It seemed like the Beatles phenomenon had conquered and achieved everything possibly could by the year-1966, but this seemed more like a facade than anything else. In March of 1966, Robert Whittaker had taken official publicity photograghs of the fab four dressed in sweaters and jackets normally, but for some reason in his other photo, they were dressed up in butcher's white coats, holding lumps of meat and decapitated dolls. Britain used one of these pictures to promote their new single: "Paperback Writer" and Capitol Records used the same shot for the cover of their new lp: "Yesterday and Today", which was released in the U.S. There were alot of flak about the photo after advance copies of the lp were sent out in mid-June and their appearances on advertising billboards, which prompted a recall by Capitol of all copies of the lp as well as replacing the picture with the one showing the band standing around a valise, which cost them all a fortune.
The Beatles set off on a tour to West Germany, Japan and the Philippines. West Germany, despite the absense of the band in three years, were welcomed warmly in Hamburg when they arrrived. But things started to go badly wrong on their way to Tokyo. First, because of a typhoon, their flight had to be diverted to Alaska for several hours. Upon reaching Japan later, they found out that the local promoter had booked the Nippon Budokan (a magnificent hall that was used strictly for traditional Japanese martial arts), which many Japanese felt that the building was too sacred to be considered to use for Western pop music, This created opposition to the concerts by demonstrators and marches. As a result, 3,000 police officers were placed strategically among the 10,000 fans that sat quietly listening to the music. The police also placed a security force to guard the fab four's hotel stay, and were forbidden to step outside. When they tried slipping out of their room to check out Tokyo, they were quickly apprehended and returned to their rooms. John did escape briefly, but security threatened to withdraw completely if they did not follow their orders to stay put in their rooms.
The Beatles arrived in Manila, Philippines, where Ferdinand Marcos (the president of the Philippines at that time), his wife Imelda, and their three children were invited as guest of honor to the concerts. The local paper reported that the band would be paying a courtesy call at the palace at 11:00 am., but unknowing to the boys of this matter, they did not show up. The fab four performed their two concerts, but the following morning newspapers were full of stories about "Imelda" being stood up. The local promoter was so pissed off that he refused to give the group's share of gate receipts. The Beatles and the British embassy received bomb and death threats. Brian Epstein quickly organized a televised apology for the outrage, trying to explain what had happened, but for some strange reason, it's transmission was disrupted by static. The tax office of the Philippines refused to let any of them leave until they paid income tax on their concert revenue-which they still didn't receive. Since the Philippine forces had abandoned their job to protect the group, the band was then being punched and kicked while leaving the hotel and at the airport terminal to depart this land of nuttiness at the time. (I think this land of ignorance and craziness were really jealous of such an acclaimed group, that they tried all kinds of ways to tarnish them at the time, but failed)
A few weeks later, more bad news to come. One of the American magazines had picked up a story, which John talked about religion and had said that, "The Beatles were more popular than Jesus", but the American article paraphrased what he said out of context, and saying John had stated that: "The Beatles were greater than Jesus", which within days had caused an uproar within the "Bible Belt" area, whereby Beatles music were being banned on the radio and Beatles merchandise being burned ceremoniously. John realizing the chaoticness, held a press conference at which he explained what he had said and apologized. Even tho he apologized, the band still received death threats.
January 21, 1966- George marries Patricia (Pattie) Boyd
February 21, 1966- "Nowhere Man/What Goes On" single, is released in the U.S.
March 1, 1966- "The Beatles at Shea Stadium", a documentary, capturing Beatlemania at its peak, was filmed in 1965, and is shown on British television.
March 4, 1966- Evening Standard, a London newspaper, publishes an interview with John Lennon in which he says: "The Beatles are more popular than Jesus now". Also the ep "Yesterday", is released in the UK.
March 25, 1966- The Beatles infamous butcher photo is taken by photographer Robert Whittaker
May 1, 1966- At Empire Pool, Wembley, The Beatles give their last British concert
May 30, 1966- "Paperback Writer/Rain" single, is released in the U.S.( June 10 in the UK )
June 16, 1966- The Beatles perform "Paperback Writer and Rain" on the tv program: Top of the Pops
June 20, 1966- The revised version of "Yesterday and Today", (which was recalled because of the butcher photo for the lp cover), is released in the U.S.
June 24, 1966- The Beatles go on a short tour to Germany, Japan and the Philippines
July 5, 1966- Accused of snubbing Imelda Marcos, The Beatles run into major problems in the Philippines
July 8, 1966- "Nowhere Man" ep is released in the UK
July 29, 1966- Datebook (American teen magazine) publishes John's- Evening Standard interview, saying that: The Beatles are greater than Jesus.
August 5, 1966- "Revolver" lp, is released in the UK (August 8 in the U.S.)
August 6, 1966- Brian Epstein explains John's Jesus remarks at a press conference in New York
August 11, 1966- Beatles fly to Chicago for their final U.S. tour, and with the support of the others, John holds a press conference, appologizes and says he's sorry.
August 29, 1966- San Francisco's Candlestick Park, is the scene of the Beatles very last concert
September 5, 1966- John begins filming his part in "How I Won The War" at Celle in West Germany
November 9, 1966- John attends Unfinished Paintings and Objects, at London's Indica Gallery, and meets Yoko Ono for the first time, at the private view of her art exhibition.
December 9, 1966- "A Collection of Beatles Oldies" lp, is released in the UK only
