You don’t get to become the biggest band in the world without amassing some truly bizarre experiences along the way. During their rapid rise to fame, The Beatles certainly had their fair share of unbelievable tales, ranging from the strange to the downright scary. For instance, not many other bands can say they were forced to escape a country after upsetting an authoritarian dictator, but that is just what happened to the Fab Four during their 1966 world tour.

By now, it is common knowledge that The Beatles weren’t particularly fond of live performances. Their early years in Hamburg had seen the group craft an energetic spectacle of a live show, but as Beatlemania set in, live appearances became increasingly trying. Not only could the group not hear their own music over the legions of screaming fanatics, but appearing in any kind of public place became something of a risk for artists of their fame and fortune. However, it was the band’s 1966 world tour that put the final nail in the coffin of The Beatles as a touring band.