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Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour
The Photographs of Curt Gunther
Curt Gunther
'Mania Days is a gift of a Beatles book. Its contents are as gilt-edged as its gold-leafed pages. It's something to treat yourself to and to treasure.' – Record Collector
On the 19th of August 1964, The Beatles arrived in San Francisco for the start of their North American tour. Beatlemania had touched down, and the Fab Four were in for a frantic ride. 60 years on, we are delighted to present the final copies of Mania Days, the ultimate photographic record of the Beatles’ tour of the USA, as captured through the lens of the band’s photographer Curt Gunther, with introductory quotes from the Beatles’ press officer, Derek Taylor.
‘Right across the AM band there was a welcome of such volume and sincerity that The Beatles reeled, bedazzled by their own reflections in the airwaves. On almost every station disc jockeys were screaming, "Beatles, Beatles, Beatles!”’ – Derek Taylor
Mania Days is a must-have book for Beatles aficionados and anyone interested in the transformative power of music and popular culture. The final 100 copies are now available in a new and updated binding and slipcase, specially designed to commemorate 60 years of The Beatles in the USA and 50 years of Genesis Publications in 2024.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY
MANIA DAYS, THE BEATLES 1964 US TOUR
'Every day Curt Gunther, drawing deeply on a cigarette, his wise and cunning eyes boring into mine, would say: "Derek, we gotta have some special pictures, something original."' - Derek Taylor
Although Brian Epstein had decided that no journalists would travel with The Beatles on the tour, Derek Taylor, Press Officer and friend to The Beatles, persuaded Epstein to allow Curt Gunther to join the tour party. With unparalleled access, Gunther's lens reveals candid moments, electric performances, and the whirlwind of Beatlemania that swept across North America.
From the excitement of their arrival in San Francisco to the fervent crowds at their concerts across the United States and Canada, each photograph encapsulates the essence of a cultural phenomenon. Mania Days features over 350 images, many of which have never been seen before, showcasing The Beatles both on and off stage. Readers are treated to behind-the-scenes glimpses of John, Paul, George, and Ringo's camaraderie, their interactions with fans, and their responses to the burgeoning fame that defined an era.
THE MANUSCRIPT
MANIA DAYS, THE BEATLES 1964 US TOUR
'Curt Gunther was up early that morning and out looking for a doorway. He knew the one he wanted... "I want the four of them in there. That's the picture I want to make. Then I die happy."' - Derek Taylor
Complementing Gunther's visual narrative is an introductory essay featuring quotes from the Beatles' press officer, Derek Taylor, reproduced by kind permission of his estate. Taylor's first-hand testimony adds context and enriches the visual experience, making Mania Days not just a photographic record but a historical document.
'It was chaos, shambles, imbroglio, bedlam, hysteria, riot, fracas, melee, hurly-burly and a lot of other things that no one from a little seaside town should have been expected to cope with; but by now, frenzied by the excitement and impetus of the tour, I was able not only to deal with it but to enjoy it.' - Derek Taylor
THE AUTHOR
MANIA DAYS, THE BEATLES 1964 US TOUR
'Brian's decree that no press were to accompany us on the chartered Lockheed Electra was already being challenged by the star of the press gang, Los Angeles freelance Curt Gunther, who was to become my closest friend in America.' - Derek Taylor
Curt Gunther arrived in New York City from Berlin in 1941 to pursue a career in photography. By 1955 he was chief photographer for Keystone Pictures, and later set up his own photographic enterprise specialising in photojournalism and studio portraiture. In 1963, he photographed The Beatles in London, followed by a shoot in Central Park during their first brief visit to the States in February 1964. Later that year, in August, Gunther was one of the select few allowed to accompany The Beatles during their North American tour.
60 years later, Mania Days tells the story through Gunther's lens. Study these images closely. This was the Mania.
THE LIMITED EDITION
MANIA DAYS, THE BEATLES 1964 US TOUR
Mania Days is an essential complete photo-documentary record of life on the road with The Beatles - a unique opportunity to board their chartered Lockheed Electra jet and join them on their historic travels across America.
Strictly limited to 2,500 numbered copies, individually signed by the late Curt Gunther's son Steven Gunther, custodian of The Gunther Archive, this large format volume of over 350 images also includes several stunning double-page spreads of colour montages and additional wrap-around sections on a variety of specialist Italian art papers.
Master-printed on acid-free 200gsm matt art paper and quarter-bound in black cloth with gilt page edging, Mania Days is housed in a handcrafted archival slipcase - the historic record of the ear-splitting, mind-blowing experience known the world over as Beatlemania.
'I think there was real, genuine affection between the Beatles and my dad. He was there on every plane ride and in every hotel room.' - Steven Gunther
Only a handful of copies remain in the Mania Days limited edition. We are thrilled to present the final copies in a new and updated binding and slipcase, specially designed to commemorate 60 years of The Beatles in the USA and 50 years of Genesis Publications in 2024.
