60 years ago, The Beatles performed in Milwaukee. Longtime DJ Bob Barry was center stage at it

HARTLAND Wis. (CBS 58) -- They're known as one of the most influential bands of all time, but six decades ago, Bob Barry would have given you a different opinion.

In 1964, the former rock n' roll DJ was asked to emcee The Beatles' one and only show in Milwaukee. 

"They are legends," said Barry. "Back then, I thought it wasn't going to work out. No. No way."

When Barry asked how much the gig paid, he was told he wouldn't be compensated.

"[We're] not paying any of our emcees around the country' and I said ‘well, I’ll take a pass,'" said Barry. 

It took some convincing from his musical director, but after another phone call, Barry found himself right in the center of Beatlemania. The Beatles arrived late to the Milwaukee Arena, leaving Barry left to handle the stage. 

“Yeah, they told me 'The Beatles are not here yet so get up on stage and do something'. I said ‘what?’" said Barry. "These are Beatles fans so all I have to do is talk about The Beatles, so that’s what I did and every time I mention one of their names or The Beatles, there was constant screaming."

15 minutes later, The Beatles arrived. 

“They came up towards the stage and I turned around said ‘The Beatles’ and that was it," said Barry. "Probably out of the 11,800, there were probably 11,000 girls.”

60 years later, Barry still remembers that night. To celebrate, he'll host a Beatles night at Let it Be, a Beatles themed bar in Waukesha. The Sept. 4 event sold out immediately.

“We could not hear what they were singing until the crowd would calm down just a little bit and you’d catch a few words," said Barry. 

Barry says for the Fab Four, the craze never made sense. 

“He [Paul McCartney] said ‘I don’t know. We’re just normal people," said Barry. 

To Barry, he's now got a different opinion of that fateful day. 

“Joy. Happiness. Fun. That’s what it's all about," said Barry. "They will continue to live on forever.”