10 Things You Didn't Know About The Beatles
7. The Contract Clause That They Would Not Play Segregated Audiences
Early on in their career, the four lads from Liverpool become symbols of the Civil Rights movement. Although it seems archaic now, during the '60s many American states, particularly in the south, had stone age ideas about race. The integration of white and black audience members was not permitted. This obviously made little sense to The Beatles, who saw their music as a source of unification.
At a 1964 concert at the Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, the band was set to play to a crowd of 17,000, but the venue was split into two sections. When The Beatles found out the reason for this, they refused to play unless something was changed.
The band issued a statement, highlighting they would sooner lose out on their appearance money rather than play a segregated show. The organisers eventually relented and allowed the whites and blacks to sit together. From then on, The Beatles included a clause in their contracts, stating the band would "not be required to perform in front of a segregated audience".