Thirty years ago tonight I was at a Springsteen show with my friend Marty Hasselman at The Spectrum in South Philadelphia. After a typically riveting River-era performance, we headed out to the parking lot, where a dazed and confused guy ambled up to us and said, “John Lennon just got shot.” We both said, “what?” and headed quickly to my car and turned on the radio.WMMR, which usually followed Philly-area shows with uber-jock Ed Sciaky playing a couple of hours of what they called, “Bruce Juice,” instead was playing the Beatles' “In My Life.” They quickly followed it with “Imagine.”
We knew it was true.
Many things factor into my love of and passion for music, but none more so than The Beatles. Their three consecutive appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of ’64 caused a seismic shift in my second-grade world, and the world around me as well.
I started listening to the radio intently, waiting for the next Beatles single. Out next-door neighbor Jim Balavage started a mop-topped, Beatles-influenced band that rehearsed in their living room, and I would argue with his sister Cathy the merits of the Beatles versus The Dave Clark Five. Jim also tried to show me how to play the opening riff to "Day Tripper" on the guitar.
I sang “I Saw Her Standing There,” to my parents in full voice while riding in the car on the way to Acme. I had Beatles bubble-gum cards, watched Beatles cartoons and pretended I was Paul McCartney and John Lennon in front of a tiny record player in my bedroom.
And I really heard music for the very first time.
The music of The Beatles was and is monumental, and those who question that or demean the group's influence are willing participants in a most-questionable revisionist history.
It stands the test of time; to this day much of it sounds as fresh and vital as ever.
And my kids love them. Their influence will live on.
John Lennon once famously said, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”
I feel the same way about The Beatles.
Strictly 100: Number 12 – The Beatles
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