Until finishing it last week, I’d never read “Love Me Do!: The Beatles’ Progress” – Michael Braun’s 1964 chronicle of Beatlemania in Britain and the U.S. it may even be the best book ever written about them.' Mark Lewishon, the great Beatles scholar, says in the foreword: 'for insight into the Beatles' personalities it is unparalleled. This book is written by Michael Braun, an American who travels with the band, like an 'embedded war reporter' recording everything from their jokes to the letters they receive, to their reaction to receptions in the UK, France and America. Then when I found out I liked Paul more, the others became angry with me. Of course it’s the trouble with all the boys. He can’t see that my feelings for him are real and that the fans’ are fantasy. the trouble is he wants the fans’ adulation and mine too. it’s so silly of me to stay at the hotel. Jane Asher, for example says this, after being told to stay indoors in Paris because she might be recognised: Of course they are sometimes insensitive, ego-tripping, unaware. A lesser quartet would have buckled, a group with less talent could not stand such scrutiny. The animosity as well as the adulation, the disgruntled along with the lovesick. Imagine someone getting out scissors and cutting a lock from your hair, imagine being crushed, imagine the patronising great figures who want autographs for their daughters, imagine being asked constantly, which one are you? (they always answer wrongly, John will say I'm Paul, Paul will say I'm Roger etc.) Imagine groups of people parading with signs saying 'Eliminate the Beetles'. But I think they show remarkable grace under pressure. He wrote how we were, which was bastards. of course I'm old enough to remember, although I was only 8/9: She Loves you on the radio and the Beatles faces in the newspapers that dropped through our letterbox. gets you right inside the early days of Beatlemania 1963/64, holed up in the hotels on tour with the band, inside the besieged cars, quipping with the reporters, doing Jke Box Jury and the Morecambe and Wise Show, meeting ambassadors, Cassius Clay (as was).

Love Me Do! by Michael Braun