John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison all opposed the making of this film and wanted it to be stopped and never to be released.
The Rickenbacker 330 guitars played by Stephen MacKenna as John Lennon are actually Japanese-made copies. The headstocks are longer than a real Rickenbacker and the pickups and tailpieces differ.
While released to theaters worldwide, it was seen primarily in the US as a TV movie.
The quote "Welcome to Harlem' s fabulous Apollo theatre" is a reference to the initial reception The Crickets received playing the iconic venue in 1957. Buddy Holly was the first white act to play the Apollo and received less than a warm welcome initially which is similar to The Cavern Club, in Liverpool, scene in this film when "John" utters the line.