Did the Byrds meet the Beatles, and who wore those funny little glasses first?
The Byrds met the Beatles in England while on a tour in July of 1965. Derek Taylor had been the Beatles press secretary and was now working in that capacity for the Byrds. Derek arranged the meeting to take place after a show at “Blazes,” a club in London. Only John, George and Ringo were there. John was immediately, extremely interested in Jim McGuinn’s little rectangular sun glasses. He liked them so much that he began wearing a round version, later, himself. Lennon had been nearsighted and these new glasses gave him a way to see the audience from the stage for the first time. The Beatles also invited the Byrds to visit them at their house in Los Angeles in 1966 and they maintained an ongoing correspondence, through Derek Taylor, for many years.
