BEATLES MAGAZINE: ALAN JOHNSON: "THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD AND THEY CHANGED MY LIFE"

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

ALAN JOHNSON: "THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD AND THEY CHANGED MY LIFE"

During a brief series of appearances, former high-ranking cabinet member Alan Johnson—who previously led the Health, Education, and Home Offices—will visit the Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham on Monday, Feb 23. He continues to East Grinstead’s Chequer Mead Theatre on Wednesday, Feb 25, followed by the Cranleigh Arts Centre on Thursday, Feb 26.

Throughout the performance, Alan transports the audience to the 1960s, reflecting on his deep respect for Harold Wilson and his passion for The Beatles. He recounts his remarkable journey, charting his path from a childhood in the poverty-stricken slums of West London to the inner circles of government. He also shares the unexpected ways his path crossed with those of the Fab Four and his political idol, illustrating how these icons influenced his perspective and core principles.

He said: “It is about the 1960s. I was coming into my teens. I was 14 when Harold Wilson won a narrow majority and when The Beatles conquered America.The Beatles changed the world and they changed my life. I was listening to music before that but it was transatlantic and if you listened to English pop stars then they were Elvis tribute acts like Marty Wilde or Cliff Richard and then suddenly you've got these two guys from Liverpool writing these incredible songs. I wanted to look like Paul McCartney. I wanted a Beatles haircut. It was so exciting, and then when they conquered America there was a patriotic feeling. There they were, The Beatles at number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in the Billboard 100. They stormed America and many people would say that they helped America recover from the assassination of JFK. They went over and cheered people up.”

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