1963: Beatlemania

On New Year's Day, 1963, The Beatles return to London from their final residency in Hamburg.  For the first time, they fly.

In January, they release their second single, PLEASE PLEASE ME. It rises rapidly up the UK singles charts, topping all but the official one. This is achieved by their third single, FROM ME TO YOU. 

In April, the group appears on a variety show at the Royal Albert Hall. Reports on the behaviour of their fans appear for the first time in the news pages of British newspapers

Beatlemania begins

The Beatles tour the UK with teen star Helen Shapiro.

By the autumn of 1963, reports of Beatlemania become world news. There is a mini-riot at a concert in Dublin. An appearance at the Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium is widely reported in the US.

SHE LOVES YOU becomes the fastest-selling UK single of all time. In December, a still grieving US begins to take serious notice of what the French call the Yeah Yeahs. 

Ed Sullivan invites The Beatles to appear on his show in February 1964