---
title: "40 Musical Facts About Beatles"
url: https://www.kickassfacts.com/beatles-facts/
date: 2017-05-30
modified: 2017-05-30
lang: en
author: "jazz"
description: "Here are 40 musical Beatles facts. 1-5 Beatles Facts 1. Before performing in Japan, the Beatles received an anonymous message: \"Do not go to Tokyo. Your life is in danger\"...."
categories:
  - "Fact List"
  - "Pop Culture"
image: https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/the-beatles.jpg
word_count: 1421
---

# 40 Musical Facts About Beatles

Here are 40 musical Beatles facts.

## 1-5 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/WCFL_Sound_10_survey_October_1966_Beatles_Jim_Stagg.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/WCFL_Sound_10_survey_October_1966_Beatles_Jim_Stagg.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

1. Before performing in [Japan](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-interesting-facts-about-japan-part1/), the Beatles received an anonymous message: "Do not go to [Tokyo](https://www.kickassfacts.com/40-amazing-tokyo-facts/). Your life is in danger". 35,000 police officers were tasked to protect the group. The Japanese audience was so polite and quiet, they were able to hear how bad the live performance really was. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band#Background)

2. The Beatles helped end racially segregated concerts by refusing to play at segregated events. - [Source](http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/709294/The-Beatles-defied-Deep-South-racism-US-documentary-touring-years-lennon-mccartney)

3. The Beatles album, 'Revolver' was almost named 'After Geography' (credits to Ringo), to contrast with the Rolling Stones album, 'Aftermath'. - [Source](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/beatles-revolver-15-things-you-didnt-know-w432446)

4. The Beatles trip to [India](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-india-part-1-of-2/) ended badly because the Maharishi wanted the band to deposit up to 25% of their next album's profits in his Swiss bank account as a tithe, to which Lennon replied, "Over my dead body". - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_in_India#Tensions)

5. A student sent John Lennon a letter stating his teacher was conducting a class analyzing the Beatles' songs. This act inspired the song "I Am The Walrus," as the whole purpose of the song, according to John, was to confuse, befuddle, and mess with the Beatles experts. - [Source](http://mentalfloss.com/article/30523/who-was-walrus-analyzing-strangest-beatles-song)

## 6-10 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Cover-of-the-voyager-golden-record.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Cover-of-the-voyager-golden-record.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

6. Carl Sagan wanted to include the Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" on the golden record sent into space on the Voyager spacecraft. The Beatles said yes, EMI said no. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contents_of_the_Voyager_Golden_Record#cite_note-Sagan.2C_Carl_1978-3)

7. The Beatles played a demo copy of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" before its release at full volume from an open apartment window at 6 AM. Instead of complaining, the residents opened their windows and listened, aware they were hearing unreleased Beatles [music](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-music/). - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper)

8. Weird Al intended to parody the Beatles "Free as a Bird" on his album Bad Hair Day. Paul McCartney gave permission for the parody, but since John Lennon wrote the song, he passed the decision on to Yoko Ono, who said no. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Hair_Day#Unused_parodies)

9. The Beatles have sold more records than Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, Nirvana, the Beach Boys and Kanye West combined by over 30 million units. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists#250_million_or_more_records)

10. Michael Jackson purchased the publishing rights to The Beatles song catalog for $47.5 million, against the advice of his counsel. 30 years later it was resold to Sony for $750 million, nearly a 1500% increase in value. - [Source](http://mentalfloss.com/article/85007/how-michael-jackson-bought-publishing-rights-beatles-catalogue)

## 11-15 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/The-Beatles.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/The-Beatles.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

11. The Beatles literally stopped touring because their music could not be amplified loud enough to compete with screaming crowd noise, even with custom, purpose-built amplifiers. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles#Events_leading_up_to_final_tour)

12. After Bob Dylan offered The Beatles [marijuana](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-interesting-facts-about-marijuana/) when he first met them in 1964 he was shocked to find out they weren't regular smokers. Dylan had misheard the lyric 'I can't hide' from 'I want to hold your hand' as 'I get high'. - [Source](https://www.beatlesbible.com/features/drugs/2/)

13. When the Beatles wrote the song "With a Little Help from My Friends", the first line ended with 'What would you think if I sang out of tune? Would You Throw Ripe Tomatoes at Me?', but Ringo changed it so that fans would not throw tomatoes at him should he perform it live. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_a_Little_Help_from_My_Friends#Origins)

14. The Beatles song "Come Together" was written for Timothy Leary's campaign for governor of [California](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-california/). His campaign ended after he was arrested for marijuana possession. - [Source](https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/come-together/)

15. The Beatles asked Stanley Kubrick to direct Lord of the Rings starring George as Gandalf, Paul as Frodo, Ringo as Sam, and John as Gollum but J.R.R. Tolkien wouldn't let them do it. - [Source](https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2013/02/why-tolkien-nixed-a-beatles-lord-of-the-rings)

## 16-20 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/penny-lane.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/penny-lane.jpg)

16. Due to the popularity of the Beatles song, "Penny Lane" street signs in Liverpool were so often stolen, local authorities got tired of replacing them and began painting the street's name onto the sides of buildings. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Lane)

17. On August 29, 1966, The Beatles played what would become their last official concert as a band at Candlestick Park, San Francisco. The Park's capacity was 42,500, but only 25,000 tickets were sold, leaving large sections of unsold seats. - [Source](http://www.rarebeatles.com/photopg7/kya.htm)

