Drummer reacts to "Don't Let Me Down" (Rooftop Concert) by The Beatles

[@user-tr9de6gm8k]

As the sun begins to sit on my generation that grew up along side of the Beatles, it’s good to know that people that weren’t even alive when they broke up continue to discover them and realize what a treasure they were. We were right.

[@MrKeychange]

Yeah you were

[@user-oj9oy7mi1j]

I feel the same.

[@nanook8721]

The first time I heard the Beatles was in 1963, I was 10 years old. Their music has been the soundtrack of my life. I totally agree that it brings me joy to see younger people realize how magical and impactful they were - not only as a group, but individually.

[@joannparker1977]

I'm only 64. The sun isn't setting on me anytime soon! But I will say I was only 9 when this came out.

[@SpuzzyLargo]

@@nanook8721 I think I probably heard The Beatles for the first time in 1963 too. I lived in the Los Angeles area (Long Beach/San Pedro) at the time and used to ride all over the place on my bike with a transistor radio plugged into one ear, listening the the latest hits. Boy, the summer of 1963 was a great time in Los Angeles at the time. I was only 8. I later learned that "From Me to You" was a local hit in Los Angeles in 1963, before they took America by storm the following February. That's always been one of my favorite early Beatles songs.

[@fidge54]

Believe me, we DID know how blessed and lucky we were

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

We knew that we were hearing great music but we didn't waste our time fretting about where and how it fit into the history of music and we were much more aware of and appreciative of the music that preceded it than today which is evidenced by so many reactors posting on KZbin these days...

[@jr13227]

There’s a reason the Beatles skyrocketed as soon as Ringo joined. As you said, he fit like a glove.

[@L33Reacts]

He really did. Such a unique sound he got and it fit the duality of pop and psychedelic so well

[@thedogwoods5716]

While I agree he was perfect for them, they were about to sky rocket anyways as he was brought in after they got signed

[@myfavoritedream2149]

Teacher here. I showed this to my 7th grade class the last week of school. They weren't exactly sure who the Beatles were. They are now! #Beatlesforever.

[@robertsaul234]

Watch the rest of the rooftop. All the songs are 🔥 🦱🦱🦱🦰🐞

[@genegarrett3372]

Lee the smile on your face is the best thing you can add

[@L33Reacts]

I appreciate that my friend. They really do make me happy lol

[@lauraallen55]

@@L33Reacts Love it! It's the best part.

[@Turtledove2009]

@@L33Reacts The Beatles are supposed to make you happy and feel love and be silly and feel joy (and refject your sadness) but most of all fun. They didn't always take themselves seriously, nor did they always take us (the fans) seriously, but it was a good time all round. That's how I hope you feel their music.

[@alrivers2297]

The Beatles showing they could still perform live great. Definitely do more of this rooftop concert

[@philipcone357]

Ringo putting tea towels over his drums is where that started to improve their sound

[@johnhoslett6732]

I found it amazing that they hadn’t performed live in almost 2 years when they hit the rooftop. They made it look so easy.

[@shemanic1]

How can it get any better. 4 musicians letting their hair down & giving us a last look at them live with some great tunes. Epic.

[@L33Reacts]

It doesn’t. You are so right. This is the end but also the beginning of everything that followed :)

[@sarahfullerton6894]

Actually 5 musicians, including Billy Preston on keyboards!!

[@user-lt5ge7gv5b]

Minus the police would be better.

[@bobair2]

In April of 1970 when at long last The Beatles announced they were splitting up-it literally brought tears to people's eyes and when on the horrible day just over 10 years later people were heart broken and crying tears by the millions -the dream was truly over. The joy-full sound the Beatles made has echoed ever since !

[@MissAstorDancer]

Your comments brought tears to my eyes, bringing a flood of memories, good and bad. I'm 71, hopeless Beatlemaniac since age 10!!!

[@lsbill27]

Billy Preston made big contributions to this album.

[@jazzzman8050]

To me, this is the best example of why they should have continued playing live shows. Yes, they needed a break by ‘66, and yes, the PA and stage gear was inadequate then…but a year or two later, the rock touring business had caught up. But the main point…you can see how much fun they still had performing together! Despite the personal/professional differences they were going through then, they were still a great rock band. 😞

[@MrKeychange]

This performance wouldn't be special if there were hundreds more. Quantity can sometimes betray quality. Also, they had to stop for their music to evolve.

