The Fest for Beatles Fans

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
StatusActive
GenreThe Beatles
FrequencyTwice per year
Location(s)New York Metro area, Chicago
CountryUnited States
InauguratedSeptember 1974
FounderMark Lapidos
Websitewww.thefest.com

History

External image
image icon Cover of Rolling Stone, October 24, 1974

The Fest for Beatles Fans began in 1974 after founder Mark Lapidos[1] 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!"[2][3]

The first Fest, titled Beatlefest '74, took place over the weekend of 14–15 September 1974 at the Commodore Hotel in New York City.[4] Over 8,000 Beatles fans attended.[2] The event was supported by BBC TV and Apple Corps in London; both organisations supplied archive films and promotional clips, some of which had never been seen in the US.[4] Each Beatle donated an item to be auctioned off for charity – guitars from Lennon and Paul McCartney, a table from George Harrison, and autographed drumsticks from Ringo Starr.[4] Lennon considered attending, but decided not to because he was nervous about the crowd.[5] May Pang, his girlfriend at the time, went in his place, with instructions to buy any interesting-looking memorabilia. Melody Maker journalist Chris Charlesworth helped Pang select items.[4] Beatlefest '74 was recognized on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.[6]

Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has taken place every year in the New York Metropolitan area, except for the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] It has taken place in Chicago, Illinois, every year since 1977. The Fest has also taken place in Atlanta, Boston,[8] Houston, Las Vegas,[9] Los Angeles,[10] Orlando,[11] Philadelphia[12] and San Francisco.[13]

Lapidos' 1977 application for a registered trademark on Beatlefest was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1979 but challenged by Apple Corps in 1997 and ceded by Lapidos in 2002,[14]; thereafter, the name The Fest for Beatles Fans has been used.[15]

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.[16]

Past attendees

Since its inception in 1974, the Fest has hosted hundreds of special guests, including:

