Q 01/05

On 9 February 1964 the Beatles made their first live US television appearance on which program?

A) The Ed Sullivan Show

B) American Bandstand

C) The Tonight Show

D) The Steve Allen Show

Answer · why

A) The Ed Sullivan Show

The broadcast is usually treated as the opening shot of the British Invasion; the band did a second Sullivan appearance from Florida a week later.

Q 02/05

Roughly how many viewers watched the Beatles' February 1964 debut on Sullivan's show?

A) 23 million

B) 73 million

C) 45 million

D) 58 million

Answer · why

B) 73 million

The record stood for three years until the series finale of The Fugitive beat it.

Q 03/05

Which song was the Beatles' first US number one, entering the Hot 100 at 45 in January 1964?

A) She Loves You

B) Can't Buy Me Love

C) I Want to Hold Your Hand

D) Please Please Me

Answer · why

C) I Want to Hold Your Hand

It had been planned for a mid-January release to coincide with the band's US TV debut, but radio play forced Capitol to rush it out early.

Q 04/05

What was the Beatles' first hit single, released in late 1962 after they signed with EMI?

A) Please Please Me

B) From Me to You

C) Twist and Shout

D) Love Me Do

Answer · why

D) Love Me Do

Producer George Martin was unimpressed with Pete Best's drumming at the audition; Ringo Starr had joined by the time the single came out.

Q 05/05

The Beatles played their last commercial concert on 29 August 1966 at which venue?

A) Shea Stadium

B) Hollywood Bowl

C) Candlestick Park

D) Nippon Budokan

Answer · why

C) Candlestick Park

A year earlier they had opened a US tour before a world-record crowd of 55,600 at Shea Stadium; by 1966 the screaming meant nobody could hear them pla...