headed for the hastily constructed dressing room backstage. Installed the previous day, it came with an air-conditioning system to keep the Beatles from the heat.
4:00 P.M. The two-part concert opened with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, followed by the overture. D’Downbeats was first on stage with Joey “Pepe” Smith on drums and vocals.
With Carding Cruz and His Orchestra providing the rhythm section, Dale Adriatico, Wings Duo, Pilita Corrales, Lemons Three and The Reycard Duet sang. Fans impatiently heckled the opening act. Total running time: Three hours.
7:00 P.M. The Beatles performed 11 songs: “Rock And Roll Music,” “She’s A Woman,” “If I Needed Someone,” “Day Tripper,” “Baby’s In Black,” “I Feel Fine,” “Yesterday,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “Nowhere Man,” “Paperback Writer” and “I’m Down.” Curiously, the audience demanded no encore.
8:30 P.M. The crowd had swelled to 50,000 by the second set. The Beatles sang the same repertoire. When the crowd trampled the fences separating the sections, they started standing on the chairs to get a better view of the band.
Done with the show, the Beatles rushed to a waiting car parked nearby for a swift exit. Happily, no snags took place at the concerts.
Crowd count at both concerts totaled 80,000 and ticket sales amounted to $100,000. But there was a big discrepancy. McCartney and Harrison put it at 100,000, a difference of 20,000 from the official count.
11.00 P.M. Back at Manila Hotel, booking agent Vic Lewis heard a knock on his door. When he opened, it was a tax collector with the demand, “You owe $80,000.”
Lewis showed him relevant clauses of the Beatles contract for live appearances. It stated that all income taxes would be borne by the country’s promoter.
But the taxman was firm so Lewis was forced to inform Epstein, who answered, “We don’t want any trouble with these people, so let’s just get out of here.”