In 1964, one of the most influential bands of all time began their first official North American Tour.

The Beatle's first performance in the U.S. was on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964 and after that performance, they traveled to Washington D.C, and Miami. While they did spend a brief time in the United States during that time, their first popper North American tour began 60 years ago this month.

On August 19th, The Beatles began their takeover of America. According to CBS News, this tour sent the fab 4 to 26 venues in 24 different cities. They played 32 shows in 33 days and by the end of their first official North American Tour, they became millionaires.

Did the Beatles Ever Play in Iowa?

I'm not sure why but this seems almost impossible to believe. One of the biggest and most influential groups in music history has surely been all around the world...right?

It looks like all around the world never included Iowa!

Part of why this seems so hard to believe is these 4 loosely had ties with Iowa. According to The Des Moines Register, "The Beatles never performed in Iowa, but their influence looms large across the state's musical landscape."

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The historic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake was originally open in 1933 and then a fire destroyed the building in 1947. The venue was reopened in 1948, which was long before The Beatles came to America. This historic venue has had some of the biggest and most popular music acts in history walk through its doors. The Beatles weren't one of them, which is surprising to me.

They never walked through the Adler Theatre doors in Davenport, Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines, the Englert Theatre in Iowa City, or any other historic venue in Iowa. Not once.

Other States They Never Performed In?

The band also never performed in Hawaii and they also only performed in Minnesota once. After looking through every crevice of the internet, I can't find a definitive list of other states they never performed in. While Wikipedia does have a list of the live performances from the Beatles from 1964-1966, you can't always be certain using Wikipedia as a source.

Paul McCartney has visited most of the entire U.S. but that obviously doesn't count as The Beatles.

Iowa Ties

According to the Des Moines Register, The Beatles called themselves the English Everly Brothers which was a "nod to Don and Phil Everly, who sang on their parent's radio show in the mid-1940s in Shenandoah." 

In Fairfield, the band had a spiritual adviser named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and he founded the Maharishi University. It was these spiritual principles that helped guide the band between their St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album and the White Album.

Even with these ties to the state, The Beatles never played a concert in Iowa.