[@jazzzman8050]

@@MrKeychange a valid point for sure…but the Stones and The Who found that balance between touring and studio creativity, and that helped their longevity : )

[@MrKeychange]

@@jazzzman8050 Did they though? I think the Stones & Who became largely formulaic, outside one or two exceptions. You kind of knew what to expect. That's just my opinion of course. What about touring do you think would have improved the Beatles?

[@jazzzman8050]

@@MrKeychange the joy of playing together, the continued appreciation of the rapport they’d built onstage over the years. They wouldn’t have to have gone mega tour, but a steady diet of playing together for a live audience would’ve helped imho.

[@stevewest4994]

In the Get Back documentary there were times when Lennon wasn't really engaged but they set up on the rooftop and he stepped up to the microphone in front of the live band and suddenly he was on fire.

[@relevantbrother8964]

Paul's bass sounds so thick and supple. He's always been so instinctive and melodic. It's like his bass lines thread under and within the sound.

[@wjl2601]

The Beatles were on their own and still are. Really a miracle of a band

[@KurtSauers-mi5ev]

The rooftop touches me every time I watch it. Just incredible. There’s The Beatles and then everyone else. Not the Stones. Not Zeppelin. Nobody touches them

[@bradjenkins1475]

Give this a thought. Can you imagine any other group in history having anything close to this, be their last ever performance and appearence? What a fire way to go out, and on top of the world, to boot!!!

[@L33Reacts]

Something that will never be duplicated

[@johnbumgardner7977]

The Beatles are the best My favorite band of all time ❤

[@kmg2480]

As you know, their live act was severely limited by the technology of their time. On occasions like the Rooftop Concert, where they weren't impeded by deafening crowd noise, they excelled just as well as in the studio!

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

They worked so well live, it was what they enjoyed the most and were never as narky to each other when playing live as they were in the studio. They "got back to where they once belonged" and loved it.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

One thing I love about this is that you can see that ultimately, they still really love when they're actually out there performing in front of people.

[@paulehney4581]

This was absolutely fantastic

[@timr5490]

Greatest of all time, period.

[@genegarrett3372]

Ringo said he was let down by the cops. Since they were being filmed he wanted them to drag him off his drums for the film, but they just stood there going "you got to turn that sound down"

[@L33Reacts]

Haha poor Ringo… never gets respect lol

[@diverdown631]

​@L33Reacts poor Ringo, he can't even get arrested.

[@fineasfogg1461]

As being an American and I had wondered how come the cops were so docile. Definitely aren't here and the Bobbies definitely didn't carry firearms over there then.

[@SpuzzyLargo]

If you watch the Peter Jackson GET BACK documentary, the cops acted very decently.

[@genesullivan3487]

I still get a lot of emotion watching these. Seeing them playing together and having a good time.

[@corawheeler9355]

This is so good .... well, it is the Beatles

[@L33Reacts]

lol right??

[@kweile4339]

Not blocked Beatles Sunday! Yay!

[@Tony-yp7ok]

The fact you can’t stop smiling during this says it all. You have to watch the Get Back documentary at some point - 9 hours of pure Beatles joy.

[@genegarrett3372]

Putting t-towels on his drums was a trick the engineers started to help Ringo's drum have a balanced level.

[@russallert]

Plus he was trying to get a drum sound similar to that of Levon Helm (The Band).

[@L33Reacts]

Ahhhh ok makes sense. Thank you! 🙏

[@Tony-yp7ok]

@@L33Reacts it wasn’t done so much for the level, but to shorten the ringing of the head to give it a very short, dry sound. You can hear this technique all over the later Beatles catalog - I personally love the dry sound, it’s very late 60s/70s.

[@waynecox3958]

The movie HELP has some terrific "live" segments of some of my favorites songs of theirs.

[@glenndespres5317]

You genuinely love and appreciate the band that I and so many others grew up with and love and appreciate so much. It’s so much fun to watch!

[@FiremanSam60]

The fact that they got up and played live like that after a few weeks rehearsal, writing songs as they went and almost falling apart - it pleases me no end. Just a great unit to watch live.

