The BEATLES’ Mad Day Out

One summer’s day in 1968, The Beatles took time off from recording The White Album for a jaunt around London. It was captured by photographer Tom Murray in pictures that have remained unseen. Until now…

In July 1968, 25-year-old photographer Tom Murray – the youngest to ever be commissioned by the Royal Family, and an apprentice to Lord Snowdon – was invited by famed Vietnam war photographer Don McCullin to assist him in photographing a rock group in London. On arrival at the designated location, unaware of the subjects of the commission, Murray heard The Beatles’ Lady Madonna being played on the piano, only to be confronted by Paul McCartney at the keys. Recovering from his shock, he spent the day with the band at various locations around town and took two rolls of film, from which 23 shots survive. US Christie’s auctions house has valued Murray’s original colour slides of the day at $100,000 each, or a total of £1.1 million-plus.

Stored away until now, Murray has made them available as signed limited-run prints of 195 and noted, “I just feel privileged that I was part of this historical day. Getting close to The Beatles was a dream come true”. It was also one of …

by Tim Jones
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