In the first half of 1963, Beatlemania had already taken root in the U.K., and it was spreading like wildfire. The Beatles trekked across the U.K. three separate times in the first part of the year as part of package tours with "bigger" acts, including Americans who had struck paydirt in England, stars like Roy Orbison, Tommy Roe and Chris Montez. In reality, The Beatles, who did not receive top billing on these tours, were stealing the headliners' thunder at every show as their popularity, and the frenzy surrounding them, skyrocketed at an unprecedented pace.