[@genegarrett3372]

You will notice the BASSMAN sticker on Paul's Hofner. At the start of this project he got a new Fender Bassman Bass Amp, which had this sticker. He removed it and stuck it on his bass.

[@mariaportengen2959]

A legendary moment in the music history. I love it. 🎶😘

[@tamifaulkner4103]

Watch them performing Get Back! It's wonderful!

[@johnhoslett6732]

Have you seen Paul‘s recent performance of I Had a Feeling at Glastonbury where they incorporated John from the rooftop? When John’s face appeared on the big screen, it brought tears to my eyes.

[@DavidRold-pt3ng]

This song is up there as one of my favorites of the Beatles. What's great about that rooftop concert, it shows that they could still go out & do it live if they wanted to. Lee, Ringo used towels on his drums for a sounds. Like on Come Together all the time are covered. You can see him using them on the Let It Be & Get Back films.

[@Driecnk]

More from this concert please

[@jimcomvideos]

"Talk to me like I'm a four year old" Love it!

[@wandersonoliveira263]

Billy Preston, Paul and George create such an intricate melodic universe in the verses. George's lines in this are simply beautiful.

[@757optim]

We didn't think at the time, "This stuff is going to be timeless" - at least I didn't. We just dug it. Now we know.

[@lauraallen55]

Some did!

[@realbser1956]

Laura, thanks for requesting this. Watching this over and over never gets old even though I am. We were fortunate but took it for granted because we thought that this was the way music was supposed to be. Little did we know how precious those moments in time and that era really was.

[@johnbumgardner7977]

The Beatles were offered 50 million dollars in 1973 to do a concert and they turned it down can you even imagine that

[@cjsm1006]

And that is when 50 million dollars was real money!

[@dcg4mn]

@@cjsm1006 Not compared to 50 years earlier 😁😉

[@dcg4mn]

That’s $343 million today (😮)

[@cjsm1006]

@@dcg4mn True!

[@stevejoshua9536]

ABBA was offered one-billion to reunite for 100 concerts, but declined. I guess once you are worth so many millions, additional money becomes meaningless.

[@nancy9891]

It was that good. It was chilly outside, Billy Preston playing the keyboard. Could listen to that a few more times and will. 🎸🎶

[@michaelbriefs9764]

Great tune! Lee, be sure to watch the Peter Jackson-directed miniseries called "Get Back"! It's a great re-work of the "Let It Be" film from 1970. It's great! It's a documentary of the making of the Let It Be album and, wow, it's amazing!

[@michaelkeefe8494]

Yeah, watching George walking out when John and Paul weren't interested in his songs was like trying to not look at a car wreck...

[@ottocarson]

Watch the Get Back documentary. It's the Beatles theirselves showing their creation process during their last weeks together. Awesome.

[@goonbelly5841]

Rubber Soul awaits !

[@L33Reacts]

Coming soon to a patreon page near you…

[@xchiro1818]

He did the towel thing on his toms to get that kinda muted sound... very signature Ringo.

[@nancyjameson7545]

I’ve got a feeling you’ll love the rooftop performance of I’ve got a Feeling!

[@thescrewfly]

Apple Corps, pronounced core. The pun is clearly intentional. Good to see this again! It has been a while since I watched Get Back.

[@reneestewart9425]

For me one of the things about the rooftop concert is it was so good it just left us all heartbroken that that was the end of it. I was 14 when the first Beatles song came out. So I grew with the Beatles. And what a sign off.I remember getting the Sergeant peppers album and opening it and passing the album cover around the room as we were just having our minds blown. I was 17. One thing that I've often thought though. Of course their music would always stand for itself but I think the break up is why they became an obsession even more of an obsession than they already were to the world. We just couldn't believe it!!! Those of us that grew up with them being the soundtrack of our youth. Just could not believe they broke up. How could a bandlike that break up. Of course they had great solo careers which we were all grateful for

[@forrestprice3583]

You should watch I’ve got a feeling and get back from that same concert.

