When The Beatles Had to Physically Hold Back Roy Orbison
The 1960s were a golden era for rock ‘n’ roll, and few moments captured the spirit of the time as vividly as the legendary 1963 tour featuring The Beatles and Roy Orbison. Both acts were at the height of their powers, and the tour was a smash success, drawing screaming fans and rave reviews across the UK. However, one lesser-known incident from this tour provides a fascinating glimpse into the personalities and tensions that shaped rock history: the time The Beatles had to physically hold back Roy Orbison.
Orbison, known for his soaring vocals and melancholic ballads, was a giant in the music industry even before the tour began. Hits like “Only the Lonely” and “Crying” had cemented his status as a star, and his presence on the tour added significant weight to the lineup. The Beatles, on the other hand, were in the midst of their meteoric rise to global superstardom, riding the wave of Beatlemania that was sweeping the nation.
The incident in question occurred during one of the tour’s early dates. Orbison, ever the perfectionist, was accustomed to delivering long, emotionally charged sets that often left audiences in tears. His performances were powerful, but they also ran long, sometimes exceeding the allotted time. This became a point of contention as the tour progressed.
One evening, after yet another show where Orbison’s set stretched well beyond its limit, tensions boiled over backstage. The Beatles, who were scheduled to follow Orbison, found themselves waiting longer than expected, their energy and patience waning as the minutes ticked by. When Orbison finally left the stage, the crowd still buzzing from his performance, Paul McCartney approached him, expressing the band’s frustration.
“Roy, you’re killing us out there,” McCartney reportedly said, half-joking but with an edge of seriousness. “We can’t go on if you keep playing for so long.”
Orbison, known for his gentle demeanor but also for his fierce pride in his craft, didn’t take kindly to the comment. Voices were raised, and what began as a verbal altercation quickly escalated. George Harrison, recognizing the potential for the situation to get out of hand, stepped in to defuse the tension.
“Come on, Roy, let’s talk this out,” Harrison said, putting a hand on Orbison’s shoulder. But Orbison, still fuming, shrugged him off.
It was then that the unthinkable happened. Orbison, rarely known for physical aggression, lunged towards McCartney, his anger momentarily getting the better of him. John Lennon and Ringo Starr, witnessing the scene, rushed over and physically held Orbison back, preventing the altercation from turning into a full-blown fight.
“Easy, Roy, easy,” Lennon said, his voice a mix of concern and command. “We’re all friends here.”
The moment passed quickly, and cooler heads prevailed. Orbison, realizing the absurdity of the situation, calmed down and apologized. The Beatles, always quick with a joke, made light of the incident, easing the tension with laughter and camaraderie.
The tour continued without further incident, and the story of the near-fight became part of the lore that surrounded both acts. In later interviews, members of The Beatles would recount the event with a mix of amusement and nostalgia, a reminder of the intense pressures and passions that defined their early years on the road.
Roy Orbison and The Beatles would go on to enjoy long and storied careers, their contributions to music enduring long after that fateful tour. And while the incident backstage was a minor blip in their respective histories, it remains a fascinating anecdote, illustrating the raw emotions and larger-than-life personalities that helped shape the world of rock ‘n’ roll.
