by David Haber, What Goes On Beatles News Editor

Lifelong Beatles fan and author Garry Berman has written a new book called "We're Going to See the Beatles!" which presents the story of Beatlemania in America as experienced by their most devoted fans.

"I knew that since I've always been a writer of one sort or another," Mr. Berman told What Goes On Beatles News, "and have always been a Beatles fan, it was somehow in the cards for me to someday write a Beatles book. But knowing how many hundreds, and even thousands of books have been written about them, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to contribute a new perspective on their career."

So how did this new book come about?

"Several years ago, I finally hit on the idea to compile an oral history of the entire Beatlemania era as told by the original fans who got swept up in the hysteria as teenagers," explains Berman. "After all, there have been oral histories of the Great Depression and World War II, so why not complie one about the Beatlemania era? I presented it to my agent, but he wasn't especially keen on it, so I put it on the back burner."

"In 2005, I put together a piece for 'Beatlefan' magazine commemorating the 40th anniversary of their legendary Shea Stadium concert. I managed to find people who attended the concert, and interviewing them was so enjoyable, I decided to revive my original idea."

Over the next two years or so, Mr. Berman found over 40 people from all over the country by using a variety of means, he says the Internet was very helpful, of course, but he also tracked down some of the contributors from old newspaper articles on microfilm in his local library.

"I discovered that the articles for which fans were interviewed, before or after Beatles concerts, included the teenagers' full names and street addresses. In several cases, I was able to find family members still at the same addresses--over 40 years later--who in turn had the Beatles fanatics I was looking for contact me!"

He found the fans he spoke with to be articulate, funny, even passionate about their personal memories of Beatlemania. In addition to sharing their memories of attending Beatles concerts, keeping scrapbooks, throwing Beatles parties, and all that came with Beatlemania, many contributed photos of themselves taken during that time, posing with their Beatles collections, enjoying the concerts from the stands, and other fascinating pictures to help bring that memorable era to life.

"I very carefully arranged their stories in chronological order, the final result being a true history of the Beatles career, from the earliest rumblings about them in America in late '63, through the break-up, and their solo years, right to the present."

"We're Going to See the Beatles!" includes anecdotes from those who cheered the group as they arrived at Kennedy Airport in 1964, who kept vigil for them outside the Plaza Hotel, and who sat in the studio audience of "The Ed Sullivan Show" for the band's landmark first live TV broadcast.

What's Garry's favorite parts of the book? He told us, "I'd have to say that although I enjoy each chapter of the book immensely--from the genuinely funny accounts of how the contributors reacted to seeing the Beatles' first 'Ed Sullivan Show' appearance, to the almost surreal nature of the Shea Stadium concert--my favorite sections are the last two, 'The Original Fans Today' and 'Reflecting.' Here, the contributors call upon their hindsight and life experiences in the years since their teenage craziness over the Beatles to give it all an intelligent and warm perspective."

About the book, Mark Lapidos, founder and producer of the very popular Fest for Beatles Fans, said, "Garry Berman does a great job of presenting the story of the Beatles--from the invasion to the breakup and beyond--through the eyes of dozens and dozens of fans who were witnesses to it all."

"We're Going to See the Beatles!" is a highly personal account of the Beatles and their incredible impact on music and popular culture, an important historical document, and a captivating read for fans who were there, and Beatles fans who were too young to be there.

Click here for more information about "We're Going To See The Beatles".

Published August 4, 2008

This article is Copyright © 2008, The Author, and may not be reproduced on other web sites or in print, in whole or in part, without expressed permission