The Beatles ask the cheap seats to clap and the rich to rattle their jewellery
The Beatles played the Royal Variety Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London on November 4, 1963, with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret in the audience, per the Beatles Bible.
Before Twist and Shout, John Lennon asked the cheaper seats to clap and the rest of the house to rattle their jewellery, and the clip below is the studio Twist and Shout.
1968 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Cream play Providence on the last night of their US farewell tour
Cream played two shows at the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence on November 4, 1968, the final stop of their farewell US tour, per the Rhode Island rock archive.
The second show was cut short by a noise curfew, and the clip below is White Room, which was in the set.
1965 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles record 12-Bar Original at Abbey Road
The Beatles recorded the instrumental 12-Bar Original at EMI Studios on November 4, 1965, in the early hours after finishing What Goes On, per the Beatles Bible.
It was their first instrumental since signing with EMI in 1962 and stayed unreleased until Anthology 2 in 1996, and the clip below is the edited take 2 from that album.
The Rolling Stones play two shows at the New Haven Arena
The Rolling Stones played two shows at the New Haven Arena in Connecticut on November 4, 1965, a stop on their second American tour, per Rolling Stones Data.
The clip below is Get Off of My Cloud, their chart-topping single that autumn.
1964 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles play two shows at the Ritz in Luton
The Beatles played two shows at the Ritz Cinema on Gordon Street in Luton on November 4, 1964, at 6.30pm and 8.45pm, per the Beatles Bible.
It was the 21st date of their autumn British tour, with Mary Wells among the support acts, and the clip below is A Hard Day's Night.
1963 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles ask the cheap seats to clap and the rich to rattle their jewellery
The Beatles played the Royal Variety Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London on November 4, 1963, with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret in the audience, per the Beatles Bible.
Before Twist and Shout, John Lennon asked the cheaper seats to clap and the rest of the house to rattle their jewellery, and the clip below is the studio Twist and Shout.
1962 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles play the Star-Club in Hamburg
The Beatles played the Star-Club in Hamburg on November 4, 1962, the fourth date of a 14-night second residency that ran from November 1 to 14, per the Beatles Bible.
Love Me Do had come out a month earlier, and the clip below is that single.
1961 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Bob Dylan gives his first solo concert at Carnegie Chapter Hall
Bob Dylan played Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York on November 4, 1961, a concert promoted by Folklore Center owner Izzy Young, per the Gotham Center.
Young recalled an audience of only 53, and the clip below is Song to Woody, from Dylan's debut album.
1960 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Johnny Horton plays his last show at the Skyline Club
Johnny Horton played the Skyline Club in Austin on November 4, 1960, the last show of his career, per Texas Escapes.
He was killed in a car crash near Milano, Texas, after leaving the club, and the clip below is North to Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in 1960s music on November 4?
November 4 saw 8 verified music events across seven years, including the Beatles' Royal Variety Performance in 1963, Bob Dylan's first solo concert in 1961, and Johnny Horton's last show in 1960.
What did John Lennon say at the 1963 Royal Variety Performance?
Before Twist and Shout on November 4, 1963, John Lennon asked the people in the cheaper seats to clap their hands and the rest of the audience to rattle their jewellery. The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were in the audience at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.
When did the Beatles record 12-Bar Original?
The Beatles recorded 12-Bar Original at EMI Studios in the early hours of November 4, 1965, after finishing What Goes On. The instrumental stayed unreleased until Anthology 2 in 1996.
When did Bob Dylan play his first solo concert in New York?
Bob Dylan played Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York on November 4, 1961, in a concert promoted by Izzy Young of the Folklore Center. Young recalled an audience of only 53.
When did Johnny Horton play his last show?
Johnny Horton played the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas, on November 4, 1960, the last show of his career. He was killed in a car crash near Milano, Texas, after leaving the club.
Where were the Beatles on November 4, 1962?
The Beatles played the Star-Club in Hamburg on November 4, 1962, the fourth date of a 14-night second residency that ran from November 1 to 14.