Back in the Sixties, it seems that the Beatles (at least very much so starting in 1963)
were marketed as a clean-cut band - in other words, every mother's dream son-in-laws.
The press seems to have been fiercely protective of this Beatle image; for example, when,
in 1964, Michael Braun's (fantastic) book "Love Me Do! - The Beatles' Progress" was published, it was largely ignored by the
press. When there was something written about it, this is what emerged (according to the research of Mark Lewisohn):
- "[The book contains] pungent, sometimes coarse dialogue allegedly by them..." (New
Musical Express)
- "Michael Braun's new book on the Beatles attributes this quote to John Lennon: 'We
hate Cliff Richard's records.'" (New Musical Express)
- "Quoted in Michael Braun's book, George Harrison using bad language." (New Musical
Express)
John Lennon's opinion definitely differed from the if-we-ignore-it-maybe-it'll-go-away
stance the media seemed to take:
"'Love Me Do!'... was a true book. He wrote how we were, which was bastards. You
can't be anything else in a situation of such pressure."
Have you noticed how many early photographs of the Beatles very much support that clean-cut
image?
Now, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that! Those were the times... but, for
a bit of amusement (maybe!), here are some examples of the oh-what-lovely-lads Beatles. ;)
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Could he get any more who-me? looking?
And Paul even does the laundry!
And the ironing!
George - a man who could make himself a cup of tea.
Everybody's darling...
Okay, now this is cute! (Though I may be a bit biased, since
it's George...)
* * *
Of course, the Beatles also managed to charm all age groups when it came to the female
population - here's the "evidence":
