The Ottawa Beatles Site wishes to give a big special thank you to Brad Howard, publisher of the "World Beatles Forum" for allowing us to publish the following article. This report is but one of many excellent interviews that Brad and his research team have published over the years. For details on how to subscribe, click this active link:  "World Beatles Forum" .  Also, special thank you to George Paul Millaire for allowing us to share his memories on-line and to Jean-Pierre Allard, Ottawa's freelance sports reporter in bringing this article to our attention.

Die Beatles - The Beatles In Germany, June 25, 1966
by George Paul Millaire
© September 1996, The World Beatles Forum

In June, 1966, I had the pleasure of not only seeing The Beatles perform live in concert in Essen, Germany, but meeting and interviewing the Fab Four personally.

My father was posted in Germany with the Canadian Forces from September ’64 to September ‘66. As a dependent, I had completed my schooling and was employed as a disc jockey at Radio CAE in Werl, Germany. I was also playing in a German rock band, and through the group found out that The Beatles were performing for three days in Germany. Under the promotion name of ‘BRAVO - BEATLES - BLITZTOURNEE’, the Fab Four were to perform in Munich, Essen, and Hamburg, and then proceed to Asia.

This was the time of the British Invasion, and I was fortunate enough to be living in Europe during the years ‘64 - ‘66. Working as a DJ, I had the opportunity of interviewing numerous rock groups: Gerry & The Pacemakers, Cliff Richard & Shadows, Peter & Gordon, Dusty Springfield, The Hollies, The Searchers, Swinging Blue Jeans, Billy J. Kramer, Dave Clark Five, etc.. Of all these groups, the one that stands out foremost was, of course, The Beatles.

It was a sunny day, when I headed down the German autobahn on my way to Essen, a big city approximately 250km (157mi.) North of the town of Werl. Upon arriving at the Grugahalle, the concert hall where The Beatles were to perform, I was astonished at the thousands of fans that were gathered outside the roped off area.

Because I was on assignment for the radio station that day, I carried a portable Uher reel-to-reel tape recorder and appropriate ID proving I was a Canadian working at Radio CAE. I also brought my personal camera, in anticipation of somehow capturing some photos of what was to take place.

I started recording outside, capturing in the background, the excited teenagers as they anxiously waited to enter the hall.

Talk about tight security! Gaining entry to the hall was certainly not going to be easy. I had received a special invitation from The Rattles, Germany’s top dance band, who were also on the bill that night. Achim Reichel was the leader of The Rattles, and my plan was somehow to get word to him, if I had trouble getting into the hall.

One thing in my favour was that I was able to speak German, and I was going to need it! I approached one German Polizei (police officer), explained who I was, and that I not only had a verbal invitation by a back-up band member, but I also represented a Canadian radio station. Anyone could see that I was wearing a green jacket with a gold microphone symbol on the pocket. After listening to me however, this constable still wasn’t able to make a decision to let me in (you’d have thought I was a foreigner or something!) I then asked him, in German, to get his superior, hoping that he would be able to make that big decision. It came as no surprise to me that the senior ranking polizei who eventually showed up, decorated in gold trim, could speak perfect English. I repeated my request. He asked me to wait and disappeared.

The supervising polizei returned shortly afterwards with two British gentlemen wearing suits. Before I knew it, I was being escorted past the roped off area, through a back door and up some stairs resembling a fire escape. Within minutes I found myself backstage and outside the dressing room of The Rattles. When we knocked on the door, we were greeted by Achim, who recognized me and brought me in. I thanked the gentlemen for their assistance and they departed. It wasn’t until later, during the press conference, that I found out that one of the men who had led me through the maze of stairs and hallways was Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles.

To this day, I feel bad about how I conducted myself upon arrival in The Rattles’ dressing room. Here was Achim welcoming me, his Canadian friend, into his dressing room to socialize and have a drink, and the first words out of my mouth are, "where are The Beatles?" He said that they were on stage, getting ready to perform. I went into panic mode, politely excusing myself and asked for directions to where I could see them. He fully understood and, pointing me down a dark corridor, told me to just follow the screams.

While making my way towards the stage area, I recorded my comments on the surroundings for my radio programme. Achim was right, it wasn’t long before I could hear the screaming of the fans and the distinct sound of The Beatles. I was standing just behind the other side of the curtain where The Beatles were performing. I was surprised at the minimum security backstage, as compared to the outside and perimeter of the hall. By parting the curtain slightly, I could see the Fab Four on stage performing, She’s A Woman. Talk about being excited! It took me a few minutes to gather my thoughts and somehow locate the steps that took me into the orchestra pit. Had I kept walking straight through, past the curtain, I’d have been right on the stage.

I made my way amongst the radio and other media who were there with all their high-tech equipment. Taking advantage of an opening on the stage, near one of the many speakers and, leaving my recorder running, I started taking photos of The Beatles as they strutted their stuff. I estimate I was only 20 feet away from them.

