Exclusive exhibition showcases 250 never-before-seen Paul McCartney photographs, providing a rare, personal glimpse into Beatlemania’s height.
Above: George looking young, handsome and relaxed. Living the life. Miami Beach, February 1964. © 1964 Paul McCartney.
When the National Portrait Gallery reopens in June, visitors will be treated to an exclusive look at Paul McCartney’s personal archive. The exhibition, titled Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm (28 June – 1 October 2023), will showcase over 250 never-before-seen photographs taken by McCartney himself during the height of Beatlemania.
These candid images, captured by McCartney’s Pentax camera, offer an intimate glimpse into the band’s life at a pivotal time. McCartney describes the experience as the “eyes of the storm,” with the photographs chronicling the band’s journey from Liverpool to their meteoric rise in America.
John Lennon in Paris, January 1964 © 1964 Paul McCartney
McCartney writes that the crowds chasing them in A Hard Day’s Night were based on these moments. Taken out of the back of their car on West Fifty-Eighth, crossing the Avenue of the Americas.
An accompanying book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, will be published on 13 June, featuring McCartney’s photographs and reflections. In the foreword, McCartney writes, “Millions of eyes were suddenly upon us, creating a picture I will never forget for the rest of my life.”
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The images span four months, beginning in November 1963, as Beatlemania took hold, and ending in February 1964 during the band’s first triumphant trip to America. McCartney’s photos document everything from backstage moments in Liverpool to their iconic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
John Lennon and George Harrison, photographed in Paris in 1964.
Paul McCartney’s self-portrait, taken in a mirror in Paris in 1964.
Photographers, Central Park, New York, February 1964 © 1964 Paul McCartney
Rediscovered in 2020, the photographs provide a unique perspective on The Beatles, their fans, and the early 1960s. McCartney’s interest in visual arts is evident, with his photography reflecting styles such as New Wave, documentary filmmaking, and photojournalism.
Paul McCartney states, “The truth is that I have always been interested in photography, from the time I was very young, when our family owned a little box camera in the 1950s.”
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The exhibition, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, will accompany a free digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app. The guide will offer additional images, audio, and video features in multiple languages and BSL.
Reflecting on the exhibition, McCartney says, “Looking at these photos now, decades after they were taken, I find there’s a sort of innocence about them… The fact that these photographs have been taken by the National Portrait Gallery for their reopening after a lengthy renovation is humbling yet also astonishing.”
To celebrate the gallery’s reopening, £5 tickets for visitors aged 30 and under will be available for Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm.
