January 18,1961
The Beatles play another gig on the 15th at the Casbah. Probably more of a practice really, since they have really risen above playing a basement coffee bar, but isn't is fun to imagine what it must have been like to have heard them in that cramped space at the top of their rave-up game.
On the 18th they return to the Aintree Institute. We have on good authority they were paid 8 and a half pounds sterling for this gig. They must have felt like they were really making it, now. Little did they know!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Plus ca change
January 13/14, 1961
The Beatles play two of their Bekay gigs this Friday and Saturday at the Aintree Institute.
This gives me the opportunity to show you one of my personal favorite snapshots taken during my pilgrimage to Liverpool in 1998. It is a picture of this building. At that time, I think either it was being used as a school building or there was one nearby and classes were being dismissed as we arrived. There are plenty of kids about. Take note of the older boys on the steps leading up to the door, grabbing a smoke before heading for the bus home. Are there any young rockers in the crowd? Undoubtedly. (Click the picture, then click it again to enlarge it.)
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (The more things change the more they stay the same.)
The Beatles play two of their Bekay gigs this Friday and Saturday at the Aintree Institute.
This gives me the opportunity to show you one of my personal favorite snapshots taken during my pilgrimage to Liverpool in 1998. It is a picture of this building. At that time, I think either it was being used as a school building or there was one nearby and classes were being dismissed as we arrived. There are plenty of kids about. Take note of the older boys on the steps leading up to the door, grabbing a smoke before heading for the bus home. Are there any young rockers in the crowd? Undoubtedly. (Click the picture, then click it again to enlarge it.)
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (The more things change the more they stay the same.)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Last Returning Beatle
Early January, 1961
No one knows exactly when, but it is likely that Stuart Sutcliffe has returned to Liverpool by now. It would have been difficult for him to remain in Hamburg, now that he has come to the attention of the police. But he certainly left with the understanding that he would return to Germany to resume his life with Astrid as soon as possible.
As is normal for local bands, there are often musicians on the periphery who do make music with them but cannot exactly be called full band members. At this time, Stuart seems to have willingly become one of those. Sam Leach, a Liverpool promoter remembers a time when both Paul and Stuart would be playing bass, often with Stuart's guitar unplugged from the amplifier. This does fit very well with what we understand of John Lennon's sense of loyalty to his inner circle. The others may have gone along, not wanting to confront John about the phantom band member and content to let nature take its course.
No one knows exactly when, but it is likely that Stuart Sutcliffe has returned to Liverpool by now. It would have been difficult for him to remain in Hamburg, now that he has come to the attention of the police. But he certainly left with the understanding that he would return to Germany to resume his life with Astrid as soon as possible.
As is normal for local bands, there are often musicians on the periphery who do make music with them but cannot exactly be called full band members. At this time, Stuart seems to have willingly become one of those. Sam Leach, a Liverpool promoter remembers a time when both Paul and Stuart would be playing bass, often with Stuart's guitar unplugged from the amplifier. This does fit very well with what we understand of John Lennon's sense of loyalty to his inner circle. The others may have gone along, not wanting to confront John about the phantom band member and content to let nature take its course.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Two Gigs in a Day
January 7, 1961
Today is Saturday. For an ambitious Liverpool beat group, that means the opportunity to play two gigs on the same day, one in the afternoon, one in the evening. Today, the Beatles play two of Brian Kelly's jobs, the first at the Aintree Institute. This was yet another local dance hall, where jive shows are featured. (The picture of Brian Kelly in a previous post was taken on the stage there.) One is constantly struck by the number and diversity of local events that provided the opportunity for up-and-coming musicians in Liverpool of the '60s to hone their skills. That cultural environment is a very important element, often overlooked, in the development of the Beatles. Rock music in the north of England at this time is not the mass quasi-religious experience of today, but very much a grass-roots thing.
The second is held at Lathom Hall, the place where the Silver Beatles, a much less accomplished band, played its first gig back in May of 1960. That was before the hot fires of Hamburg transmuted that silver into pure gold.
By now, it is becoming clear that something will have to be done to facilitate all of this travel. Schlepping guitars and amplifiers, to say nothing of a full drum kit, onto Liverpool buses is becoming a bit of a disagreeable chore.
Also at this time, it has become clear that the only viable solution to finding a bottom end for the group is to look within its ranks. Couldn't be John with his brand new Rickenbacker. George's reaction is, "I'm not doing it." The only logical choice is Paul McCartney. ("I was lumbered with it, really.") At first, Paul takes some scissors under the hood of an unlucky piano, and strings his cheap, upside-down Solid 7 guitar with them. Problem solved (temporarily).
Today is Saturday. For an ambitious Liverpool beat group, that means the opportunity to play two gigs on the same day, one in the afternoon, one in the evening. Today, the Beatles play two of Brian Kelly's jobs, the first at the Aintree Institute. This was yet another local dance hall, where jive shows are featured. (The picture of Brian Kelly in a previous post was taken on the stage there.) One is constantly struck by the number and diversity of local events that provided the opportunity for up-and-coming musicians in Liverpool of the '60s to hone their skills. That cultural environment is a very important element, often overlooked, in the development of the Beatles. Rock music in the north of England at this time is not the mass quasi-religious experience of today, but very much a grass-roots thing.
The second is held at Lathom Hall, the place where the Silver Beatles, a much less accomplished band, played its first gig back in May of 1960. That was before the hot fires of Hamburg transmuted that silver into pure gold.
By now, it is becoming clear that something will have to be done to facilitate all of this travel. Schlepping guitars and amplifiers, to say nothing of a full drum kit, onto Liverpool buses is becoming a bit of a disagreeable chore.