The next half hour felt like a dream come true. Here I was with better than front row seats, watching this fabulous group at their peak, perform music which was topping all the charts. At the same time, I was trying to document a programme which I was to air on the radio within two days. I took time to look around to see the screaming fans, fainting and being carried away. I took a photo of the huge crowd-filled hall.

Eventually, I returned to the front of the stage and orchestra pit to see all the excitement from a different angle. This was where security officers were holding people back and trying to control the pandemonium around the stage area.

Everything happened so fast that before I knew it, The Beatles were announcing their latest release, Day Tripper. As they performed it, I just wanted to watch and savor the moment.

Afterwards, while the fans were departing the building, a select few of the news/radio media were invited backstage to a press conference held by The Beatles. At this time, I had the opportunity to take more photos, and captured some excellent candid shots of the Fab Four. I had the advantage of speaking English, and not having to use an interpreter who was on hand for the German speaking press, I was able to personally address The Beatles. This gave me more time to ask questions.

All of us had one favourite Beatle, at one time or another, and I guess I can say that my favourite was Paul. I always admired him, not only for his musical talents and lyrics, but also for the person he seemed to be, keeping in mind that I had the rare opportunity to speak to him along with the other Beatles during my interview.

Paul, at the time of the interview, was the only single Beatle. My questions centred more on his love life than his musical talents and background. I knew he was dating Jane Asher, sister of Peter Asher (of Peter And Gordon fame). Paul had written Peter And Gordon’s first three chart hits.

One of the questions I put to Paul was:

Paul also mentioned that he doesn’t believe in long range wedding plans; something like marriage just happens. In general, it was a pleasure talking to Paul, and there were no slapstick remarks.

I thought it would be easier to interview Ringo, but was I in for a surprise! You see, Ringo and I had one thing in common at that time, we were both drummers, and we both owned the same type of drums, not to mention the same colour. Both of us played on an early ‘60s Ludwig black oyster pearl classic drum kit.

George Paul Millaire sits behind an authentic 1964 Ludwig drum set which is the exact same model that Ringo used.

At this point, he started to pick on my cheap Instamatic 100 camera. At the age of 19, I wasn’t aware that Ringo was somewhat of a camera buff. Nevertheless, we had a good laugh on this subject, and I merely said it took all my savings to purchase my Ludwig drums, leaving me with very little to put towards a camera.

I found George to be the quiet Beatle. He was quite surprised to hear me speak to him in English and not have to depend on the other people around us. At first, he thought I had travelled all the way from England to attend this concert and the press conference. I informed him that I lived only two hours drive from Essen, and he was somewhat astonished. It also occurred to him that I was from a wealthy family who could pull strings for such things. I reassured him I was far from that calibre, and was only a "poor musician." He mentioned that at one time he was able to relate to that. He was a very down to Earth individual, and had a good sense of humour.

Last, but not least, I had the great opportunity to interview the famous John Lennon. I really hadn’t followed John’s career as closely as I should have. Only later, I found out that he was multi-talented. This is evident in many of the Lennon-McCartney songs. I do remember one thing that stands out in my mind very well. As I introduced myself to him, I put out my hand to shake his, saying, "This is an old German custom. Good Evening. I’m George Millaire from Radio CAE." He seemed somewhat confused by that statement, and asked where in the States it was located. I told him that I was a Canadian DJ, living in Germany and working at a Canadian Forces radio station as a civilian. He thought I was joking, and started making humorous comments about various pirate radio stations. I told him that we were a registered station that legitimately transmitted on a set frequency to the Canadian NATO personnel and their families living in Europe. To this day, I wonder if he fully understood the reason for my being at that press conference.

In addition to The Rattles, Peter And Gordon performed at the "Bravo - Beatles - Blitztournee." I was able to meet them as well.

Within two days of The Beatles concert, I compiled my various tape recordings. With other source material, including rare, concert recordings, I was able to put together an hour programme for airing.

[Last year, in commemoration of The Beatles’ anniversary, CJOH TV (Ottawa) aired a programme featuring my interview of The Beatles, along with excerpts of my radio programme. A copy of this TV programme was sent to American Bandstand’s Dick Clark for his viewing and retention.]

Thirty years since that historic day, I am still in possession of a set of my Beatles prints (black and white) and that Instamatic camera, and even the original recorders used to put the programme together. I even have a few mementos which were given to me by The Beatles. With the recent release of the Anthology series and a resurgence of Beatlemania, it makes me realize and appreciate how fortunate I was to be a part of such an exciting event and time in music history.

A Beatles fan forever,

George Paul Millaire

© September 1996, The World Beatles Forum, used with permission by the Ottawa Beatles Site. Web page created on June 2, 2003.