Rare photos of The Beatles during height of fame

Rare images of The Beatles taken around the time that they held the top five positions in the US singles chart in 1964 have been published in a new book.

By Caroline Gammell

Photographer Curt Gunther was given access to the Fab Four both on stage and behind the scenes Photo: MANIA DAYS - GENESIS PUBLICATIONS

The unprecedented achievement 45 years ago today (Sat) showed the extent of the band's popularity and the mania that enveloped them both in the US and the UK.

Photographer Curt Gunther was given access to the Fab Four both on stage and behind the scenes and now some of the images he captured are being published in a book, Conquered America.

Among his black and white collection is a picture of fans scrambling their way onto the stage in front of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, while another shows John Lennon and McCartney emerging from a doorway.

In one shot, a youthful McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Ringo Starr are all photographed sitting on a diving board over a swimming pool, gleefully splashing the water.

On April 4, 1964, the group topped the US Billboard Hot 100 charts with Can't Buy Me Love, Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand and Please Please Me.

They also had another seven singles in the charts, including I Saw Her Standing There, You Can't Do That, All My Loving, Roll Over Beethoven, From Me To You, Do You Want to Know a Secret and Thank You Girl.

The Beatles arrived in the US in February 1964 and became an instant sensation. Lennon described their country-wide tour as a "hurricane" in which they stayed safely in the eye of the storm.

• Watch a clip of rare Beatles footage