Lost Beatles Footage Found: Restoring The Fab Four's Top Of The Pops Performance
A long-lost film footage of The Beatles performing on the BBC's Top Of The Pops has been discovered and is set to be restored. The footage, featuring the band playing 'Can't Buy Me Love' and 'You Can't Do That', was recorded in 1964 but has not been seen for decades. Film Is Fabulous, a film preservation group, obtained a 35mm BBC negative of the performance and will work on restoring it before returning it to the BBC Archives. The footage captures the Fab Four during the height of Beatlemania, with behind-the-scenes glimpses of the studio and the band members joking around.
The Beatles' appearance on Top Of The Pops in 1964 was not preserved by the BBC, as tapes were routinely wiped and reused during that time. If successfully restored, this footage would be the oldest surviving recording of the band on the show. In other Beatles news, June 25 has been designated as Global Beatles Day, marking the day in 1967 when the band recorded the international satellite TV broadcast of 'All You Need Is Love'. The Beatles and Apple Corps Ltd will be hosting events worldwide to celebrate the band, and a colorized version of the broadcast will be released for the first time.
Additionally, a four-film series about The Beatles, directed by Sam Mendes, is scheduled for release in April 2028. The films will focus on each band member's perspective, with Paul Mescal playing Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. Paul McCartney recently released his new album 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane', featuring a duet with Ringo Starr on 'Home To Us'. McCartney discussed his career, excitement about contributing to The Rolling Stones' new album, and whether he has plans to retire in an interview with NME. The discovery of the lost Beatles footage adds to the band's enduring legacy and provides fans with a rare glimpse into their early performances.