The Only One Married

“As the Beatles went to the top in both Britain and America with Can't Buy Me Love, my life and John Lennon’s suddenly seemed similar. He had been revealed as the married one of the group, a fact that their manager Brian Epstein had tried to keep secret but had to admit when they left Liverpool and the press caught sight of John's wife Cynthia with their baby son. On 11 April [of 1964], my marriage was revealed, so both top groups were seen to have one family man each… Lennon's marriage made no difference to the Beatles’ rising popularity and mine was not going to affect us either.”

Bill Wyman from The Rolling Stones

John on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 

From August 23, 1962 until February 10, 1965, John was the only married Beatle in his group. There were constantly rumors about the other three, especially Paul, that were also married but all of them consistently denied it. Ringo, George, and Paul did have steady girlfriends: Maureen Cox, Pattie Boyd, and Jane Asher. As mentioned in previous posts, while John's family was kept under wraps, at first John supported the secrecy but eventually he became against it. By January of 1964, just about everyone in England knew John was married. On February 9, 1964, while appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, everyone in America knew John was married after a tagline under John's introduction name came on screen saying 'Sorry girls; he’s married’. From what I heard, Brian was livid by that announcement while Cynthia felt relieved. I don't know how John felt. I don't know who thought of doing that or why but I do know that it created a standout memory for viewers who watched the show. We will get more into the First U. S. trip later on in it's own post…

"Well, you know, it depends. We needn't always go to the same places together. In earlier days, of course, when we didn't know London, and we didn't know anybody in London, then we really did stick together, and it would really be just like four fellows down from the north for a coach trip. But nowadays, you know, we've got our own girlfriends... they're in London... so that we each normally go out with our girlfriends on our days off. Except for John, of course, who's married."

Paul McCartney, 1964

Cynthia and The Beatles at the London premiere of A Hard Day's Night on July 6, 1964

Here are some snippets of press conferences and interviews that The Beatles have done explaining that John was the only one married:

We’re talking about personal questions. Do they ever bother you? (Interview with John and Ringo, 1964)

“Yeah, this one. You know all the rumors that have been going around America. Ringo, you know all those mad ones about me leaving, you leaving, everybody's married. I'm the only one who’s married, folks.”

Were any of you in love? (Interview, 1964)

“Me!” John

“Yes, he’s married.” Paul McCartney

“That's right!” John

Would you get married to the others?

“No, I don't like marriage, no good, no good marriage.” Paul

“It's good! Hmm-mmm-mmm” John (pretending to rock a baby in his arms)

Was it quite expensive?

“Quite, quite.” John

“How much did she cost when you bought her?” Paul

“She was 50 pounds in Nairobi.” John

Little did Paul know that he would get married three times!

We heard that you were all married (Press conference, August of 1964)

“Only John.” Ringo Starr

You're not married?

“No, John's the only one.” Paul McCartney

Which one is married?

“John is married. We’ll all get married in the end.” Ringo

“Will you?” John

“In the end. Two or three years, you know. Plenty of time.” Ringo

Little did Ringo know that he would get married 6 months later!

Paul, you're the only unmarried Beatle, or are you the only married Beatle? (Press conference, 1964)

“You’ve got it mixed up, Jean. John's the only married one. All the rest of us are unmarried and single and free, and everything.” Paul McCartney

And you're the married one, right?

“That's me, Jean.” John

John's autograph for Sgt.. Buddy Dresner who was the head of security for the Beatles while in Miami, February of 1964