BEATLES MAGAZINE: THE BEATLES' CONCERT IN MINNESOTA IS CELEBRATING ITS 60th ANNIVERSARY

Monday, 18 August 2025

THE BEATLES' CONCERT IN MINNESOTA IS CELEBRATING ITS 60th ANNIVERSARY

The Beatles' historic concert in Minnesota, the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," was recently commemorated at the Mall of America.

Sixty years ago, the legendary band performed at the Metropolitan Stadium, which was torn down in the 1980s and later became the site of the massive shopping center.

The Beatles' only concert in Minnesota took place at Metropolitan Sadium in Bloomington in August 21, 1965. The concert was part of their first tour to play at sports stadiums, but due to concerns about crowd control, the concert was undersold. Despite the "Beatlemania" frenzy, the stadium was not completely full. The Beatles arrived at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, held a press conference in the stadium's Minnesota Room, and then performed an 11-song set near second base.

Ron Butwin, a concert-goer, described the experience as an overwhelming cascade of sound. "It was just a wall of noise," he said, noting that the sheer volume of the crowd made it almost impossible to hear the band. He recalled how the fan frenzy, known as "Beatlemania," was so intense that the audience's cheers were louder than the music itself. Before the show, at a press conference, Butwin had the opportunity to present a gift to George Harrison. He described the moment with a sense of pure delight, saying it felt "like a kid in a candy store." The experience later led to a cherished memento: a handwritten letter from George, expressing his gratitude and sharing some amusing details.

At the press conference, Randy Resnick, local musician and B-Sharp Music employee, presented a Rickenbacker 360-12 electric 12-string guitar in a Fireglo red sunburst finish to George Harrison on behalf of the musicians of Minnesota.

Resnick,made the presentation, as captured by photographer Bill Carlson. Ron Butwin, another employee of B-Sharp, was also there for the presentation.

Another attendee, Bob Pratt, went to the concert with his father, Ken Pratt, a former KMSP photographer. Bob, who was ten years old at the time, expected to watch from the press area. Instead, he and his father were invited into the Twins' clubhouse, an incredible surprise. He vividly remembers shaking hands with all four members of the band—Ringo first, followed by Paul, John, and George—and telling them, "I love your music." He had a particularly memorable exchange with John Lennon, who asked if he was a native of Minnesota. When Bob confirmed he was "born and raised" there, John jokingly asked for help with the pronunciation of some of the baseball players' names, specifically Zoilo Versalles. John Lennon, however, was already familiar with the name of baseball great Harmon Killebrew. Both men were fortunate enough to witness the entire concert from the dugout.

As for what's next, fans can look forward to Paul McCartney's upcoming performance at U.S. Bank Stadium this October.

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Monday, 18 August 2025

THE BEATLES' CONCERT IN MINNESOTA IS CELEBRATING ITS 60th ANNIVERSARY

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