Rare Beatles Photos: 1964-1966

Just when we thought there couldn't possibly be anything new to see about America's favorite mop-tops, memorabilia specialist and author Larry Marion brings us The Lost Beatles Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive, 1964-1966. As it turns out, this guy Bonis snapped hundreds of photos of the Fab Four onstage, backstage, on planes and on vacation during their first and only three U.S. tours, all but a handful of which have never seen the light of day until now.

Hide caption At Seattle-Tacoma airport, The Beatles boarded their chartered plane bound for Vancouver to give their first-ever Canadian concert, at the Empire Stadium, on Aug. 22, 1964. It would be the fourth show on their first U.S. tour. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption After Vancouver, The Beatles flew to Los Angeles for a few days of rest. Afraid of being overrun by manic fans, the Ambassador Hotel canceled their reservation, but British actor Reginald Owen offered them use of his Bel Air mansion for $1,000. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption From the stage at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minn., George Harrison turns to see Bob Bonis with his camera and gives him a thumbs up. Aug. 21, 1965. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption John Lennon in Portland, Ore. on Aug. 22, 1965. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption In Detroit, Aug. 13, 1966, at the start of the last tour The Beatles would ever do. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption Harrison and Ringo Starr dress before going on stage in Detroit, on Aug. 13, 1966. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption Harrison tunes up backstage at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on Aug. 16, 1966. It was the first concert to ever be held there. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Hide caption Harrison and Lennon at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 21, 1966. Previous Next 2269 Productions, Inc./NotFadeAwayGallery.com 1 of 8 i View slideshow

As their tour manager, Bonis became friends with The Beatles and was privy to the more private side of their life on the road. He brought along his Leica M3 camera and managed to capture some really nice candid moments of these larger-than-life figures.

Enlarge this image toggle caption 2269 Productions Inc. / NotFadeAwayGallery.com 2269 Productions Inc. / NotFadeAwayGallery.com

Bonis never wanted to capitalize on his privileged access, so his photos sat stored away for over 40 years; only his family and friends saw them or even knew of their existence. Bonis died in 1992, and nearly 20 years later his son Alex decided it was time to share his father's collection with the rest of the world.