Living History

Bob Rogers - My time as a DJ with the Beatles

All those years ago... George Harrison wrote those words in tribute to his fellow Beatle John Lennon, tragically shot by a madman all those years ago. Fate has cruelly added George to the list. We are left with Ringo, 64, and Paul, who himself is just two years away from that song he wrote "When I’m 64".

How time flies! Forty years ago I had the unique experience of being the fifth Beatle. For five weeks I travelled with the group from London, through Amsterdam, Hong Kong and major cities of Australia and New Zealand. The agreement was that I would interview The Beatles every day for an Australia- wide network of radio stations. Thank heavens for their sense of humour! Trying to be entertaining and "new" every day was a challenge, given that each day followed a pattern. Arrive at a new city, greeted by masses of screaming fans. at the airport, along the route, at the hotel, inside the hotel, then a press conference. Always a bunfight with every journalist, photographer, TV and radio reporter in town, and usually an acknowledgement by The Beatles of the fans outside with an appearance on the balcony, or a Lord Mayor’s reception.

After a while I had to wonder where are we today? Which city? No one knows how this incredible situation occurred. It was not engineered behind the scenes. The Beatles management were just as mystified as the boys themselves and we all knew it couldn’t last. Shortly after their visit, The Beatles owned the top six hits on the Australian Top Forty. "Overexposure" we all agreed would spell their demise within twelve months. I was often asked to predict their future. If I hadn’t agreed with the overexposure theory I would have kept some mementoes, had more photos taken with them, had them autographed and sold them for the amazing prices one reads about today. An ex "Good Guy" (that’s what the radio station that scored The Beatles tie-up called us) eventually went to England where he worked for the BBC for many years, he told me recently that an interview he did with Yoko Ono and John Lennon sold at a Sotheby’s auction and somebody paid $50,000 for it! At home under my house I seem to have kept every piece of minutiae of my life in case it might come in handy. Can somebody please explain why I kept no Beatles memorabilia?

Ah ... But of Beatlemania I have the most precious of all ... The memories!

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