<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Beatles Photos Just Surfaced \u2014 Shot by Paul McCartney Himself<\/a> originally appeared on Parade<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n An unprecedented glimpse into the Beatlemania<\/a> storm is coming to Nashville this fall when the Frist Art Museum debuts Paul McCartney Photographs 1963\u201364: Eyes of the Storm<\/strong>, a major exhibition of recently discovered images taken by Paul McCartney<\/a><\/strong> during the meteoric rise of Beatlemania.<\/p>\n Opening November 6, 2025, and running through January 26, 2026, the exhibition brings together nearly 300 photographs taken by McCartney during a whirlwind three-month period \u2014 from late 1963 through the band\u2019s first trip to America in early 1964. The photos, most of which have never been seen by the public, offer a rare insider’s view of The Beatles<\/a> at the exact moment they went from British sensation to global superstars.<\/p>\n Organized by the National Portrait Gallery in London, the show is housed in the Frist\u2019s Upper-Level Galleries and requires advance timed-entry tickets. Frist members will get early access on October 7, with general admission available starting October 8.<\/p>\n RELATED: Grand Ole Opry Announces Historic Debut: \u2018Surprise!\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Armed with a Pentax 35 mm film camera, McCartney documented the Beatles’ insane lives in that two-year period \u2014 from backstage moments in Liverpool and London to the Beatles’ historic arrival in New York, culminating in their now-legendary debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in front of 73 million viewers.<\/p>\n “There\u2019s something wonderfully revealing about these behind-the-scenes glimpses of musicians we thought we knew so well,” said Mark Scala<\/strong>, Chief Curator at the Frist, in a statement. \u201cMcCartney\u2019s photographs are both personal and artistically compelling.\u201d<\/p>\n “They evoke an affectionate family album, picturing his fellow band members \u2014 John Lennon<\/a>,\u00a0George Harrison<\/a>,<\/strong> and Ringo Starr<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 at a time when their lives were changing irrevocably,” added\u00a0Rosie Broadley, head of collection displays and senior curator of 20th-century collections at\u00a0London’s\u00a0National Portrait Gallery. “Where McCartney appears in the photographs, he had handed his camera to a member of The Beatles’ team, enabling us to capture glimpses of him performing onstage or posing for pictures.”<\/p>\n RELATED: Kelly Clarkson\u2019s Surprising Connection to a Rock Legend \u2014 Through Her Late Ex-Husband<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The exhibition unfolds chronologically, beginning with photographs taken on tour in England, then moving to Paris during a marathon three-week run at the Olympia Theatre in January 1964. The mood shifts when the Beatles arrive in New York on February 7. McCartney\u2019s lens captures fans chasing their limousine, mounted police navigating crowds outside the Plaza Hotel, and backstage moments before their Ed Sullivan debut.<\/p>\n A turning point in the photo collection comes with the Beatles\u2019 trip to Miami Beach, where McCartney switches to color film. The photos show the band relaxing by the pool, experimenting with water skiing, and enjoying a brief escape from the press frenzy.<\/p>\n “The color pictures start when we get to Miami . . . it’s like we were living in a black and white world on the rest of the tour and suddenly we’re in wonderland, Florida, the sun, the swimming pools,” said McCartney.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have the feel of holiday snapshots,\u201d added Bradley. \u201cYou see a side of the band that feels honest, playful, and utterly human.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: \u201960s Rock Legend Showed Off His \u2018Great Jeans\u2019 50 Years Ago<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Visitors will also have the chance to hear McCartney’s reflections through an audio tour accompanying the exhibition. He shares memories tied to specific images and moments \u2014 including the chaos, excitement, and sheer intensity of life on the road.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a crazy whirlwind that we were living through,\u201d McCartney recalled. \u201cThere were loads of eyes, and cameras, at the center of this storm.\u201d<\/p>\n To celebrate the exhibition\u2019s run in Nashville, the Frist Art Museum will host a series of events, including panel discussions, photography workshops, film screenings, and musical performances. More information can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Timed-entry tickets will be available to the public starting at 10 a.m. CT on October 8, with Frist members receiving early access one day prior. The museum will also add Wednesday hours (10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) for the duration of the show.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac\u00a0<\/strong>SIGN UP for Parade\u2019s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\ud83c\udfac<\/strong><\/p>\n\ud83d\udcf7 A Beatle Behind the Camera<\/h2>\n
\ud83d\udeeb From Liverpool to Miami Beach<\/h2>\n
\ud83c\udfa7 McCartney\u2019s Own Commentary<\/h2>\n
\ud83c\udfb6 Public Programming & Tickets<\/h2>\n