The Beatles: They Came to a Land Downunder

In Episode 7 (Meet the Marsupials), Frank and Gaz explore the soft power of the Australian native animal and their interactions with the Beatles downunder and a litany of other stars like Taylor Swift. Our hosts interview the world's leading expert on the endangered Palm Cockatoo (from Far North Queensland) and similarities in its drumming styles with those of Ringo. And they ask - why has everyone here named their pets Ringo? They also explore the cultural significance of an iconic Australian TV show about a genius kangaroo and how it has advanced relations with countries ranging from the US to Iran!

Frank and Gaz explore the people downunder that came within the Beatles' orbit during the 1964 tour. They re-interview the Hon. Bob Katter MP - a longstanding member of Australia's parliament - who, as a student, threw eggs at the Beatles on arrival and met them afterwards. They discuss the fascinating life of the head of security detail on the tour, Devon Minchin. They consider the impressive career of music promoter Betty Stewart - one of the first women to head a business in Australia. And they consider Australian culture and society through the viewpoint of a travelling Nigerian journalist who engaged the Beatles on issues like the white Australia policy. It's an eclectic mix of issues like gender, race, conservatism, and the cultural cringe.

In There’s a Place, Frank and Gaz hit the pavements in search of residual traces of the places downunder where the Beatles stayed, played and partied with locals (What does the rush to redevelop these places tell us about Australia in the 1960s?). Inspired by the true crime podcast genre, our hosts uncover the shady circles within which they mixed in Sydney's ‘Sin City’. In Melbourne, Gaz gathers near definitive unscientific proof of the survival of the London plane trees that supported Beatles fans seeking a view of the fab four on the balcony of the legendary Southern Cross hotel. Frank assesses the symbolism of George’s sidetrip to meet family friends in Mt Taylor, Auckland for a meal of poached eggs and tomato sauce. (Mentioning Taylor Swift didn't seem to help the SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) last episode but we will try again.)

In episode 4, Frank and Gaz explore what the Beatles might have understood about Australia and where they went during the tour. They also shamelessly seek to boost their followers by drawing long bows between the Taylor Swift 2024 tour of Australia and that of the Beatles sixty years earlier. Our hosts uncover a long-lost interview by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) with John Lennon but can't afford to put much of it on air. They identify the Gold Coast promoter who couldn't secure local interest in the Beatles earlier in 1963. And they reveal efforts by members of the public, pub owners, band managers and even young Holden drivers to attract the Beatles to their local town. Finally, our hosts get serious in exploring fears that the nations' youth had succumbed to the sort of hysteria associated with war-time Germany. 

Having grown up largely in the analog era, Frank and Gaz refine their use of the podcast technology (so this episode sounds a lot better!). And having smashed through the digital ceiling, they were able to dive more deeply into the 'lucky land' (Cold Chisel's reference to Donald Horne's 1964 book 'The Lucky Country'. They canvass what the Beatles would have encountered upon arrival in June 1964. Expect discussion of gender, the ‘six o’clock swill’, the ‘white Australia policy’, and Australians’ dedication to god, queen and the motherland. And this episode breaks new ground - in a global first, they reveal details on a planned operation by Australian authorities to have the Beatles help promote migration by meeting some Liverpudlians that had settled downunder and 'a few interesting and attractive young immigrants from the Continent'. They also consider a worrying plot by New Zealand shearers to crop the mop tops. (Thanks to Arts Centre Melbourne and the Department of Home Affairs to access to historical documents on migration).

Before diving more deeply into the Australasian tour, Frank and Gaz take a slight tragical history detour. They review how our understanding of the Beatles has improved with social media, AI and other technology. And they consider what might be called Beatles' history wars. This quasi literature review sets the scene for Episode 3 in which they consider what the Beatles might have known about Australasia and what kind of place they were going to find on arrival. Among other unusual highlights: Frank compares the preservation of Beatles' homes with the ruins of Ancient Rome. Gaz plays a sitar version of early Beatles. And for Swifties - Taylor Swift, touring Australia in 2024, is mentioned and discussed in greater depth in later episodes.

In their first episode, Frank and Gaz introduce themselves, their Beatles interests, and explain the podcast title and its connection to the Beatles, Australia and the Australian psyche. The episode features some historical audio from the tour and excerpts from a rare interview. The podcast will go into detail about the Beatles but, just as much, the nature of the land down under itself. (The audio quality will improve in future episodes).

Some excerpts from the forthcoming podcast coming in May.

Australia topped the world in terms of people turning out to meet The Beatles. Where did they go, stay and play? Who did they meet? What was the land down under of 1964 really like - socially, culturally and politically? Stay tuned for more details ahead of the 60th anniversary in June 2024.