The Beatles' rooftop concert

On 30 January 1969, The Beatles performed an unannounced concert from the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row in central London. Joined by keyboardist Billy Preston, the group played a short live set that would later become known as the Rooftop Concert, widely regarded as the band’s final public performance.

The Beatles' rooftop concert

Concert by the Beatles
Venue	Apple Corps headquarters rooftop, London
Date	30 January 1969
Duration	42 minutes
the Beatles concert chronology
1966 US tour The Beatles' rooftop concert

The concert took place during lunchtime and quickly attracted attention from pedestrians, nearby office workers, and onlookers watching from surrounding buildings. After approximately 42 minutes, the performance was brought to an end following the arrival of the Metropolitan Police, who requested that the volume be reduced.

The concert concluded with the song "Get Back", after which John Lennon humorously remarked that he hoped the band had “passed the audition”.

Background

The rooftop concert emerged from the recording sessions for the Beatles’ Get Back project, which was initially conceived as a return to live performance after several years away from touring. Early ideas included a formal concert setting, but disagreements within the band led to a simpler and more spontaneous solution.

Following the group’s move from Twickenham Film Studios to their own Apple Studios, the idea of performing on the building’s rooftop gained support. The presence of Billy Preston during the sessions helped improve the atmosphere among the band members and contributed to the decision to perform live.

Although there was hesitation from some members, the rooftop performance was ultimately agreed upon only days before it took place.

Preparation

A temporary performance area was assembled on the rooftop of the Apple building. Musical equipment was transported from the basement studio, where audio recording equipment was installed. Due to cold and windy conditions, microphones were protected to ensure usable recordings.

Multiple cameras were positioned both on the rooftop and at street level to capture the event from various perspectives. The performance was recorded with the intention of being used in a future film documenting the Get Back sessions.

Performance

The band began playing shortly after midday. As the music echoed through Savile Row, crowds gathered below and on nearby rooftops. While many spectators reacted positively, complaints from local businesses prompted police involvement.

Officers eventually reached the rooftop and instructed the band to reduce the sound. Despite this, the Beatles continued playing until they completed their final song. The interruption became one of the most memorable aspects of the performance and contributed to its legendary status.

Set list

The rooftop concert featured multiple takes of five songs:

• "Get Back"
• "Don't Let Me Down"
• "I've Got a Feeling"
• "One After 909"
• "Dig a Pony"

A brief instrumental rendition of the British national anthem, "God Save the Queen", was also played during the performance.

Releases

Footage and audio from the rooftop concert were first released in 1970 as part of the album and film Let It Be. Over the following decades, material from the performance appeared in various compilations and reissues.

In 2021, the concert was prominently featured in the documentary series The Beatles: Get Back. The complete audio recording was released digitally in 2022 under the title Get Back – The Rooftop Performance.

Legacy

The Beatles’ rooftop concert has since become one of the most iconic moments in rock music history. It symbolized the end of the band’s career as a live act and demonstrated their enduring ability to capture public attention through spontaneity rather than spectacle.

The performance has been referenced and recreated in films, television series, and music videos, influencing generations of artists who have paid tribute to its improvised and urban character.

Personnel

The Beatles

• John Lennon – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Paul McCartney – vocals, bass guitar
• George Harrison – lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums

Additional musician

• Billy Preston – electric piano