With The Beatles: From The Town Where They Were Born to Now and Then

Patrick Humphries, a seasoned music journalist who witnessed the 1963 explosion of Beatlemania firsthand, offers a fresh and insightful look at the enduring legacy of the world's most influential band in With the Beatles: The First UK History. This is the first full biography of the group in nearly two decades, and Humphries, drawing on his 40-year career, enriches the narrative with previously unpublished interviews featuring Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

Humphries makes a compelling case that the Beatles' crucial UK origins have been somewhat overlooked in favour of their later global dominance. With the Beatles seeks to redress this balance, offering firsthand accounts of their formative years in Liverpool and Hamburg, painting a vivid picture of the environment that shaped their sound and their early ambitions. The book also provides an exhaustive analysis of their groundbreaking American breakthrough, a pivotal moment that cemented their worldwide fame.

Intriguing details and fresh perspectives abound within these pages. Humphries reveals previously unknown aspects of the Beatles' third film, delves into Paul McCartney's thoughts on the often-debated Lennon/McCartney songwriting credit, and captures George Harrison's reflections on the intense experience of Beatlemania. Ringo Starr shares insights into his skiffle roots, while the book even touches upon plans for Lonnie Donegan to potentially act as an intermediary to coax John Lennon out of his New York exile.

Beyond the band members themselves, Humphries includes fly-on-the-wall accounts of Paul McCartney rehearsing for a world tour and explores the creation of the Beatles' Love musical in Las Vegas. He also features interviews with key figures such as "fifth Beatle" George Martin, early bassist Chas Newby, Cavern DJ Bob Wooler, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg sharing his memories of Beatlemania, and even Tom Jones recounting plans for him and Elvis Presley to recruit the Beatles as their backing band. Notably, the book also touches upon the poignant last words John Lennon spoke to Paul McCartney.

While meticulously charting the band's journey from Ringo Starr's birth in 1940 to their breakup in 1970, With the Beatles extends its scope to examine how the Beatles' brand continues to thrive long after their demise. Humphries, with unique access to archives, interviews, and various media, traces their enduring presence in cyberspace, on film, and in print. He reveals their dominance in auction house sales, featuring insights from Hilary Kay of BBC's Antiques Roadshow on their lasting appeal, and chronicles the long-standing battle with Steve Jobs' Apple, alongside how the Beatles' own Apple meticulously safeguards their legacy through box sets, re-releases, and documentaries.

With the Beatles is a rare and welcome offering: a fresh and insightful look at the enduring impact and legacy of the world's most influential band, particularly focusing on their often-understated UK roots.

"With the Beatles is a terrific book. More than the story of how the group emerged out of the Fifties to become the most famous musical ensemble ever, it is also a social history of a time of rapid change... Patrick Humphries is a well-known writer on popular music and his scholarship in music is evident from the number of interviews with the famous (including three Beatles) and the not so famous who populate his book. Not only does the author know and love the Beatles' music, he understands the roots from which they and their original fans sprouted. Many books have been written about the Beatles, and this is one of the very best, in that it was written not just by a fan, but by a writer who knows well the milieu that created them and the world that was changing around them as they sang and played. If you want to understand the Beatles, look no further than this book." - Ray Connolly, author of Being John Lennon

"Like the venerated and cherished map from Robert Louis Stevenson's fabled Treasure Island, Patrick Humphries paints a detailed and unique portrait to understanding the meaning and treasured legacy of the Beatles." - John Bezzini, Buzz's Beatles Book/Print Blog and owner of possibly the largest English language Beatles book collection in the world

"If you thought you knew everything about the Beatles, this book makes you think again. Through many new insights compiled from the people who were there, Patrick Humphries gives us the context and delivers a fresh view of a group that played such a decisive role in modern music and culture over the last 60 years." - Phil Manzanera

"Patrick Humphries is one of the all-time great biographers of rock music. Few others come close. His interviews with the Beatles are ripe for revival as they allow him to present a fresh perspective on this most scrutinised and loved of bands." - Colin Hall, author of The Songs The Beatles Gave Away and custodian of 'Mendips' 2004-2023