Who plays the organ with his elbow on national television? In 1965, John Lennon did exactly that and it was glorious chaos. The Beatles’ “I’m Down” on The Ed Sullivan Show was not just another TV performance, it was a full on party disguised as a rock song. Paul McCartney screamed into the mic like he had something to prove and the crowd answered with shrieks of approval.
What made it so fun was the clash of energy and humor. McCartney looked like a man on fire, wailing his way through a Little Richard style vocal while hammering his bass. Lennon, meanwhile, decided to have the time of his life, playing the organ with his elbow and grinning at the audience. George Harrison shredded his guitar with quiet confidence, and Ringo Starr held it all together on drums, smiling like he knew they were making history.
The Beatles – I’m Down (Ed Sullivan Show 1965) / [4K Video]
Fans still cannot get over it. One said it was “the happiest three minutes ever aired on TV.” Another called Lennon’s organ playing “the greatest rock and roll prank ever.” Many point out that this was the group’s fourth and final time on the show, which makes the unrestrained fun feel like a farewell party. Even today, you can almost hear the studio shaking with excitement.
After all that wildness, it is almost impossible not to think back to where it started. Just a year earlier, the same stage witnessed their first Ed Sullivan appearance, the night Beatlemania truly exploded. And one song, “Twist & Shout,” made living rooms across America feel like dance floors.
The Beatles – Twist & Shout – Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/23/64
“Twist & Shout” was pure electricity. McCartney and Harrison shouted harmonies while Lennon’s voice was rough, loud, and fearless. Girls in the crowd screamed so loud they almost drowned out the band. This was the Beatles teaching America how to lose control, and audiences have never forgotten it.
The Beatles were never just a band, they were a moment that changed music forever. They could be playful, fierce, and heartfelt in a single set. Their Ed Sullivan performances remind us why they mattered then and why they still matter now. Follow The Beatles on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. You will want to be there for every story, every song, every memory they left behind.