The End of Touring
The tour continued, but it wasn't a happy time. Some newspapers in the United States were against the band now. For the first time, there were a few empty seats at some concerts. But it was still impossible to hear the music because of the screams. As George said, touring wasn't 'fun' now. Also, their lives were different. Only one Beatle - Paul - wasn't married. It was time to stop travelling.
At first, Paul wanted to tour more, but finally he agreed with the others. On 29 August 1966, they played at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. They played eleven songs, finishing with 'I'm Down'. It was the Beatles' last concert. The band faced a new question: what now? In his heart, John thought, 'This is the end, really.' For some time the Beatles all did different things:
George spent a few weeks in India.
Paul worked with George Martin on the music for a film, The Family Way. The music won an award.
John went to Spain to act in a film, How I Won the War. It wasn't a good film, and John wasn't a good actor. But he did come back wearing the famous small, round 'John Lennon glasses'! Ringo spent a few weeks in Spain with John, and he enjoyed time at home with his wife and child.
Back in the studio, the band felt more free. Now they didn't have to play any new songs on stage. They could do anything, and they did - with George Martin's help. The next songs were another big step into new musical areas. But they also looked back, as both John and Paul turned to their Liverpool past for 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane'. STORY BEHIND THE SONGS
When he was a child, John lived near a children's home. The home was called Strawberry Field. John's song 'Strawberry Fields Forever' wasn't really about that place; it just took the home's name. The line 'Nothing is real' perfectly described this strange, beautiful song. Paul then wrote a song about Liverpool, too. 'Penny Lane' was a much happier song, describing people and places from the old days in Liverpool. The band was still using instruments that were unusual in pop records. A trumpet played on the song. There were many differences between Paul and John. Paul was very interested in studio recording. He worked carefully with George Martin. John had little time for this. He just told the producer what he wanted. In fact, the band played Strawberry Fields Forever' in two very different ways. John couldn't choose his favorite. Finally, the producer joined the two. (Years later, John wasn't happy about this recording of his song.) Together, 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane' became the Beatles' next single. It was a great record, but for the first time in years the band didn't reach number one.
