David Lynch’s Last Filmed Interview: Witnessing The Beatles’ First US Concert

When Disney+ released the Martin Scorsese-produced Beatles ’64 documentary, fans anticipated incredible, restored footage of the Fab Four’s American invasion. What they didn’t expect was a cameo from David Lynch. Not as a filmmaker, or artist. But as a witness.

In 1964, Lynch was just a high schooler in Alexandria, Virginia. After talking his brother out of a ticket at the last minute, he found himself at the Washington Coliseum (also known as Uline Arena) for the Beatles’ very first North American concert on February 11, 1964. In what appears to be his final on-camera interview, he recounts the surreal experience of seeing the biggest band on the planet perform in a boxing ring surrounded by the screaming chaos of Beatlemania.

Note: While Lynch also appears in HBO’s 2026 Mel Brooks documentary “The 99 Year Old Man,” production timelines suggest his interview for “Beatles ’64” was recorded last.

I was in high school. I lived in Alexandria, Virginia. I was into rock & roll music. Mainly Elvis Presley, who brought rock & roll music to the world. To me anyway.

I ended up going to this [Beatles] concert. I didn’t really have any idea that it was the first concert. I didn’t have any idea how big this event was. And it was in a gigantic place where they had boxing matches. The Beatles were in the boxing ring. It was so loud, you can’t believe. Girls shuddering… crying… screaming their heart out. It was phenomenal.

Producer Margaret Bodde told The Wrap, “[David Lynch’s] father was in the Department of Forestry and they moved around a lot, [but at that time] they lived in Alexandria. He had met JFK. Had been at the inauguration of JFK as an Eagle Scout. And then had gotten a ticket to the to the Beatles concert, the first US concert at the Washington Coliseum. We were kind of amazed that he had multiple connections to the story that was being told.”

Director David Tedeschi added: “I was particularly very enthusiastic about David Lynch talking about music. He has a very unusual passion. And his insights, he has a strong point of view, so we were thrilled.”

Music is one of the most fantastic things. Almost like fire, water, and air. It’s like a thing. It does so much. It does a thing for the intellect, it does a thing for the emotions. A certain kind of music can swell the heart till almost burst. Tears of happiness flow out of your eyes. You can’t believe the beauty that comes. And it comes from these notes.

David Lynch’s interview appears about 73 minutes into Beatles ’64, currently available only on Disney+

Bonus: David Lynch thinking of The Beatles and their song Here Comes The Sun in his Weather Report for June 4, 2021.

Bonus: David Lynch interviews Paul McCartney about Transcendental Meditation for the David Lynch Foundation