The Beatles flew into New York on August 13th as the first stop on their 1965 North American tour, giving a press conference at Manhatten's Warwick Hotel. They had the following day off to enjoy New York, and gave their historic Shea Stadium performance on August 15th.
Q: "John, you're the chief Beatle. What is the duty of the chief Beatle?"
John: "Uhh, nothing. Nothing I can think of. I was just tagged chief Beatle."
Ringo: (jokingly) "It's 'cuz he's the oldest."
John: "I don't do anything extra, you know."
M.C: "Okay, let's go with the first question, please."
Q: "How does it feel to be back in the States?"
Beatles: "Great!"
John: "Marvelous."
Q: "John, do you always do press conferences chewing gum?"
John: "Uhh, no. Only in America."
Q: "Only in America you chew gum?"
John: "'Cuz people give you gum all the time over here."
Q: "Are the Beatles the answer to Prime Minister (Harold) Wilson's export drive?"
George: "No."
John: "We're one of the answers. One... of... them."
Ringo: "A little answer."
Q: "Since you were made a Member of the Order of the British Empire has it changed your lives in any way?"
John: "Uhh, not yet, 'cuz we haven't really received it yet."
Q: "Will it change your lives?"
Ringo: "We'll just have a medal to wear."
Q: "Ringo, what are you gonna name the baby if it's a boy or a girl?"
Ringo: "Uhh..."
John: "Charlie."
(laughter)
Ringo: "That was John answering, not me. We don't know yet. We're still talking about names."
John: "How about Lyndon?"
Ringo: "How about it?"
(laughter)
Q: "Is your popularity fading?"
John: "Go and ask the record people."
Ringo: "Well, you all seem to be back again."
(laughter)
John: "Just ask the record people."
Q: "George, lots of people in this country and others are comparing you boys with those who usually are pace setters in op art and pop art and classical music - even so far as to go to compare you with Gouneau. Now, how do you react when you hear that kind of thing?"
John: "Never heard of him."
(laughter)
John: "We don't mind being compared with anybody."
Q: "You think you're that type of musician?"
John: "No. I mean, if people wanna compare us, they can."
Q: "Do you think you're setting styles in pop and op art?"
George: "Maybe unconsciously."
Ringo: "Yeah, we're always unconscious."
Q: "Is matrimony in the immediate future for the two unmarried members of your group?"
Paul: "Matrimony is not in the immediate future."
George: (jokingly) "Paul won't have me."
Q: "I noticed the two married men are sitting together, and the two single boys are sitting together."
John: "That's 'cuz we're queer!"
(laughter)
Ringo: "But don't tell anybody, will you? It's secret."
Q: "What were the sunglasses you were wearing this afternoon, John?"
John: "Uhh... Sunglasses."
Q: "No. I mean, were they special? They were green."
John: "I just found 'em in... umm..."
Ringo: "Cannes."
John: "...Cannes. They're just sort of ordinary sunglasses, only they've got mirror on one side, so nobody can see in."
Q: "Are the American fans the most enthusiastic?"
George: "There's more of them, so it appears that way."
Q: "Who are your most enthusiastic fans?"
John: "The ones that are nearest."
Paul: "Well, they're all enthusiastic but it depends on the size of the country. In this case - the biggest."
Q: "Is there any possibility of you changing your style of performance?"
John: "Uhh... not consciously."
Ringo: "I told you... we're always unconscious."
Q: "How do you feel about the teddyboys coming here?"
John: "I don't know. I don't feel anything, you know."
Q: "What happened in the Bahamas?"
John: "Which bit? We were there for weeks."
Q: "There were reports that you cut it up."
John: "We made a film."
Paul: "What do you mean, 'cut it up?' (pause) He said, 'Is it true you cut it up in the Bahamas?' and I said, 'What d'you mean, cut it up?"
Q: "Any plans to visit any countries behind the Iron Curtain?"
John: "Ask Mister Epstein."
Paul: "No, not at the moment."
Q: "Any plans for going to Vietnam and entertaining the troops?"
John: "I wouldn't go there, no."
Q: "Did you fellas do your own skiing in the (Help!) motion picture?"
John and Paul: "Some of it."
Paul: "The clever bits we didn't do."
George: "We did the bits falling over. The falling over bit."
Q: "Who do you consider the best actor among you?"
John: "Ringo."
Q: "Is this movie as good as 'Hard Day's Night'?"
John and Paul: "It's better."
Q: "John Lennon's press release says that Ringo..."
(crowd begins talking all at once)
John: (jokingly) "Hey, hold it here! What's happening, man!"
Ringo: "Put your hands up and we'll snap 'em off."
Q: "You Beatles have conquered five continents. What do you want to do next?"
Paul and John: "Conquer six."
(laughter)
Q: "How much money has the group made since you organized?"
John and Ringo: "We don't know."
George: "No idea."
Q: "Any new gimmicks for the show that you're gonna do?"
George: "I don't think so, no."
Q: "Are you bored with being the Beatles?"
George: "No."
Q: "The American press has compared you the Beatles with the Rascals. Have you heard of them, or seen 'em?"
John: "No."
Paul: "We've never seen 'em."
Q: "George or Paul, have you worked up any new routines for the American concerts?"
George: "Well, we've changed the, you know... We're doing lots more different songs from last time."
Source: Audio copy of the press conference
