Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 8:32 a.m.
Forty years ago this Saturday the Beatles touched down on U.S. soil and touched off American Beatlemania.
For diehard fans of the Fab Four, such as local Beatles historian Dennis Mitchell, Feb. 7, 1964, marks a critical day in this country's musical history.
"If you look at the Beatles story as a big fairy tale -- and it's not hard to do -- what a cool chapter this was," said Mitchell, a DJ for KKLZ 96.3-FM and host of the station's "Breakfast With the Beatles" radio show.
"They were big in England and very popular, but even the English didn't see them as world-beaters," Mitchell continued. "There were a lot of naysayers and doubters and cynics, and conquering America put all that to rest. All of a sudden, they were media giants."
Last Sunday Mitchell marked the occasion with the first of two shows on the Beatles' first U.S. visit. That program, which included excerpts from two performances prior to the Feb. 7 arrival (one from Sweden and one on England's BBC Radio), will be archived through Saturday night on www.beatlesradioshow.com.
Sunday at 8 a.m. Mitchell will present his second show on the subject. Part 2 will feature excerpts from the Beatles' first appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" (from Feb. 9, 1964), as well as the band's first U.S. concert (Washington D.C., Feb. 11, 1964).
"Before the Beatles came over, you had these Alan Freed-style, huge, packaged shows with 15 bands playing 15 to 20 minutes each," Mitchell said. "Here you had one band generating that much interest, and people willing to pay to see one group. I think that was a turning point."
From the moment the Beatles landed at John F. Kennedy Airport, they were greeted by throngs of screaming fans. The quartet's stay in America, which lasted until Feb. 22, is captured on the newly released DVD, "The First U.S. Visit."
Along with the show in Washington, the Beatles played two sets at New York City's Carnegie Hall and made three appearances on "Ed Sullivan" (two live and one taped). The band also made various other stops during their whirlwind visit, holding press conferences and building up a massive fanbase before returning home.
"They were so charming. Even the adults who didn't like what they felt they stood for were disarmed by how funny they were, by how carefree they seemed," Mitchell said. "The pieces of the puzzle really started to come together when people saw the news conferences."
On April 4, 1964, proof of the Beatles' hold on America came in the form of a sweep of the top five spots on the singles chart ("Can't Buy Me Love," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Please Please Me"), a feat unequaled before or since.
The Beatles returned to the States in August of 1964, opening a full-scale tour with a show at San Francisco's Cow Palace on Aug. 19. The following night, the band played its only Las Vegas concerts, two half-hour sets at the Convention Center.
Music notes
Grammy time: Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Prince have joined the list of performers for Sunday night's Grammy Awards telecast, which will air at 8 p.m. in Southern Nevada on CBS (Channel 8).
That trio joins previously announced acts Christina Aguilera, the Black-Eyed Peas, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Chick Corea, Celine Dion, Earth, Wind & Fire, 50 Cent, the Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys, Richard Marx, Martina McBride, OutKast, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Sting, Sean Paul and the White Stripes for what promises to be a diverse night of live music.
As for the awards themselves, here are a few predictions for the major categories. Remember, these are who I think will win, not necessarily who I think should win.
Record of the Year -- "Crazy in Love" (Beyonce featuring Jay-Z).
Album of the Year -- "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" (OutKast).
Song of the Year -- "Lose Yourself" (Eminem).
Best New Artist -- 50 Cent.
Best Pop Vocal Album -- "Justified" (Justin Timberlake).
Best Rock Album -- "Fallen" (Evanescence).
Best Alternative Music Album -- "Elephant" (The White Stripes).
Best R&B Album -- "Dance With My Father" (Luther Vandross).
Best Contemporary R&B Album -- "Chocolate Factory" (R. Kelly).
Best Rap Album -- "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" (OutKast).
Sign O' the Times: Despite their last-minute nature, both of Prince's late-night shows at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay sold out quickly, according to a venue spokesman.
His Purple Funkiness, who went on after 2 a.m. both nights, performed a free-form set of relatively obscure material Friday. On Saturday he offered a few more famous tunes in his set, including "Kiss," "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Purple Rain."
Quick hits
A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:
If last Friday's show was any indication, tonight's David Bowie concert at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel should be a can't-miss event. Last week, Bowie expertly blended classic material with new tunes, keeping the crowd on its toes for 95 minutes.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Be sure to get there by 8 to see Macy Gray, who was outstanding in her opening slot last week. Ticket prices range from $104-$304.
Teen pop star Hilary Duff performs at 7:30 Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The 16-year-old bubblegum singer released her debut album, "Metamorphosis," last year. The show is sold out, though ticket brokers still have plenty of good seats for sale.
Thursday at 6 p.m. goth-rockers Evanescence return to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for the second time in seven months, but with a significantly different lineup.
Guitarist Ben Moody, one of the band's two founding members, exited in October, leaving for unspecified reasons mid-tour. He was eventually replaced by former Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo.
Tickets to the Evanescence show have been sold out for weeks and have fetched anywhere from $62 to $345 a pair on eBay.
On sale
Sarah McLachlan plays the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 17. Tickets are $35 and $55 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mandalay Bay box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.
Yes stops at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for an April 21 concert. Tickets are $35, $45 and $65 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Mandalay Bay box office and TicketMaster.
N.E.R.D. and the Black-Eyed Peas team for a March 26 show at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets are $33 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Hard Rock box office and TicketMaster.
Good Charlotte plays Rain Nightclub at the Palms on Feb. 25. Tickets are $30 and went on sale this week through TicketMaster.
This year's "Extreme Thing Skate and Music Festival" is scheduled for March 27 at Desert Breeze Skate Park. On the lineup: Bowling for Soup, Sugarcult, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Buck-O-Nine, Forces of Evil, the Matches, Over the Line, Reel Big Fish, Zebrahead, Home Grown, Atreyu, 12 Volt Sex and Littlest Man. Tickets are $10 and go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through TicketMaster.
Twista lands at the House of Blues on March 13. Tickets are $20 and $30 and were to go on sale at 10 a.m. today at the House of Blues box office, at www.hob.com and through TicketMaster.
Seven Nations plays the House of Blues on March 17. Tickets are $25 and were to go on sale today through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.
Taj Mahal performs at the House of Blues on May 7. Tickets are $20 and $30 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.
New Monsoon plays the House of Blues on March 26. Tickets are $12.50 and $14.50 and were to go on sale at 10 a.m. today through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.
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