Fans Snaps

This is an unexpected page. I was trawling (as one does) thru some related Beatles websites for any images of Beatles cars or associated images to add to the 'cars page' which will eventually appear on this blog. And, as I looked I decided it would be nice to have some of those imperfect snaps that fans take of their idols in a moment of time, to prove, and also to keep as a treasured momento to remind themselves of their fortune forever more.

Again, I find these unprofessional and candid images more interesting than posed and cliched photo sessions. These are the Beatles on their own, relaxed, in their own surroundings and just living their everyday existence away from the glare of the press and paparazzi. The fact that they are in their own homes is even more bizarre, as usually this is one one place where the 'stars', or as we call them now, 'celebrities' demand their privacy; with high walls, cctv, guards, patrol dogs, and everything else that allows them to lead a 'normal' life.

The fact that between 1965 and 1969 fans could actually knock on the doors of the Beatles, or wander in and out of their frontgates (except McCartneys London home) and even go into their open garages is quite extraordinary. Lennon in particular, seemed to enjoy the company of many of the fans coming up his drive, (in 1965 he moved into the large house he bought in Esher called Kenwood, he never settled there); even to the point of inviting them in and giving them a cuppa. Harrison also to a point indulged the fans, (he bought a bunglalow in 1964 also in Esher called Kinfauns), happily signing albums and chatting to them on his doorstep.

Ringo bought a large house (called Sunny Heights in Weybridge in 1965), this was harder to access and not a lot of pictures exist of him meeting and greeting his fans. Ringo was always was a hard one to talk to, even in interviews he is terse and his one word answers don't give much away. McCartney for a while lived with Jane Ashers parents in London until he bought a house in St Johns Wood near to Abbey Road studios. No 7 Cavendish Avenue was a town house and to protect his privacy he had large gates fitted to the entrance off the main road. Again there's not a lot of fans invited into his home, but some do and then he is usually quite happy to talk and strum his guitar on his garden lawn for them.

Of course sometimes it must have been a bit tiresome to be so open and welcoming, and there are stories of both Lennon and Harrison in later years opening their doors or windows and shouting to wandering devotees to 'P*ss Off!'. Maybe they should have followed McCartney and locked their gates! So enjoy and I will post more as I come across them.

To whom it may concern: I have copied all these images from exisiting webpages or blogsites, these are only going to be used for this web-blog and for no other reason. We all share our passion for the same thing and hopefully there will be no problem in my doing this, however, if you object to me using the images I will gladly remove any that you want. There, nuff said.

John in 1965 just after he moved in at Kenwood.

John again in Kenwood late 65 or early 66 outside his main entrance to the house

George in 66 at Kinfauns

Girl fan on the drive of Ringos house in Weybridge.

A family day out to Lennons place. Gates wide open again...

Wandering the gardens, obviously no gardener or security, the Lennons must be away....

Imagine this now, the likes of Beyonce or Cowell allowing this is impossible



Knocking on Lennons door...sorry no one in today

Lennons garage wide open, ...ok, everybody smile now...

John looking a little underdressed



John adopts his favourite pose for the fans camera



John in 67 with a young Julian signing an autograph, a far cry from his 1970's days in New York when he kept fans at a distance, until Chapman in 1980 asked for his autograph....



Pauls Cavendish Road place before he has gates installed....

......and afterwards

Paul in his back garden, always happy to entertain, as long as he has an audience....

Ringo comes out to say hello to some fans...a rare event, and he looks rather unhappy about it.

John just on his way into Pauls house, 67, nice kaftan..

A rather dishevelled John with fan, musta been a late session....

ok, I've posed enough now, so go away, - pleeeese

John in 67, this fan must have visited twice to get his scrawl on the photo...

Here's some more fans snaps, Ringo is unfortunately not among them, probably inside being too miserable....but theres plenty of John and surprisingly George. George after the break-up particularly went into an anti-fan phase, especially when he bought the large gothic mansion with massive grounds called Friar Park.

Georges house and ground of Friar Park.

Paul eating outdoors, Cavandish Road. Red AND Brown sauce??

The fore court of Johns house must have seen some footfall, maybe he should have opened a little cafe...

It amazes me how John found the time to give to fans...especially in 1968

George in 68, ...ah, the polaroid photo, probably be banned now due to heatlh and safety....




hmm... either a bad flash shot or George has had a little too much, erm, er,  ...tea? The orange sign on the door actually does say. 'PLEASE GO AWAY' maybe it would have been better fixed on the front gate.

George and Patti looking rather colourful...

Paul looks a bit rough in this snap...must be late 68, early 69.



That cafe idea is looking even better, - four coffees and four scones, with cream please...

George, late 69, this might be one of his 'P*ss off' days...

