On tour in the USA, September 2, 1964, The Beatles appeared at The Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Days before the concert, Philadelphia had experienced race-riots, The Beatles, who were Civil Rights supporters were shocked to see that their audience of 13,000 was white.

The Beatles refused to play in front of segregated audiences to support the movement.

In 2011 a contract went up for auction from a 1965 concert at the Cow Place in California specified that The Beatles “not be required to perform in front of a segregated audience”.

The Beatles had previously taken a public stand on civil rights in 1964, when they refused to perform at a segregated concert at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida.

City officials relented, allowing the stadium to be integrated, and the band took to the stage.

“We never play to segregated audiences and we aren’t going to start now,” said John Lennon. “I’d sooner lose our appearance money.”

The struggle for racial equality in America later inspired Paul McCartney to write Blackbird.