|
|
|
|
GIGS
1959-1962 |
The
Casbah Club, 8 Heymans Green,
West Derby Village |
 |
The
Casbah Club was opened in August 1959 and was solely for teenagers.
The owners, Mrs Mona Best and her son Peter invited the Quarrymen
to play at the opening night of the new club. Pete joined
The Beatles on 17 August 1960 just before their trip to Hamburg.
The Bests' large
|
|
Victorian home became the headquarters of The Beatles' and
the Quarrymen/Silver Beatles/The Beatles played the basement
club at least 200 times between 1959 and 1962 prior to signing
their contract with Brian Epstein on 24th January 1962.
|
|
1960
 |
Litherland
Town Hall, Hatton Hill Road, Litherland |
 |
|
On
their returning from their first trip to Hamburg, The Beatles
played their first gig here on 27th December 1960.
|
|
Having
played Hamburg for 4 months they had changed into a hard and
hungry powerhouse. Another memorable night here was 19th October
1961 when The Beatles and Gerry and The Pacemakers joined
forces as The Beatmakers. The Beatles played here 8 times,
their last gig being on 9th November 1961.
|
|
|
1961-1962
|
|
 |
The
Iron Door Club, 13 Temple Street
The
Iron Door Club was originally known as the Storreyville
Jazz Club, home of the Liverpool Jazz Society. The Beatles
played for the society on 13th March 1961. They played their
third and final gig at the Storreyville a year later on
6th March 1962.
|
|
 |
The
Wyvern Social Club, 108 Seel Street, (later The Blue Angel)
The Beatles played the Wyvern on one occasion when Allan Williams,
who had taken on the lease, invited them to audition for leading
impresario Larry Parnes, who was looking for a backing group
for Billy Fury.
|
|
They
were very much outsiders but, incredibly, led the field. Unfortunately,
due to their inept bass player, Stuart, they were unsuccessful.
Parnes, almost as a consolation, offered them an 8 day tour
of north-east Scotland, backing Johnny Gentle. They did use
the club to relax after Cavern gigs during 1961 and 1962.
|
|
1963
 |
The
Grafton/Locarno Ballrooms, West Derby Road |
|
|
These
legendary ballrooms situated side by side on the outskirts
of the city and have been in operation since the 1930's. The
Beatles last played at the Grafton on 12 June 1963 for an
NSPCC charity dance prior to playing both of the ballrooms
many times.
|
|
The
Grafton was also the venue for shooting the dance hall scenes
for the 1965 film Ferry Across the Mersey.
|
|
 |
Empire
Theatre, Lime Street
The
Beatles played at the Empire seven times. On 7th December 1963,
BBC TV recorded the special It's The Beatles' at a concert organised
by the Northern Area Fan Club. The group tried out their Christmas
Show on 22nd December 1963. In the 70's, Paul played the Empire
three times. |
|
| 1964
|
|
Liverpool
Town Hall, Water Street
The
Beatles returned to Liverpool for an official civic reception
and the northern premiere of their first feature film, A
Hard Day's Night at the Town Hall on July 10th 1964. The
Beatles appeared on the balcony to acknowledge their fans
after the premiere at the nearby Odeon cinema.
|
 |
|
|
|
The
Cavern Club,
Mathew Street |
|
|
|
The
original Cavern was situated at 10 Mathew Street. From 1963
to its demise in the early 70's, it was undoubtedly the club
for rock music, around the world. Before it was opened as
a jazz club in 1957 it's uses had been varied, including an
air raid shelter during the Second World War. Although primarily
a jazz club, beat groups started appearing in 1959. By the
middle of 1962 it was known as
|
|
|
a beat club. The regular DJ wasBob Wooler who coined the phrases
'Best of Cellars' and 'be there or be square', though many
people feel he has never received the recognition he deserves
for the very important part he played in the beat scene of
the 60's. The lunchtime sessions were packed with office workers
and students and at seven and a half pence it was worth every
penny. It was during one of these lunchtime sessions, (9th
November 1961) that Brian Epstein first saw and heard the
Beatles.
|
|
February 1963 was the winter of the big freeze, but Beatle
fans will remember it as being the last lunchtime session
they played at the Cavern. This was followed on August the
4th 1963 by the last evening session. The club closed its
doors after much protest on 27th May. The rest as they say
is history.
|
|
| Grapes
Public House, Mathew Street |
|
|
The
Cavern had a policy of selling soft drinks only. As a result,
most of the musicians including the Beatles, made their way
to the Grapes for something a bit stronger. People from the
Merseybeat era can still be seen and heard in the Grapes,
reliving past glories.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Jacaranda Club,
23 Slater Street
'The Jac' was opened as a coffee bar in 1958 by Allan
Williams. During
the day
|
 |
|
The
Beatles drank coffee and ate bacon butties. At night they
played amateurish rock 'n roll in the basement for £1.00 each.
Due to their shortage of money, Allan persuaded them to paint
murals on the walls and clean the ladies toilets. He thought
little of their musical ability but did find them work, including
their now famous spell in Hamburg.
|
|
| The
Lyceum, Bold Street |
|
 |
This
Grade II listed building, built in 1800 as a 'Gentlemen's
Club', has had a chequered history and has been saved from
demolition more than once. In the 1960's it was a café where
The Beatles often frequented. On one occasion they scribbled
lyrics on some serviettes, which were retrieved by an eagle-eyed
waitress and later turned up at Sotherby's Beatles auction
in the 1980's. This magnificent building is now a Post Office
and stands on the Corner of Bold Street and Ranelagh Street.
|
|
|