Also at this time, it has become clear that the only viable solution to finding a bottom end for the group is to look within its ranks. Couldn't be John with his brand new Rickenbacker. George's reaction is, "I'm not doing it." The only logical choice is Paul McCartney. ("I was lumbered with it, really.") At first, Paul takes some scissors under the hood of an unlucky piano, and strings his cheap, upside-down Solid 7 guitar with them. Problem solved (temporarily).
Thursday, January 6, 2011
To Bootle
January 6, 1961
The Beatles "home base" is situated in districts to the south of Liverpool city center (or is that centre?) such as Allerton and Woolton. Today they play a gig in the borough to the north called Bootle. Bootle is a very ancient part of Liverpool, established in the time of Anglo-Saxon domination, before the revolution brought about by the Norman conquests that started in 1066. In the 19th century, it had become an upscale suburb and is filled with Victorian buildings of that period. Lately, since the decline of the shipping industry and rising unemployment, it has fallen on harder times and now has the reputation of being one of the rougher areas of Liverpool. But today it was to witness something of the exuberance of Beatles rock and roll. (Since 1960, Bootle has undergone something of a resurgence.)
A very young would-be promoter, aged 17 years named Dave Forshaw, was also in attendance at the turning-point performance at Litherland at the end of 1960. He saw his chance and took it. He booked the Beatles for some of the dates not reserved by Brian Kelly for shows organized by himself. Tonight, he put them on at Saint John's Hall in the Bootle.
The Beatles "home base" is situated in districts to the south of Liverpool city center (or is that centre?) such as Allerton and Woolton. Today they play a gig in the borough to the north called Bootle. Bootle is a very ancient part of Liverpool, established in the time of Anglo-Saxon domination, before the revolution brought about by the Norman conquests that started in 1066. In the 19th century, it had become an upscale suburb and is filled with Victorian buildings of that period. Lately, since the decline of the shipping industry and rising unemployment, it has fallen on harder times and now has the reputation of being one of the rougher areas of Liverpool. But today it was to witness something of the exuberance of Beatles rock and roll. (Since 1960, Bootle has undergone something of a resurgence.)
A very young would-be promoter, aged 17 years named Dave Forshaw, was also in attendance at the turning-point performance at Litherland at the end of 1960. He saw his chance and took it. He booked the Beatles for some of the dates not reserved by Brian Kelly for shows organized by himself. Tonight, he put them on at Saint John's Hall in the Bootle.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Beekay
January 5, 1961
At this point, Liverpool again takes a hand in the story of the Beatles, this time in the person of Brian Kelly. After their return from Hamburg, the Beatles had asked Bob Wooler, a professional MC on the Liverpool rock scene, if he could find them work. Bob Wooler knows everybody who is anybody in Liverpool entertainment circles. One of those people is Brian Kelly, who organizes dances under his own brand name of Beekay. Bob had weaseled the Beatles onto one of Brian's shows at the end of 1960. Mr Kelly was immediately impressed by the enthusiastic audience response and booked the Beatles into shows this month through March.
The band is being paid six or eight English pounds sterling for these shows, enough to encourage them to keep at it. At a couple of shows a week, that puts their earnings right in the ballpark of the average for a UK male breadwinner of about 200 pounds per annum. Better than a sharp stick in the eye!
Tonight, they perform a return engagement at he site of their recent "Direct from Germany" triumph, Litherland Town Hall.
At this point, Liverpool again takes a hand in the story of the Beatles, this time in the person of Brian Kelly. After their return from Hamburg, the Beatles had asked Bob Wooler, a professional MC on the Liverpool rock scene, if he could find them work. Bob Wooler knows everybody who is anybody in Liverpool entertainment circles. One of those people is Brian Kelly, who organizes dances under his own brand name of Beekay. Bob had weaseled the Beatles onto one of Brian's shows at the end of 1960. Mr Kelly was immediately impressed by the enthusiastic audience response and booked the Beatles into shows this month through March.
The band is being paid six or eight English pounds sterling for these shows, enough to encourage them to keep at it. At a couple of shows a week, that puts their earnings right in the ballpark of the average for a UK male breadwinner of about 200 pounds per annum. Better than a sharp stick in the eye!
Tonight, they perform a return engagement at he site of their recent "Direct from Germany" triumph, Litherland Town Hall.
 |
| Brian Kelly and Pete Best - photo by Dick Matthews |
Friday, December 31, 2010
End of a Very Big Year
December 31,1960
The Beatles play their last gig for this year at their old standby, the Casbah, in Pete Best's basement. For these last three engagements, they press into service the bass player for Pete's old band the Blackjacks to replace the absent Stu Sutcliffe. His name is Chas Newby, and he becomes one of the short list of musicians with a legitimate claim to being a member, however briefly, of the biggest pop group of the century. (I recon, Paul wasn't yet ready to become the official full-time bassist for the band, but that is coming soon.)
Next up, 1961, and the Beatles continue to build their fan base. Meanwhile, best wishes to you for 2011.
The Beatles play their last gig for this year at their old standby, the Casbah, in Pete Best's basement. For these last three engagements, they press into service the bass player for Pete's old band the Blackjacks to replace the absent Stu Sutcliffe. His name is Chas Newby, and he becomes one of the short list of musicians with a legitimate claim to being a member, however briefly, of the biggest pop group of the century. (I recon, Paul wasn't yet ready to become the official full-time bassist for the band, but that is coming soon.)
Next up, 1961, and the Beatles continue to build their fan base. Meanwhile, best wishes to you for 2011.
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