--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,'…" description: "\"When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,' life went from black and white to color like in 'The Wizard of Oz' - and the irony I'm in the band Toto is not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png" --- # When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,' life went from… ![“When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,' life went from black and white to color like in 'The Wizard of Oz' - and the irony I'm in the band Toto is not lost on me.” quote by Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png) > “When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,' life went from black and white to color like in 'The Wizard of Oz' - and the irony I'm in the band Toto is not lost on me.” [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artistic inspiration can transform perception, turning ordinary moments into vivid experiences. **In simple terms:** Art changes how we see things. Key Takeaway Seek creative perspectives to enrich life. Themes creativity perception music culture Mood inspirational nostalgic Type cultural personal When to use this quote - songwriting - visual arts - marketing campaigns Key Concepts art theory media studies Questions to Reflect On - How does music alter your worldview? - What moments have felt like a color change? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences such vivid shifts; personal taste varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) [Black and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) [Ed sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ed-sullivan/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Around the time the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, I was already in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/around-the-time-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-i-was-already-in-a/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [ “\[...\] I saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. As I watched them singing, it hit me: This is my ticket out. Here… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stanley/i-saw-the-beatles-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-as-i-watched-them-singing/) [Paul Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stanley/) > [I've heard that while the show was on there were no reported crimes, or very few. When The Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-ve-heard-that-while-the-show-was-on-there-were-no-reported-crimes/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I was the first to promote The Beatles in the States, and Ed Sullivan called me first about them before he ever booked them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/i-was-the-first-to-promote-the-beatles-in-the-states-and-ed-sullivan/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [The Dave Clark Five had more appearances on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' than The Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shaffer/the-dave-clark-five-had-more-appearances-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-than/) [Paul Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-shaffer/) > [The Beatles are the 'on switch' to my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/the-beatles-are-the-on-switch-to-my-life/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [More than any other drummer, Ringo Starr changed my life. The impact and memory of that band on Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weinberg/more-than-any-other-drummer-ringo-starr-changed-my-life-the-impact/) [Max Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weinberg/) > [ Most magic is a trick, an illusion. But \[when The Beatles played the Ed Sullivan Show\], this was real. Man oh man, was it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/most-magic-is-a-trick-an-illusion-but-when-the-beatles-played-the-ed/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I remember tap-dancing and singing in front of the TV when I was a kid, telling my dad to stop watching Ed Sullivan or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-remember-tap-dancing-and-singing-in-front-of-the-tv-when-i-was-a/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [ After the Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9, 1964, at approx. 8:04pm \[laughs\], after that moment every album, every guitar, evey set of drums that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/after-the-ed-sullivan-show-feb-9-1964-at-approx-8-04pm-laughs-after/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) > [ \[On turning down an invitation to appear for four minutes on the Ed Sullivan Show:\] Honey, it takes Moms four minutes just to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moms-mabley/on-turning-down-an-invitation-to-appear-for-four-minutes-on-the-ed/) [Moms Mabley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moms-mabley/) > [And I was booked once to go on 'Ed Sullivan' and I got bumped and ran out the back door crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/and-i-was-booked-once-to-go-on-ed-sullivan-and-i-got-bumped-and-ran/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [Everything that you'd see on The Ed Sullivan Show was at the Tannen's Magic. You'd think that if you could afford a trick like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/everything-that-you-d-see-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-was-at-the-tannen-s/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I grew up in the 1950s and '60s, when it was almost a holiday when a black act would go on Ed Sullivan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-grew-up-in-the-1950s-and-60s-when-it-was-almost-a-holiday-when-a/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Ed Sullivan will be around as long as someone else has talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/ed-sullivan-will-be-around-as-long-as-someone-else-has-talent/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) ## More by Steve Lukather > [The myth that 'old' guys can't write anything fresh is just a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/the-myth-that-old-guys-can-t-write-anything-fresh-is-just-a-myth/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [I wish I had perfect pitch, but I don't, and thanks to the miracle of YouTube, a bad night lives forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/i-wish-i-had-perfect-pitch-but-i-don-t-and-thanks-to-the-miracle-of/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [I have tried every amp, distortion box, gadget etc. that has ever been made since 1967 to present and nothing has sounded like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/i-have-tried-every-amp-distortion-box-gadget-etc-that-has-ever-been/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [Don't