[@alanshepherd4304]

So glad to be a Boomer, born in '53, we had the best music ever, from the 1940's to probably 2000's!!😂

[@theeloquentbaby]

It’s a love that lasts forever!! 💫✨☄️❤️

[@hopeklemann1]

everything may have been said already, but it's really beautiful that you are seeing it through fresh eyes... and finding a new appreciation of your own.

[@donw804]

I always love it when someone who reacts to Beatles songs gives a mention of Sir George Martin. It shows they understand how instrumental he was to their growth. His fingerprints, along with the engineers', are all over the Beatles catalog. He was a facilitator, mentor, and teacher who saw the vision and helped make it happen.

[@KenHunter-lt8wm]

They all play off each other so incredibly well - it's the classic sum being greater than the total of the parts - Paul's bass in this is wonderful, those runs, and the accents before the chorus. George plays that descending lead line in the verses, Ringo is just perfect. Everything just gels, and it's got soul too. 🙂 I agree with the others suggesting I've Got a Feeling (take 1) next. And that's not just being pedantic on the "take 1" - they nail it!). Also love I Dig a Pony, but anything from the roof is a joy to behold.

[@beholdmessiah6526]

Great to see you enjoying this performance so much, awesome

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

I love this

[@bkfw000]

Watch the video where they performed Revolution. It was played in the US on the Smothers Brothers show.

[@johndavids4780]

George's all rosewood Telecaster is one of the most valuable guitars in the world. He gave it away Delaney or Delaine and Bonnie was repurchase by George's widow in auction. It sounds so good thru the Fender Twin Reverb amp. Ringo is the father of 10,000 drummers. Boys saw him on the Ed Sullivan show and decided that is what they wanted to do. Including me and it served me well as a professional drummer for 50 years and made me a very good living.

[@jessicalee7119]

This video always makes me cry ~ It's also the only way they could have ever performed in public without causing chaos!

[@josephmango4628]

230 songs and 12 original UK albums were completed in an eight-year span before any of the Beatles were 30 years old. They were the Mozarts of their era-the best of the best.

[@fernandoaldekoa2436]

You should see the whole roof top concert.

[@docnflossie7351]

Can’t forget the U2 tribute to this concert with Where The Streets Have No Name which ended with the same result 😊

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

BEATLES' BLUES !!!

[@cherylalexander1948]

ICONIC

[@bobmessier5215]

Here Lennon was singing "Hee-hee", long before Michael Jackson. lol

[@AP-gb3eh]

But not before Little Richard 😎

[@EriktheG248]

This is my second favorite Beatles song (my favorite is 'I've Got a Feeling,' also from the rooftop concert). There's such an ease about this. They're just so laid back and comfortable playing together. Despite whatever professional and personal differences they had going on, you see them here smiling at each other and loving what they're doing. You see this a lot during the Get Back documentary. Despite everything, they really liked playing together

[@robertrouse4503]

Check out "Hey Bulldog". You get to see The Beatles as they recorded it. It's a blast.

[@CapAnson12345]

They're just so.. perfect.. in this. They usually were.

[@Turtledove2009]

I love that you enjoy them too!

[@arizrich]

Hey, these guys are good! Haha! Peace!

[@robertalfonso850]

I love thousands of songs, but I love this one the most. I have for almost 50 years.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

The films show, locals down on the street -some interviewed "OH, the Beatles, new music" or "this is groovy" or "this is interrupting work" - Young Women in mini-skirts, old gent's smoking a pipe, taxi drivers, Business Gents' - who were on the street, looking out windows, on other roofs. The London Police arrived, and they did turn off an amplifier - got turned back on -Ringo later said that he wanted to be pulled off his drums, as it was being filmed, yet the Police let the band finish. I was born 19 days after this. (In Ohio) Yet, I've done pilgrimage in Britain to Liverpool, to Abbey Road, and to this building on Saville. Have been a fan since 1978,

[@rogerfrancoeur299]

For almost 8 years they were pioneer ground breakers . After the Beatles broke up, they all had many # 1 singles and albums .for years .