18. When the Beatles recorded "Hey Jude" Ringo was on the toilet and came back just in time to play the drums on the song. - [Source](https://www.beatlesbible.com/1968/07/31/recording-hey-jude-2/)

19. A reporter asked the Beatles about the intentions of the songs "Day Tripper" and "Norwegian Wood" after Time reported that they were about a prostitute and a lesbian. Paul responded with "We were just trying to write songs about prostitutes and lesbians, that's all." - [Source](http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/db1966.0828.beatles.html)

20. In "Hey Jude" by The Beatles Paul McCartney messes up and says "f*cking hell!" It's audible in most versions. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Jude)

## 21-25 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/the-beatles-album.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/the-beatles-album.jpg)

21. The Beatles were considering to name their 1969 album Everest and even flying to the Himalayas to shoot the cover photo. Instead, they named it Abbey Road and shot the cover photo in front of the studio. - [Source](http://www.contactmusic.com/beatles/news/beatles-toyed-with-calling-abbey-road-everest_02_04_2006)

22. During the week of 4 April 1964, the Beatles held the top five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 singles simultaneously. This feat hasn't been accomplished by any other artist to date, the closest being 50-Cent, who placed three titles simultaneously. - [Source](http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/513480/april-4-1964-the-beatles-make-hot-100-history)

23. John Lennon wrote the Beatles song 'Dear Prudence' for Prudence Farrow (Mia's sister) while studying TM in India. The group became worried about her because she spent the majority of her time alone in her room practicing meditation, so John wrote her a song to persuade her to socialize more. - [Source](http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/dear-prudence-1967-1968/)

24. The Beatles once bought a private [island](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-islands/) with plans to all live together in peace away from screaming fans, but later sold it as they were breaking up. - [Source](http://www.englishisapieceofcake.com/support-files/beatles.pdf)

25. Mad Men paid $250,000 for the master recording of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles, played for just two minutes during a season 5 episode. - [Source](http://www.businessinsider.in/Why-Mad-Men-Paid-250000-To-Use-One-Beatles-Song/articleshow/33564652.cms)

## 26-30 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/While_My_Guitar_Gently_Weeps.png)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/While_My_Guitar_Gently_Weeps.png)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

26. In the Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," neither George Harrison nor John Lennon plays the lead guitar part. Eric Clapton does. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/While_My_Guitar_Gently_Weeps#Personnel)

27. In Soviet Russia, due to strict censorship of music, there was a black market for Beatles records that had been etched onto used x-ray film. Some would sell for an entire month's salary. The records earned the name "music on the bones." - [Source](http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19827438)

28. When the Beatles were at a British Embassy reception in [Washington D.C.](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-washington-d-c/), someone cut off a lock of Ringo's hair as a souvenir. Ringo told an interviewer, "These diplomats just don't know how to behave." - [Source](http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/db1964.0211be.beatles.html)

29. Some of The Beatles first gigs were eight hours long and fuelled by stimulants. - [Source](http://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-hamburg-first-show/)

30. Across the Universe, by The Beatles, is the first song aliens will hear (it was beamed into deep space by [NASA](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-interesting-facts-about-nasa-part-1/)). - [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/across_universe.html)

## 31-35 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Yellow-Submarine.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Yellow-Submarine.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

31. The Beatles used a cash register for effect on "Yellow Submarine." - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Submarine_(song))

32. The Beatles song "A day in the Life" has an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to [dogs](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-interesting-facts-dogs/), was recorded by Paul McCartney for the enjoyment of his Shetland sheepdog. - [Source](http://www.dog-names.org.uk/)

33. The Beatles concerts were said to smell heavily of urine due to overexcited girls. - [Source](http://www.meetthebeatlesforreal.com/2015/01/did-beatle-fans-wet-their-pants-at.html)

34. The Beatles had to dodge jelly beans thrown at them on stage because fans heard George Harrison liked them. - [Source](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1181635/Why-George-Harrison-begged-young-fan-stop-throwing-Jelly-Babies-The-Beatles.html)

35. Israel disallowed the Beatles to have a show there because they thought that “The Beatles have an insufficient artistic level and cannot add to the spiritual and cultural life of the youth in Israel.” - [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/world/middleeast/28beatles.html?mtrref=undefined&gwh=615D70F3924952B1FC6160BC434CBA31&gwt=pay)

## 36-40 Beatles Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Rubber_Soul.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Rubber_Soul.jpg)Image credit: en.m.wikipedia.org

36. The Beatles' album "Rubber Soul" returned to album charts 22 years after its initial release, then again ten years later. - [Source](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_Soul)

37. In January 1967 The Beatles recorded a 14-minute avant-garde performance that remains unreleased to this day, known as "Carnival of Light" and is considered the holy grail of missing Beatles' songs. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Light)

38. "Her Majesty" by the Beatles is 0:23 long and is one of the first hidden tracks. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majesty_(song))

39. Before changing the lyrics in Yesterday by The Beatles, they were originally "scrambled eggs, oh baby how I love your legs, but not as much as I love scrambled eggs." - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yesterday_(Beatles_song))

40. The BBC banned The Beatles' "Come Together" because the mention of [Coca-Cola](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-interesting-facts-about-coca-cola/) violated the [BBC's](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-bbc/) policy against product placement. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Together#Release_and_acclaim)