As one of the most documented bands in history, it’s rare to find new ways to look at The Beatles. However, the National Portrait Gallery in Britain has uncovered a previously unseen viewpoint. The gallery is featuring an exhibition of intimate photos taken by none other than Paul McCartney, providing an unprecedented inside look into the Beatles’ ascent to fame. Nicholas Cullinan, the gallery’s director, describes the show, subtitled “Eyes of the Storm”, as a unique opportunity to experience Beatlemania from the inside out.
The genesis of the exhibition was rooted in the lockdown year of 2020 when McCartney unearthed over a thousand photos taken in 1963 and 1964. This period was significant as The Beatles transitioned from being emerging British celebrities to global music sensations. McCartney, along with his team, approached the National Portrait Gallery about showcasing these intimate snapshots, an offer that the gallery was thrilled to accept.
The exhibition, which is scheduled to run until October 1, features 250 photos capturing The Beatles’ meteoric rise. The collection takes audiences from cramped dressing rooms in local British theatres to luxurious hotels and massive stadiums in England, France, and the United States. McCartney, reflecting on those exciting times, remarked on the “crazy whirlwind” that they were living through and how even the smallest aspects of their lives were imbued with wonder.
Rosie Broadley, the curator of the show, expressed that the photos weren’t merely interesting because of their famous subject matter. Rather, they represented an essential chapter of cultural history, both British and international, capturing a time when British culture held significant global influence.
The exhibition starts with photos from late 1963, right after McCartney got his hands on a Pentax 35mm camera. It contains early black-and-white images of The Beatles, their family, friends, crew, and peers. These images represent a post-war British celebrity landscape, filled with provincial concerts and variety shows.
As the band’s fame escalated, they found themselves in Paris, then quickly jetted off to New York following the massive success of their hit, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. McCartney’s camera was at the ready, capturing the band’s whirlwind lifestyle and the overwhelming fan response. Some of the most striking shots were taken from planes, trains, and cars, featuring ecstatic fans, lines of police, and the constant presence of press photographers.
Upon reaching Miami, McCartney switched to color film, resulting in vibrant, movie-like images of the band enjoying their downtime with activities like swimming, sunbathing, and water skiing.
McCartney, now 81, spent considerable time discussing the photos and his memories with the gallery’s curators, providing valuable context for the images. Despite his self-admitted non-professional photography skills, the photos’ spontaneity and authenticity more than compensate for any technical shortcomings. Broadley concludes, “We liked those because of the story that they tell”. This exhibition, therefore, not only offers an inside look at The Beatles but also tells a unique, personal story of their incredible journey to stardom.
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