The Fest for Beatles Fans (previously known as Beatlefest) is a twice-annual, three-day festival that honors the lasting legacy of the Beatles. The festival takes place in the New York metropolitan area, ordinarily in March or April, and in Chicago, Illinois, each August. Running Friday through Sunday, the Fest features special guests, live concerts, exhibits, art contests, a Beatles marketplace, a sound-alike contest, a Battle of the Beatles Bands, and more.
The Fest for Beatles Fans began in 1974 after founder Mark Lapidos ran the idea by John Lennon during an encounter at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Lapidos asked Lennon for permission, to which Lennon replied, "I’m all for it! I’m a Beatles fan too!"
The first Fest took place in September 1974 at the Commodore Hotel in New York City. Over 8,000 Beatles fans attended. Each Beatle donated a musical instrument that was auctioned off for charity. Lennon considered attending, but decided not to because he was nervous about the crowd. The event was recognized on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has taken place every year in the New York Metropolitan area. It has taken place in Chicago, Illinois, every year since 1977. The Fest has also taken place in Boston, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Events and activities
Among the events and activities at the Fest for Beatles Fans are nightly concerts by Beatles tribute band Liverpool, appearances and performances by various musical guests, photo exhibits, a Beatles museum and art contest, a Beatles sound-alike contest, the Battle of the Beatles Bands, panels and discussions with authors and Beatles experts, movie screenings, live auctions, puppet shows, and a Beatles marketplace. In 2014, the Fest included a bus trip to JFK Airport to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in America.
Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has hosted hundreds of special guests, including:
Pete Best, drummer for the Beatles before being replaced by Ringo StarrGlen Burtnik, performed with Beatlemania, Styx and the Orchestra; performs in Fest house band LiverpoolChad & Jeremy, 1960s English folk rock duoMicky Dolenz, drummer and lead singer for the MonkeesDonovan, Rock and Roll Hall of FamerSteve Holley, Laurence Juber, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, and Denny Seiwell – former members of Paul McCartney & WingsMark Hudson, member of the Hudson Brothers, Ringo Starr's producer for 10 yearsNeil Innes, musician for Monty Python and the Rutles, performed at the Concert for GeorgeBilly J. Kramer, 1960s pop singer who recorded several Lennon–McCartney songsGerry Marsden, leader of the British Merseybeat band Gerry and the PacemakersJoey Molland, guitarist for Apple Records band BadfingerHarry Nilsson, singer-songwriter who was close with John Lennon and Ringo Starr In 1982, Nilsson released an exclusive limited-edition single called "With a Bullet" at Beatlefest to raise money for gun control.Peter Noone, lead singer of Herman's HermitsMike Pender, founding member and lead vocalist for the SearchersPeter and Gordon (Peter Asher and Gordon Waller), who performed at Fest conventions together and separatelyBilly Preston, keyboardist who appeared on several Beatles tracks in the late 1960sThe Quarrymen, a British skiffle/rock and roll group formed by Lennon which eventually evolved into the BeatlesMark Rivera, saxophonist who played with Lennon and toured with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr BandTony Sheridan, singer-songwriter and guitarist who was an early collaborator with the BeatlesThe Smithereens, American rock band influenced by the Beatles who released two albums of Beatles coversRonnie Spector, singer and former member of the RonettesTerry Sylvester, English guitarist/singer with The Escorts, The Swinging Blue Jeans and The HolliesKlaus Voormann, met the Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s, designed the cover of Revolver, and played bass with Lennon as part of the Plastic Ono BandGary Wright, recorded with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, toured with the All-Starr BandNancy Lee Andrews, former international model turned photographer, formerly engaged to Ringo StarrTony Barrow, Beatles press officer who coined the phrase "The Fab Four"Sid Bernstein, booked The Beatles at Carnegie Hall and Shea StadiumPattie Boyd, the former wife of George Harrison and Eric ClaptonAl Brodax, producer of The Beatles TV series and the Yellow Submarine filmChris Carter, Los Angeles-based disc jockey who hosts Breakfast with the BeatlesAlan Clayson, pop music historian who wrote a book on each BeatleRay Coleman, biographer of Lennon and McCartneyBob Eubanks, before gaining fame as the host of The Newlywed Game, was a DJ who produced The Beatles performances at the Hollywood BowlPrudence Farrow, author and film producer, subject of the Beatles song "Dear Prudence"Robert Freeman, photographer for four Beatles album coversBob Gruen, photo–journalist and authorTerri Hemmert, Chicago DJ at WXRT-FM, Fest MC in Chicago since 1978Larry Kane, Philadelphia television news anchor, the only American journalist to accompany the Beatles on their 1964–1965 American toursAstrid Kirchherr, met the Beatles in Hamburg in the early 1960s, took early photographs of the group, and dated former bassist Stuart SutcliffeMartin Lewis, Beatles historian, Fest MC for over 20 yearsCynthia Lennon, John Lennon's first wifeMark Lewisohn, Beatles historian and authorRuth McCartney, new media entrepreneur, stepsister of Paul McCartneyBruce Morrow, American radio personality known to many listeners as Cousin BrucieJack Oliver, former President of Apple Records (1969-1971)May Pang, former girlfriend of Lennon, attended the first Beatlefest where she purchased a photograph that became the cover of Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll albumPaul Saltzman, film and TV producer/director, joined the Beatles in IndiaNorman Smith, Beatles record producer and engineer, premiered his memoir at the March 2007 conventionVictor Spinetti, Welsh actor who appeared in the Beatles films A Hard Day's Night, Help! and Magical Mystery TourBruce Spizer, Beatles historian and authorAlistair Taylor, personal assistant of Brian Epstein, General Manager of Apple CorpsVivek Tiwary, author of the graphic novel The Fifth Beatle about the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein
