Hi Stones fans/IORR members,

I have found what I consider a bit of "Lost Rolling Stones History", dealing with the fact the Rolling Stones were due to play Manila, the Philippines on August 4, 1966. But the show was canceled because of the way the Beatles were treated on July 5, 1966 after they did not turn up at a party in their honor held by the Marcos regime.

Background: On July 4, 1966 the Beatles played two shows at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila. They went back to their hotel and slept late into the morning of July 5. When they awoke, they were horrified when they turned on the TV and saw the news that they had greatly disappointed the Marcos's and everyone at the palace.

Long story short: Brian Epstein claims the Beatles had never been invited to the palace. As the Beatles, Epstein and road crew began their way to the airport to depart Manila, an angry crowd descended upon them, kicking, punching, spitting on them. They eventually made it out of the Philippines, but they vowed never to return, not even fly over. To this day none of the Beatles have ever returned to that country. Epstein managed other artists who were scheduled to perform in that country later that year and he canceled their shows there.

This incident made international news. In at least one Associated Press news report, one of the Beatles (George Harrison) said he was "going to warn the Rolling Stones" about traveling to the Philippines.

This peaked my curiosity and so I did some digging through old newspapers and found an Associated Press report issued about July 13, 1966 that a Rolling Stones concert planned for August 4, 1966, Manila, the Philippines was now canceled (technically it was postponed, but never rescheduled)!

I have never read about this planned/canceled Rolling Stones concert in any Stones related books! No Beatles books mention it either. I asked some Stones experts and they had never heard of it either.

One person who should recall it, but never mentioned it in his books is Bill Wyman. I would love to ask Wyman about this canceled gig.

According to Nico Zentgraf's Complete Works website (and many other Stones books), the Rolling Stones spent August 3-11, 1966 recording at RCA Studios. These recording dates certainly were scheduled after the Manila gig was canceled.

I searched for possible, additional 1966 Far East dates for the Stones and found none. August 4, 1966 was one week after their final show of their 1966 North American tour, ending July 28 in Honolulu. Was the original plan to hang on in Hawaii and then fly to Manila?

The following appeared was in scores of newspapers in North America, the UK, and Europe.

Stockton [California]Evening and Sunday Record, July 13, 1966:

Rolling Stones Drop Plans for Philippine Trip
MANILA, July 13 (AP)- The Rolling Stones have postponed plans for a trip to the Philippines, and local promoters think they are alarmed by the treatment given the Beatles.
A spokesman for the promoters said the Stones will not be arriving Aug. 4 as planned. "We suspect that the trouble the Beatles stirred up has something to do with it," said the spokesman, Nicolas Santiago.
The Beatles set off a public outcry and were nearly beaten up because they failed to show up for a private performance before the wife of President Ferdinand Marcos.
The British entertainers said they didn't know about the date until it was too late.

Funny that this event/incident has escaped notice by both Rolling Stones and Beatles historians until now.

Good job Fareastlansingman. Never heard of that canceled gig. Usually the country goverments were scared/worried about a rolling stones gig. For once in 1966, the tables were turned.

rollmops..,Thank you for your kind words!

As a coda on this subject, I found the quote and reference from George Harrison saying he was going to warn the Rolling Stones about the Philippines.

(London) Evening Standard, July 8, 1966:

[Part of a much longer article titled: We'll Never Go There Again, Say The Beatles]

"...And [Beatles] manager Brian Epstein swore that none of his pop stars would ever go to Manila again. He has canceled Cilla Black's forthcoming visit there. And Sounds Incorporated's contract will not be signed there.
George [Harrison] said he would tip off the Rolling Stones--so that they can cancel their trip if they want to."

Thanks fareastlansingman, great research job , it sounds plausible maybe the Stones didn't want it to go viral back in '66 ;o)

For me the Beatles Gig in manila in '66 is one of the reasons why they stopped play live.

__________________________

NICOS...Thank you!

I would be interested in what the Philippine newspapers had to say on the subject of the Stones August 4, 1966 gig that never happened. I'd love to know at what venue they were supposed to play.

It seems odd to me that the Stones would have traveled all the way to the Far East in 1966 for one concert. Why would they have not tied this show in with gigs in Japan and-or Singapore?

If anyone reading this lives in Manila, or has access to Philippine newspapers, please let me know via this thread. Many thanks!

Quote
fareastlansingman
NICOS...Thank you!

I would be interested in what the Philippine newspapers had to say on the subject of the Stones August 4, 1966 gig that never happened. I'd love to know at what venue they were supposed to play.

It seems odd to me that the Stones would have traveled all the way to the Far East in 1966 for one concert. Why would they have not tied this show in with gigs in Japan and-or Singapore?

If anyone reading this lives in Manila, or has access to Philippine newspapers, please let me know via this thread. Many thanks!

fascinating great research

maybe shows for japan or singapore we're in the works

but after they canceled the manila show they just decided to just work in the studio instead

just a thought

ProfessorWolf, thank you for your compliment!

Your suggestion that shows in Japan and-or Singapore or even Hong Kong in August 1966 were possibly in the works is a valid one! I have yet to find any mention of additional August 1966 Far East shows. I don't know how far ahead the Stones would have booked shows in 1966, but I have a sense that any additional Far East shows would have already been booked by July, when the Manila date was canceled.

One additional component adding weight to your suggestion that more far East dates may have been in the works, but nixed is that on or about June 14, 1966 Mick Jagger was suffering from "nervous exhaustion". This was mentioned in the UK press as well as the Associated Press in the US.

It could be that by mid-June when Mick took it easy, additional Far East dates were scrapped. But why would they leave the Aug 4 Manila date intact until July 14? This proves there are still bits and pieces of the Stones early history we don't know about!