Musicians

Other guests

References

  1. Hester, Jere (January 24, 2014). "Fascination with Beatles continues to grow long after Fab Four's infamous breakup". Daily News. New York.
  2. "History of The Fest". The Fest for Beatles Fans. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  3. Lapidos, Mark (April 1, 2007). "Preface: The Beatles, In My Life". In Berman, Garry (ed.). 'We're Going to See the Beatles!': An Oral History of Beatlemania as Told by the Fans Who Were There. Santa Monica Press. pp. 11–14. ISBN 978-1-59580-032-9.
  4. Badman, Keith (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 132–33. ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
  5. Robinson, Lisa (April 22, 2014). There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll. Penguin. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-101-63208-6.
  6. "Strange Rumblings in Pepperland". Rolling Stone. October 24, 1974.
  7. Mosca, David (March 23, 2022). "Get back! The Fest for Beatles Fans Returns After a Two Year Hiatus". NJ.com. The Jersey Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. Beggy, Carol; Shanahan, Mark (November 10, 2003). "Beatlemania rocks Danvers; Red Sox GM turns Esquire 'rebel'". Boston Globe.
  9. Brown, Joe (June 30, 2008). "Embracing commercialism". Las Vegas Sun.
  10. "The Guide: Fairs, Fetes & Fests". Los Angeles: 174. December 1988.
  11. Badman, Keith (October 27, 2009). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the break-up, 1970-2001. Omnibus Press. p. 1572. ISBN 978-0-85712-001-4.
  12. Badman, Keith (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the break-up, 1970-2001. Music Sales Group. p. 498. ISBN 978-0-85712-001-4.
  13. Beckerman, Jim (March 18, 2015). "Fest for Beatle Fans, this weekend, enters fifth decade". The Record. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  14. "Case 73118612 Beatlefest". Trademark Status & Document Retrieval. USPTO. Retrieved July 3, 2020.; Mark Lapidos Productions Ltd. v Apple Corps Limited:
    • Trademark case "Proceedings 92026010". Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System. USPTO.
    • Civil case 00-4947 (DNJ) (HAA)
  15. Gerber, Michael (July 23, 2015). "The Future of Beatlefest". Hey Dullblog. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  16. "The Fest for Beatles Fans 2014". Time Out. New York. January 13, 2014.
  17. "44th Annual Fest For Beatles Fans Announced, 3/9 - 11". Broadway World. February 9, 2018.
  18. Kane, Larry (July 30, 2013). When They Were Boys: The True Story of the Beatles' Rise to the Top. Running Press. pp. 141, 246, 248. ISBN 978-0-7624-4014-6.
  19. Hoffman, Dave (March 26, 2004). "Back in Secaucus Thirtieth Fest for Beatles Fans celebrates 4Oth anniversary of Fab Four's arrival in States". Hudson Reporter.
  20. Beckerman, Jim (March 26, 2019). "Beatles Fest celebrates an iconic album, and an iconic hoax". North Jersey Record.
  21. "Glen Burtnik". Styxtoury.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  22. "Fest Guests 1974-2013". The Fest for Beatles Fans.
  23. Kozinn, Allan (January 31, 2014). "Beatle Fans Hear Yesterday Again". The New York Times.
  24. Farber, Jim (February 4, 2014). "New York City celebrates 50 years of the Beatles with special events". Daily News. New York.
  25. Mikrut, Michael (August 25, 2014). "Peter Noone Performing at The Fest for Beatles Fans Chicago 2014". People and Places. Leydon Township, IL. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  26. "Donovan Plays Concert at Fest for Beatles Fans, New York City, February 7/8/9, Also He Will Give a Talk 'Meditation & The White Album'". Donovan Official Website. January 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  27. Donnelly, Tim (February 7, 2014). "Hot Picks: Fest for Beatles Fans celebrates band's USA debut". New York Post.
  28. Program from 2008 August 22–24 Chicago Beatlefest
  29. 1997 "Wings" photo page by Michael Cimino Archives Archived December 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  30. "Wings Alumni to Take Flight". ClassicRockCentral.com. July 10, 2007. Archived from the original on August 26, 2007.
  31. Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970-1980. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-87930-968-8.
  32. Gomez, Sal (October 29, 2014). "Entertainment Corner: The Fest for Beatles Fans". Mid Valley News. El Monte, CA. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  33. "Guests - New York City". The Fest for Beatles Fans. 2014. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
  34. Grochowski, John (August 8, 2012). "Fest for Beatles Fans: Yeah, yeah, yeah!". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012.
  35. Gehman, Geoff (April 23, 1980). "Covering The Beat At Beatlefest Reverence, Reminiscences And Revenues Spark New York Event For '90, Reporter Finds". The Morning Call.
  36. Nilsson, Harry (2010). Who is Harry Nilsson? (And Why is Everyone Talkin' About Him?). New York: Authorized Pictures/Lorber Films. Archived from the original (DVD) on June 9, 2011.
  37. Shipton, Alyn (August 8, 2013). Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter. Oxford University Press. pp. 256–257. ISBN 978-0-19-975657-5.
  38. Johnson, Joe (February 17, 2013). "RIP Tony Sheridan". Beatle Brunch Club News. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  39. Kessler, Jude (August 14, 2009). "Live from the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans". BeatlesNews.com. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  40. Abrams, Erika (August 19, 2015). "Why the 2015 Chicago Fest For Beatles Fans Was the Best One Yet". REBEAT Magazine. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  41. "Biography". Klaus Voormann. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  42. Valadez, Eloise Marie (August 8, 2019). "Explore everything 'Fab Four' at The Fest for Beatles Fans". nwitimes.com.
  43. Johnson, Joe (August 24, 2010). "Beatle Brunch Newsletter". Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  44. Abrams, Erika (March 23, 2015). "NY Metro Fest for Beatles Fans: Day 3 Recap and Wrap-Up". REBEAT Magazine. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  45. Barrow, Tony (2005). John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me: The Real Beatles Story. Da Capo Press. ISBN 1-56025-882-9.
  46. Clayson, Alan (April 22, 1992). "Chicago Breakdown". The Beat Goes On.
  47. "Fest for Beatles Fans celebrates the Fab 4". ABC7 Chicago. August 12, 2018.
  48. "Fest For Beatles Fans 2014 Invades Airport Marriott". Hollywood Revealed. October 12, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  49. "L.A. Fest a Hit With Beatles Fans". Something New. October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  50. "Cynthia at Beatlefest". Meet the Beatles for Real. February 14, 2012.
  51. Germain, Rory (March 26, 2015). "Fest for Beatles Fans 2015". Thisismelo.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  52. Schultz, Linda, ed. (2004). Tales of the Awesome Foursome: Beatles Fans Share Personal Stories and Memories of the Fab Four. Infinity Publishing. p. 194. ISBN 0-7414-2079-1.
  53. Hughes, Rob (2008). "Legendary Pink Floyd Producer Hurricane Dies". Uncut.
  54. Patterson, R. Garry (October 29, 1998). The Walrus Was Paul: The Great Beatle Death Clues. Simon and Schuster. p. 53. ISBN 0-684-85062-1.
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