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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's January 30th, 1969, in London, England.

On the top floor of a building overlooking Saville Road, 26-year-old Paul McCartney

follows the other members of the Beatles through a door, bringing

them out onto the building's rooftop. A large wooden stage has been set up in the middle of the

space, and all their instruments are out waiting for them. Paul grins at his bandmates at the

prospect of what's to come, but not everyone shares his enthusiasm. While Paul tunes his guitar,

he watches George Harrison wander over to the side of

the building. George peers over the edge, shaking his head as he stares at the passers-by and traffic below.

Unlike Paul, George is far from happy about being up here on a cold Friday afternoon.

Years of playing live have taken their toll on his nerves, and he prefers

the comfort of a studio these days. His reluctance is part of the reason the band haven't performed

live in two years, but here he is today for the good of the band, and he wants to keep the others happy.

They need footage of this performance to complete a documentary film about their next album.

So when the final sound checks are done, the band takes their positions as a handful of invited staff from their label Apple Records watch on.

Paul counts them in for the first track, a song called Get Back.

As the group gets into full swing, people on the street below stop, staring skyward as they try to find the source of the music.

Soon, people start gathering on nearby rooftops to watch the spectacle,

stunned by the appearance of one of the world's most famous bands on a rooftop in the middle of London.

The unannounced rooftop performance by The Beatles will be remembered fondly as an iconic moment in music history.

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