Don't Faint Beatlemana has hit Toronto at new Sir Paul photography show at AGO

 The exhibition Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm has arrived at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto displays more than 250 photographs taken by McCartney during the early Beatlemania period between late 1963 and early 1964. These images come from Paul McCartney’s personal archive and show behind-the-scenes moments of The Beatles’ rise to fame, including touring, fans, press, and personal moments with bandmates. 

👉 Number of photographs: Over 250 are included in the exhibition. 

🎶 When The Beatles were in Torontoalso played two shows at Maple Leaf Gardens that year, on what would be part of their final North American tour. 

So, The Beatles first arrived in Toronto for a performance on September 7, 1964. 

 John Lennon and Yoko Ono performed together at Toronto’s Varsity Stadium as part of the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival on September 13, 1969. They appeared with the Plastic Ono Band, a group hastily assembled with musicians including Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, and Alan White, and their set was later released as the live album Live Peace in Toronto 1969. 

I got a sneak peek early this week, at the MediaLaunch at the AGO along with a thousand white- and grey-haired seniors as we descended on downtown Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario to see Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm.

Better known by his British title, Sir Paul McCartney plays guitar, writes songs, and performs—when he isn’t taking photographs and selfies. This exhibition showcases more than 250 photographs and candid “Fab” selfies he captured during a year in the early 1960s.

No need to guess: Paul McCartney is a British singer-songwriter and bassist who rose to global fame as a founding member of The Beatles, the Liverpool band whose influence extended far beyond music, reshaping fashion, film, books, youth culture, and even politics—from the counterculture movement to anti-war anthems like Give Peace a Chance.

A teenager shovelling the sidewalk outside said sheknew who The Beatles were. Hesitant at first when asked if she remembered any of their songs, she quickly shouted out Yellow Submarine, proving the band’s legacy still sails on.

Throughout this time, Sir Paul was snapping pictures of his bandmates on stage and during tours across North America. Beatlemania comes alive in his Kodak snaps, which are on display for the next three months in Eyes of the Storm.

The exhibition is curated by Paul McCartney, Sarah Brown, and Rosie Broadley for London’s National Portrait Gallery. The AGO presentation is organized by Jim Shedden, Curator, Special Projects & Director, Publishing. It’s not just photographs on the wall: a behind-the-scenes media tour revealed historical video clips from the Beatlemania era, including concert footage, rehearsals, and media appearances—such as performances on The Ed Sullivan Show—illustrating key moments in the band’s early 1960s rise to fame. These films play alongside still images, capturing the energy and excitement of the time.

“These images,” writes co-curator Rosie Broadley, Head of Collection Displays and Senior Curator of 20th-Century Collections at London’s National Portrait Gallery, “evoke an affectionate family album, picturing his fellow band members—John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—at a time when their lives were changing irrevocably. Where McCartney appears in the photographs, he had handed his camera to a member of The Beatles’ team, enabling us to capture glimpses of him performing onstage or posing for pictures.”

Video of the Beatle appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show are PART OF AGO EXHIBITIOH

After touring the show, I was in awe—not because I learned something new, but because Sir Paul is an exceptional photographer. As a longtime Beatle fan, I remembered seeing many of these images decades ago. If you can still hum the words to Michelle or She Loves You, this is an exhibition you won’t want to miss. The preview audience skewed Boomer, but the appeal is universal.

No matter your age, check out the show. Discover why your grandparents were—and maybe still are—Hip in an old-fashioned way.

GEORGE Harrison PORTRAIT hangs in the AGO EXHIBITION

YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLCE!