John Lennon said the Beatles had "a couple of years left" of making hits when interviewed in Melbourne in 1964.

Ian Nicholls, then working for radio station 3XY, interviewed the young band on their first Australian tour.

He said he had to use subterfuge in order to get the interviews as a rival radio station had the rights to the Beatles' tour.

"I had to hang around toilets and walk up and down corridors for a little while looking as if I was actually staying there," he told 774 ABC Melbourne's Rafael Epstein.

Speaking for the 50th anniversary of the tour, Mr Nicholls said he wouldn't have the nerve now to do what he did then.

"It took a little bit of conniving and scheming," he said.

Paul McCartney

Listen Duration: 2 minutes 16 seconds 2 m 16 s Listen Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Paul McCartney interview, 1964 ( Supplied: Ian Nicholls ) Download 1 MB

Ian Nicholls says of all the Beatles "McCartney was the one that I really gravitated to."

"He was extremely personable," said Mr Nicholls.

Paul McCartney said the reception in Melbourne from fans was not something he was used to.

"This is, let's face it, it's fantastic," said Mr McCartney. "It can't be equalled."

"It's marvellous... It's a great feeling."

John Lennon

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 1 minute 52 seconds 1 m 52 s John Lennon interview, 1964 ( Supplied: Ian Nicholls ) Download 876.5 KB

John Lennon was "the most overpowering" of the Beatles, said Mr Nicholls.

"There was almost something hypnotic in his eyes," he said.

He asked John Lennon if he was confident the band could keep making hit records

"I don't know if we can keep as many, you know the hits going so high, they'll probably level out a bit," said Lennon.

"There's still a couple of years left of making records that sell."

George Harrison

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 2 minutes 57 seconds 2 m 57 s George Harrison interview, 1964 ( Supplied: Ian Nicholls ) Download 1.4 MB

Mr Nicholls started his interview with George Harrison by asking whether the band's clothes are chosen by their manager.

"No, we just pick whatever we want," said Harrison.

"We all have more or less the same taste in clothing."

Mr Nicholls asked Harrison whether the band members get an allowance and how they deal with a lack of privacy.

"We can get around in England better now than we could because before we stuck out like a sore toe," said Harrison.

"Now it's much easier because there's so many people who look like us."

Ringo Starr

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 1 minute 42 seconds 1 m 42 s Ringo Starr interview, 1964 ( Supplied: Ian Nicholls ) Download 802.1 KB

Ringo Starr had just arrived in Australia, having recovered from an illness which saw drummer Jimmie Nicol fill in for him for a number of shows.

"I felt terrible when they were touring around when I was in bed," Ringo Starr told Mr Nicholls.

"We're just like brothers really."

Mr Nicholls asked Starr if he treated the tour "as hard work".

"It is hard work, people don't really realise but you do slug your guts out once you're on stage, you sweat like a pig and you get tired," said Starr.

Jimmie Nicol

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 1 minute 33 seconds 1 m 33 s Jimmie Nicol interview, 1964 ( Supplied: Ian Nicholls ) Download 727 KB

Jimmie Nicol said joining the Beatles for the tour was a fabulous opportunity but a big responsibility.

"I'm glad Ringo is back now," said Nicol.

"It's taken a lot of responsibility off my shoulders really because one is trying to live up to Ringo."

Mr Nicholls said back then no-one knew just how big the Beatles were going to be.

"Here we were 13000 miles away across the other side of the world, and it took you ages even to fly from England to Australia at that time," he said.

He says he cringes now when he listens back to the interviews.

"We were so affected in those days, the radio people all spoke as if they had a clothes peg on their nose."

Audio supplied by Ian Nicholls, who spoke to Rafael Epstein on 774 ABC Melbourne Drive.