In 1964, all four Beatles were given Pentax 35mm cameras to use as they saw fit. The Paul McCartney Photographs 1964: Eyes of the Storm provide context for the times just before and after the group’s historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was seen by 73 million Americans and propelled the band to superstardom.
The de Young exhibition features more than 250 of McCartney’s photos and records the rising tumult of Beatlemania as well as an intimate portrait of the band members behind the scenes. It shows the band both in Paris and London as well as on their first US tour in New York, DC, and Miami. While the show’s value stems from its subject matter, McCartney was no slouch as a photographer. He captures an array of scenes surrounding the band and shows great prowess composing fascinating images.

Rodney is joined by Rock Historian (and fellow CLC presenter) Richie Unterberger to discuss these images and the watershed moment in music history they reveal.