En vivo: Estadio Metropolitano, Minneapolis

The Beatles performed just one concert in Minnesota, at the Old Met stadium in Minneapolis before 25,000 people. They flew to Twin Cities airport at around 4.15pm, and were taken by limousine to the Leamington Motor Inn. The hotel had previously announced that the group were staying, causing large crowds to form outside.Inside the stadium The Beatles had use of the Minnesota Twins’ locker room. All four took saunas for the first time, according to the clubhouse manager Ray Crump, and played roulette with Brian Epstein for the proceeds of the souvenir programmes.A press conference was held at the stadium’s Minnesota Room, which was attended by around 150 reporters. Local radio station WDGY, along with Ron Butwin and Randy Resnick from local store B-Sharp Music, presented George Harrison with a new Rickenbacker 360-12, an electric 12-string guitar in a Fireglo red sunburst finish.When the Remo Four – another English group – were in town a few weeks back we showed them this guitar when they visited our store, and they flipped over it. The group knew The Beatles, and one of the fellows said that George Harrison would love to have a guitar like this. I decided that Randy and I should present it to him when he came to town, with our thanks to The Beatles for causing the guitar business to boom.Ron ButwinB-Sharp Music, MinneapolisThe guitar was not used on the US tour, but Harrison brought it to the studio upon The Beatles’ return to Britain. It was used on If I Needed Someone on 1965’s Rubber Soul.Tickets for the concert were priced at $2.50, $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50, and The Beatles were paid $50,000. The other acts on the bill were, in order of appearance, Brenda Holloway and the King Curtis Band, Cannibal & The Headhunters, and Sounds Incorporated.The Beatles’ setlist featured 11 songs: She’s A Woman, I Feel Fine, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Ticket To Ride, Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby, Can’t Buy Me Love, Baby’s In Black, I Wanna Be Your Man, A Hard Day’s Night, Help! and I’m Down.The stage was situated near second base, with around 40 yards separating them from the nearest fans. Each member of the stadium security crew, including police and 150 ushers, was equipped with smelling salts in case fans fainted.After the concert, fans surrounded a limousine outside the stadium, presuming it to be The Beatles’ car. The group hid inside a Falconers’ laundry truck, and were taken back to the Leamington Motor Inn.The hotel was besieged by fans throughout the night, a number of which managed to gain entry. Police Inspector Donald Dwyer threatened to arrest Paul McCartney unless a young blonde woman left his fifth-floor room within two minutes. When she emerged, she presented identification to prove she was over 21.The Met was demolished in 1985. The Mall of America shopping mall, which opened in 1992, now stands on the site.