Beatlemania
Encyclopedia
Beatlemania is a term that originated during the 1960s to describe the intense fan frenzy
directed toward The Beatles
during the early years of their success. The word is similar to the much earlier term Lisztomania, used to describe fan reaction to the concerts of pianist Franz Liszt
.
Andi Lothian, a former Scottish music promoter, claims that he coined the term while speaking to a reporter at the Caird Hall
Beatles concert that took place as part of The Beatles' Mini-Tour of Scotland
, on 7 October 1963, and an early printed use of the word is in The Daily Mirror 15 October 1963 in a news story about the previous day's Beatles concert in Cheltenham
.
Beatlemania became common in the United States after The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show
in 1964. It was characterised by intense levels of hysteria
demonstrated by fans both at the actual concerts and during the band's travels to and from hotels, concert venues, and the like.
The extent of Beatlemania in the United States
is evidenced by their single and album sales. The Beatles had the Number One single for 59 weeks during their six and half years spanning "I Want to Hold Your Hand
s first appearance at the top on 1 February 1964 and Let It Be LP's last Number One Week, 4 July 1970. In the same period they topped the LP charts for 116 weeks. In other words they had the Number One single one out of every six weeks, and the top album one out of three."
s of the group.
The term has had a number of derivatives with the suffix "-mania", usually short-lived, to describe a similar phenomenon toward other bands, such as "Rollermania" in the early 1970s for the Scottish band Bay City Rollers
, "Menudomania" in the 1980s to describe frenzy across Latin America
for the boyband Menudo
, and "Spicemania" in the 1990s for the Spice Girls
.
In professional wrestling
, WWE's flagship pay-per-view is called WrestleMania
(a term coined by Howard Finkel
). The soaring popularity of Hulk Hogan
during his tenure with the promotion led to the creation of the term Hulkamania.
Media circus
Media circus is a colloquial metaphor, or idiom, describing a news event where the media coverage is perceived to be out of proportion to the event being covered, such as the number of reporters at the scene, the amount of news media published or broadcast, and the level of media hype...
directed toward The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
during the early years of their success. The word is similar to the much earlier term Lisztomania, used to describe fan reaction to the concerts of pianist Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
.
Andi Lothian, a former Scottish music promoter, claims that he coined the term while speaking to a reporter at the Caird Hall
Caird Hall
The Caird Hall is the principal concert auditorium in Dundee, Scotland.Built between 1914 and 1923 and named after its benefactor, the jute baron James Key Caird, the Caird Hall regularly hosts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra....
Beatles concert that took place as part of The Beatles' Mini-Tour of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on 7 October 1963, and an early printed use of the word is in The Daily Mirror 15 October 1963 in a news story about the previous day's Beatles concert in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
.
Beatlemania became common in the United States after The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
in 1964. It was characterised by intense levels of hysteria
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
demonstrated by fans both at the actual concerts and during the band's travels to and from hotels, concert venues, and the like.
The extent of Beatlemania in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is evidenced by their single and album sales. The Beatles had the Number One single for 59 weeks during their six and half years spanning "I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment....
s first appearance at the top on 1 February 1964 and Let It Be LP's last Number One Week, 4 July 1970. In the same period they topped the LP charts for 116 weeks. In other words they had the Number One single one out of every six weeks, and the top album one out of three."
Similar coinage
The term later became the name of various tribute groups dedicated to singing the songs of The Beatles, many with impersonatorImpersonator
An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for someone to be an impersonator, some common ones being as follows:...
s of the group.
The term has had a number of derivatives with the suffix "-mania", usually short-lived, to describe a similar phenomenon toward other bands, such as "Rollermania" in the early 1970s for the Scottish band Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
, "Menudomania" in the 1980s to describe frenzy across Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
for the boyband Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
, and "Spicemania" in the 1990s for the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
.
In professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, WWE's flagship pay-per-view is called WrestleMania
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
(a term coined by Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel is a professional wrestling ring announcer currently working with WWE in a variety of roles. Hired in 1975 by Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation, "The Fink" was the first person brought in to Vincent K...
). The soaring popularity of Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
during his tenure with the promotion led to the creation of the term Hulkamania.