[@fromtheblonx]

Woohoo! Rooftop gig! I'm sure you'd agree that everything this gig is just perfect! And the sound man! Whenever I record anything outside it sounds like a bag of spanners😅

[@NZLatic]

It was a real eye opener watching the recent Let It Be documentary, especially in regard to this performance. Earlier on they had been getting a bit annoyed and bitchy with each other (except for good old Ringo, of course) and even when they moved to the Apple studios, the spark wan’t really there, particularly with John. But when they got on that rooftop, everything changed. The life came back into them and they were the Beatles of old again. They really were an epic live band

[@keith1222]

Ringo started "tea-toweling" his snare in '69 including on Abbey Rd

[@jessrodriguez9160]

I enjoy your reactions. I highly recommend "Come Together" and "Get Back". They will not disappoint.

[@fineasfogg1461]

I definitely can't hear this song anymore without picturing in my mind's eye Billy on the keyboards playing his heart out❤ I don't know how you'll ever find time to watch the get back sessions. But if you want to see The Beatles creativity this is where to see it. Also when Paul was trying to figure out how to do get back.... Priceless I hope you see at least that clip

[@dawnschneider187]

Awesome reaction Lee. I love it when you say,"No" at the end of a song.

[@Moz1011]

I remember this being on the 6 o clock news on the night it happened. I think everyone outside of central london was so jealous. I certainty was.

[@billbitterman9487]

If you haven't watched the documentary about the album and rooftop concert, I highly recommend it. Actually, Ron Howard did a documentary on the early years (touring, etc) so if you watch that doc followed by the documentary with the rooftop concert, you'll get a great overview of their career as a band. Interesting stuff.

[@OzTwanger]

Their greatest performance

[@runningsuperska]

The lads. No bigger superstars in the world.

[@MrKeychange]

The thing that's mind-blowing is you're probably not even halfway done with songs that will blow you away.

[@lauraallen55]

Not even close to halfway!

[@musicairplanes4884]

Can you imagine being lucky enough to be there for that performance. OMG!!

[@harrydoupe9315]

Great one again, Lee. Two quick notes - when you say they weren't around for that long, you're not kidding. Just consider that from the time they first hit North America it was only two and a half years before they were done with touring. Also, the Beatles loved Hendrix and he loved them. Just a week after Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released Jimi opened his concert at the Saville Theatre in London with the title track. With McCartney in attendance.

[@kathyrizzi8754]

The Beatles shook the world, more so in the U.S. where they landed in 1964. They went on The Ed Sullivan show, you couldn’t hear them sing, the audience was screaming too loud. The other British bands followed & we loved them all…what a gift to our ears! 🎸🥁🎹🎵🎤🎶🎼👏👏👏👏👍♥️

[@kathykaye272]

I've watched that video over and over for years and I always get the same thrill....

[@larrygranat4456]

Love the roof top! Thanks Lee!

[@umpdaddy1]

They were such a tight band! Hundreds of nights in The Cavern and the clubs of Hamburg let them hone their craft to a fine edge. John, Paul and George started playing together in their mid to late teens and became young men with each other. We'll never see their like again.

[@cablebrain9691]

We have Constables here too, they are called a “COP” (Constable On Patrol). In the UK they are also informally called a “Bobby.”

[@hoppers13]

The greatest band there ever will be. I feel so blessed to have been born in the 1950s and raised on The Beatles. Thank you,Lee, for keeping the flame alive. Love and respect, young bro.

[@26shedan]

appreciate you giving kudos to Ringo-love him

[@redadamearth]

FYI, that's not the album version they did on the roof - or the full song. Really recommend watching all 9 hours of "Get Back" on Disney+, man. To be able to watch them as a fly on the wall as they record an album and hang out together, for a fan, is just an incredible experience. The only thing that breaks your heart after finishing it is the disappointment that they didn't continue the filming during the making of "Abbey Road" afterwards, as seeing them record "Abbey Road" would have been an incredible insight to the STUDIO side of what they did, as a companion to the more "just play" project of what became the "Let it Be" album.

[@genegarrett3372]

Although I had the Spring Single of Get Back and this song, one of my fav recollections of this track was shopping in a department store that summer in the clothes dept and the lady's section had a juke box with this record and the ladies were playing this song over and over for the entire time I was shopping. It wasn't on the radio much and I thought these women know what's good.

[@slavaukraini404]

My favorite from Rooftop is Dig A Pony.

[@user-up3ux9jx7c]

There is a great video of them singing Revolution.