practise what you know - practise what you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/don-t-practise-what-you-know-practise-what-you-don-t-know/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [When people make fun of us, it's fine. I get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-people-make-fun-of-us-it-s-fine-i-get-it/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [The Beatles are the 'on switch' to my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/the-beatles-are-the-on-switch-to-my-life/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [God bless classic rock. It's been very good to me; I'll tell you that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/god-bless-classic-rock-it-s-been-very-good-to-me-i-ll-tell-you-that/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [I don't just sit around and play 'Africa' in my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/i-don-t-just-sit-around-and-play-africa-in-my-house/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [I worked with Paul McCartney, and he was lovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/i-worked-with-paul-mccartney-and-he-was-lovely/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [Y'know, it's funny: I didn't think I'd be playing 'Hold The Line' at 60 years old. I was 19 when I first played that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/y-know-it-s-funny-i-didn-t-think-i-d-be-playing-hold-the-line-at-60/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [We are guys from North Hollywood singing about Africa. What do we know about Africa?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/we-are-guys-from-north-hollywood-singing-about-africa-what-do-we-know/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [When God plays guitar he uses Jeff Beck's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-god-plays-guitar-he-uses-jeff-beck-s-hands/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [When I was starting my journey as a young guitar player, I was listening to The Beatles, the Stones, and all the British invasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-i-was-starting-my-journey-as-a-young-guitar-player-i-was/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [That's all that matters in music: fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/that-s-all-that-matters-in-music-fun/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [There is no one like Toto in history in that we were both successful as session musicians and also had a band that sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/there-is-no-one-like-toto-in-history-in-that-we-were-both-successful/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) [Explore all 103 Steve Lukather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) ## More Beatles quotes > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I am a big Beatles fan. And, you know, unbeknownst to anyone, I used to be one. But I have no problems of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-am-a-big-beatles-fan-and-you-know-unbeknownst-to-anyone-i-used-to/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I thought my Beatles LPs sounded pretty good on a record player, but that was before I had heard a CD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-wood/i-thought-my-beatles-lps-sounded-pretty-good-on-a-record-player-but/) [Alastair Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-wood/) > [Growing up in San Diego, my main interests were the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, 'Star Wars,' baseball cards, and drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/growing-up-in-san-diego-my-main-interests-were-the-beatles-louis/) [Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [It was great fun to be able to work with so many different artists. And I'm paying a tribute to the Beatles. I've just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-preston/it-was-great-fun-to-be-able-to-work-with-so-many-different-artists/) [Billy Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-preston/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' The Beatles said, 'Free your mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/elvis-presley-s-music-said-free-your-body-the-beatles-said-free-your/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [The Beatles have a deeper appreciation of all music. There's a humor, there's a Broadway sense, and later on, the Indian stuff came in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-vivino/the-beatles-have-a-deeper-appreciation-of-all-music-there-s-a-humor/) Jimmy Vivino > [The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, these are just some of the people who threatened to sue if we used their songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/the-beatles-rolling-stones-barbra-streisand-bruce-springsteen-these/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [If you look in my CD case, you'll see it's Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, now I can't think of anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angarano/if-you-look-in-my-cd-case-you-ll-see-it-s-pink-floyd-the-rolling/) [Michael Angarano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angarano/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [It's marvelous when you visit Tokyo: they have these clubs, and they'll have 'Motown Night' or 'The Beatles - Totally Authentic and Live!' You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-palmer/it-s-marvelous-when-you-visit-tokyo-they-have-these-clubs-and-they-ll/) [Robert Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-palmer/) [Browse all 786 Beatles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,' life went from black and white to color like in 'The Wizard of Oz' - and the irony I'm in the band Toto is not lost on me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Lukather" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-life-went-from-black-and-white/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beatles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-life-went-from-black-and-white/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/steve-lukather-5177_beatles_when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-lif_1392837.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the Beatles were on 'Ed Sullivan,' life went from black and white to color like in 'The Wizard of Oz'…” — Steve Lukather", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve Lukather", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the Beatles were on 'Ed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-life-went-from-black-and-white/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-the-beatles-were-on-ed-sullivan-life-went-from-black-and-white/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```