Milan • 9.30pm show

The Beatles arrived in Milan in the early hours of June 24 to play their first-ever concerts in Italy. They checked into the Duomo Hotel, where they held a press conference and were photographed on the terrace with Milan Cathedral in the background.

Later that day, they performed two concerts at the Velodromo Vigorelli, a 22,000-capacity open-air arena. The first began at 4:30 p.m. and the second at 9:30 p.m. Peppino di Capri, Fausto Leali, Angela Tarenzi, New Dada, and Guidone were the opening acts.

The afternoon concert attracted only around 7,000 people, while the evening performance drew approximately 20,000.

The following day, they had a day off in Milan. On the day after that, they travelled to Genoa, where they performed two more concerts.

The Beatles were constantly watched over. I don’t know why, but I managed to get near them. I think because George Harrison liked me. He always looked at me and then he invited me into the dressing room with them. Perhaps he wanted to see if I was interested in him, Harrison appeared to be a rather shy person with gentle ways and perfect behaviour. Certainly, when a man stares at you even during the concert – well, you get the message. And George stared at me while the other Italian singers and I were among the public because those of us who sang in the first part of the concert, heard the rest from the stalls.

Angela Tarenzi – From Meet the Beatles for Real: Angela the naughty little girl

At the Vigorelli they joked with a singer called ‘Angela bambino cattiva (Angela, the naughty little girl)’, who was the beautiful wife of Aldo Pagani. At the Vigorelli Angela came into the Beatles dressing room and George Harrison flirted with her. After asking me who she was, he got me to translate some nice compliments for her. He also said that he had heard her sing in the afternoon and that she was very good. However, I knew that it was not true, because the Beatles had stayed in their dressing rooms, from which they couldn’t hear anything. So, Angela was very flattered bit there was no more time because Harrison was about to go on stage. Given George’s ardour, I thought there might have been a follow-up. But then after the show, after the Beatles had gone, Angela came with us to eat a pizza at Santa Lucia. In Rome George and I spoke about Angela again and he told me he was not looking for a relationship.

Guidone – From Meet the Beatles for Real: Angela the naughty little girl

Looking after the Beatles

MILAN, Tuesday. — More than 700 police, 30 firemen and 400 civilian guards will keep an eye on enthusiastic fans when the Beatles open their Italian tour here on Thursday.

From Evening Standard – June 22, 1965

NO BEATLE HYSTERIA IN ITALY – Lukewarm Reception – NO SELL-OUT

The Beatles turned towards Genoa today in their Italian tour while the Press analysed the meaning of their first appearance in Italy. When the group appeared in Milan yesterday for their first Italian performance, a mere 7,000 ticket-holders were present in the 22,000-seat open-air Vigorelli Velodrome for the first 40-minute show.

They did better in the evening when 20,000 appeared, but it was a far cry from the sell-out which the organisers had been announcing for days.

There was plenty of sound from youngsters in the crowd and police removed a couple of dozen of the noisier ones from the house during the evening performance But in general, the Beatle hysteria was lacking.

The Rome newspaper Il Messaggero called the Beatles “An Anglo-Saxon phenomenon, a kind of escapism for the introverted and complex-ridden people that the Anglo-Saxons are.“

L’Unita, organ of the Italian Communist Party, agreed that the Beatles craze does not exist in Italy. “But, frankly, I enjoyed them,” said the reviewer.

In Toronto, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother laughingly told members of the Toronto Men’s Press Club that the Beatles were in “quite a bit of trouble.”

The Queen Mother, who is in Toronto on a five-day private visit, was chatting with club members when someone mentioned the Beatles, whose recent award of the M.B.E. aroused controversy.

“Ah, yes, they’re in quite a bit of trouble, aren’t they?” she replied.

From Liverpool Echo – June 25, 1965

Velodromo Vigorelli

This was the 1st concert played at Velodromo Vigorelli.

A total of 2 concerts have been played there • 1965 • Jun 24 4.30pm Show • Jun 24 9.30pm show

Setlist for the concert

1. Twist And Shout

   Written by Phil Medley, Bert Russell

2. She's A Woman

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

3. I'm A Loser

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

4. Can't Buy Me Love

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

5. Baby's In Black

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

6. I Wanna Be Your Man

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

7. A Hard Day's Night

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

8. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby

   Written by Carl Perkins

9. Rock And Roll Music

   Written by Chuck Berry

10. I Feel Fine

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

11. Ticket To Ride

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

12. Long Tall Sally

    Written by Richard Penniman / Little Richard, Enotris Johnson, Robert Blackwell

See song statistics for “The Beatles' 1965 European tour”