Last secrets

Beatles in Austria: skiing, joints & secret concert

Four mushroom heads in the Austrian snow idyll: in March 1965, the Beatles came to Obertauern for the filming of the movie "Help!".

(Bild: picturedesk.com/Pop / TopFoto / picturedesk.com)

In March 1965, Austria is in a state of emergency: The Beatles are in the country for filming! In Obertauern, the mushroom heads are mistaken for "shy women", the first joint is served before noon - and at the end they play a legendary concert. A new book tells the red-white-red Beatles story. Krone+ knows their last secrets.

When the Beatles came to Obertauern in Salzburg in March 1965 to film their second feature film "Help!", the Alpine republic was divided. Euphoric fans are close to tears with enthusiasm, angry middle school students demonstrate against the "eunuch choir". The red-white-red story of the Liverpool "Fab Four" is recounted by Beatles experts Lorenz Birklbauer and Wolfgang Planker in their new book "Als die Beatles Österreich auf den Kopf stellten" (Residenz Verlag, 288 pages, 29 euros). It is a fascinating story about freedom, rock'n'roll and Austrian post-war petit bourgeoisie.