Right, heres a few more I have managed to procure for your delectation and delight.... maybe I was a bit harsh on Ringo, theres some more of Mr Richard Starkey now, and he is even looking a bit chirpy... also loads more of George both at Kinfauns and also at Friar Park.

There's more too of Paul oustide of his gates, but still not too many of Paul in his Cavendish Road garden, but I suppose after he had some stuff stolen from the house when some fans broke in, ( 'She Came In Thru the Bathroom Window' song was penned afterwards) I'm not suprised he wasn't too keen on having them rummaging around his property....

Ringo at Sunny Heights with new friend....

A rather hairy George signing a Beatles Monthly magazine, I suppose I could look up the actual date of the mag issue and pin the date down, but to tell the truth I'm really not infatuated to that level, ...but I know some who are, so I might ask them to look it up....

One of Macca and Linda outside the gates, looking at the amount of denim in those clothes of the guy on the right, it must be mid 1970's.

On the steps in the garden, again must be mid 70's

Paul about to enter the gate, early '69.

The red car of Pauls must be either his Aston Martin or his Lamborhgini, ...any offers?

George at Kinfauns, his 'tache means it must be mid 68.

Ringo looking rather cool, early 67.

Paul outside the gates, must of been just after he moved in and had the new gates installed

Girl fan on the driveway of Georges bungalow, notice the walls all 'graffitteed' by George, Eric Clapton, Lennon, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and anyone who had a spare hour or two....



Heres the same view with George walking away, maybe on one of his less hospitable days....



Paul being mobbed by fans as he leaves his entrance. Shoulda had yer window up mate....



Pleeeze Paul can I have another stroke....No, gerroff...




Notice Pauls passenger returning the compliment by filming the fans...probably mid 67.

A rather poor shot of George at Friar Park, late 70's maybe, the fan must have a guest or visitor as by now George had learnt to keep his gates securely closed.

Some more pix....

George reluctantly shakes hands with 'Uncle Festa' from the Addams Family

George in that cool t-shirt, same one he wore on Don McCulluns photo used on the centre spread for the red and blue albums..



Well, what can i say.... apart from that the boy turns up again later on.



Another fan on a day trip of Beatles houses, see one of her with John.

Interesting one this ...looks like the girls managed to get to the front of Pauls house and are on a wander.. he must have left the latch off...

Girl fan sat on Georges mini, not something i would want.

Awww cmon give us break...

...this was the day Paul decided he had had enough of fame and fortume and went busking...it eventually led to Wings

Its that boy again...this time at Ringos door, obviously he is in, but hiding behind the sofa



On the drive to Georges bungalow, this time he wasn't in, but his cat was....



Another batch for your enjoyment and perusal... quite a mishmash of images in this lot.... some from the 70's and 80's with John in New York and Paul in London.

Another gaggle of fans outside the hallowed gates...

John not looking too sure in New York... a well founded feeling

This just after George's drug arrest in 1969 when the police raided his gaff....

Another shot of John in the Big Apple eating a little apple...

Paul just about to go in with one of the Mr Bingleys behind him....

Paul doing a Churchill salute - reckon this was during the 1970/71 Apple business troubles, obviously he is not in his usual good publicity mood for the fans, and times are hard with him having a butcher's bike instead of his Lambourgini...

...whereas John is giving Power to the People... but not too much power

Early shot of George looking mean and moody, Keith Richards took his look from this pic.

Paul on the garden stair to his house, this was during his green period, he even had a green 5 o'clock shadow....

Not sure wether to go in or not.... must be before the gates were installed.

Round Hill? not sure why i included this one.. summit to do with Ringo I think maybe??

This is an interesting picture, which I am sure was took when John arrived at Pauls place in a right mood and threw a brick through one of Pauls windows. The story if I recall is that they had a disagreement at a session in Abbey Road, just round the corner, Macca ran out almost in tears and fled to his house and shut himself in, John arrived soon after and shouted up at Paul to come out but he declined so John in anger climbed over the gate and threw a stone or brick. Still getting no response he eventually went off with Yoko.. I'm not sure of the year but it must have been around early 69. Anyway i'm sure they kissed and made up.

Luvverly shot of Macca and Linda after a shopping spree

Gorgeous Patty doing the hello to yet another non-descript fan.

...yeh, where's Macca got his hands?

...oh there they are, and doing the infamous Macca peace and love gesture, at least they are the right way round this time after his last gesture on the butcher's bike.

Hippy Ringo, a small umplalumpa boy, pregnant wife and a poodle.. every rock stars dream!

George hovering around his garden, looking rather lost and forlorn..

A great shot, forget the baby - wheres Paul?

Patty at the door again... looking more fed up this time.

Paul in that great 60s style jacket, - looks like the workies are in too, a cement mixer in the background or is it for a new experimental soundtrack?