The historic building where the Beatles gave their last public performance is being transformed into an official museum dedicated to the band in London. Called The Beatles at 3 Savile Row, the venue will occupy seven floors of the mansion in the center of the British capital and bring together hundreds of rare artifacts, documents and previously unseen archival materials connected with the group.
The news was reported by BBC News Brasil this Monday (11). The heritage-listed property served as the Beatles’ headquarters between 1968 and 1972 and was where the album Let It Be was recorded. The museum is expected to open in 2027, and fans can already register for tickets on the band’s official website.
In an interview with the BBC, Paul McCartney said he had always believed it was important to create an official Beatles destination in London. Although thousands of tourists visit the famous Abbey Road crossing, he said, fans have no access to an official venue devoted to the group’s history. “Tourists come to England and can go to Abbey Road, but they can’t go inside [and] it disrupts traffic and the drivers get very angry,” he said. “So I thought this was a fantastic idea,” he added.
An immersive experience for fans
The project includes a recreation of the studio in the building’s basement, where Let It Be was recorded. Visitors will also be able to relive the historic January 1969 rooftop concert at 3 Savile Row, considered the band’s last public performance.
Paul McCartney gave details of what visitors can expect inside the building. “Well, you come in on the ground floor and see memorabilia and things like that. Then you go up through the building and see various things that happened here and there, until you reach the top, where you go out onto the roof and pretend you’re a Beatle,” he said.
In addition to exhibitions, the museum will have an official store selling licensed merchandise. “You have to have a souvenir,” McCartney joked when commenting on the initiative.
The legendary rooftop concert
The performance on the Savile Row rooftop went down in music history and was almost canceled. Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who filmed the concert, recalled to the BBC that some band members hesitated at the last minute.
“George didn’t want to do it, and Ringo started saying he couldn’t see the point,” the filmmaker recalled. According to him, it was John Lennon who put an end to the doubts: “Oh, to hell with it, let’s do it.”
The performance lasted 42 minutes and included songs such as Don’t Let Me Down, I’ve Got A Feeling and two versions of Get Back. It immediately attracted attention and caused a commotion in nearby streets, with fans crowding sidewalks, windows and neighboring rooftops to watch the impromptu show.
Police brought the historic performance to an end
The concert was eventually interrupted after complaints from local residents prompted British police to climb onto the roof and end the performance. Decades later, the footage was restored and remastered for the Peter Jackson-directed documentary Get Back.
A blue plaque at 3 Savile Row now officially marks the site of the historic performance. The building, however, has a much longer history and housed other important figures before the Beatles arrived.
Former occupants included General Robert Ross, known for commanding the burning of the White House in 1814, and Lady Hamilton, the famous lover of Admiral Horatio Nelson.
Returning to Savile Row
Even after the band’s official breakup in 1970, the Beatles continued using the building as the headquarters of Apple Corps, the company they established. George Harrison paid tribute to the fans who gathered outside the property in the song Apple Scruffs, released on his solo album All Things Must Pass.
The building was sold in 1976 and later occupied by an Abercrombie & Fitch store. According to Paul McCartney, the idea of reclaiming the space came from Tom Greene, who became president of Apple Corps in 2025 after working on the Harry Potter franchise.
“He’s a very dynamic person and is bringing a lot of energy to looking at what the Beatles represent and what people expect of us these days,” McCartney said. In a statement, Ringo Starr also commented on returning to the site, saying that revisiting the property was “like coming home.”
“An incredible journey”
Paul McCartney described his return to the building as a deeply emotional experience. “There are so many special memories within these walls, not to mention the rooftop. The team has put together some really impressive plans and I can’t wait for people to see it all when it’s ready,” he said.
Although Liverpool already has Beatles-related attractions such as the Liverpool Beatles Museum and The Beatles Story, none is officially licensed by the band. The city also offers tours of historic sites associated with its members, including Paul McCartney’s childhood home, the Strawberry Fields center and the house where George Harrison was born.
Beatles tourism continues to attract thousands of visitors to the United Kingdom each year. Last week, local authorities even introduced a code of conduct for tourists and guides in Liverpool to minimize the impact on residents of historic neighborhoods.
The Beatles remain active in music
Even decades after the band ended, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr continue to release new work. Ringo’s 22nd album, Long Long Road, was released recently and reached No. 2 on the British country music charts.
Paul McCartney is preparing to release The Boys of Dungeon Lane, expected at the end of May. The record features more reflective songs about his childhood memories in Liverpool and the early years of the Beatles’ career.
Source: Brasil247.com
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