You can get your copy of Tim’s book here and also watch the interview below about his fascinating book too.
When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles: All Their Songs with Encouraging Words for Challenging Times Paperback
This book addresses all the songs of the Beatles, from their earliest demos to Abbey Road, in a conversational, accessible format. Special attention is devoted to the band’s creative process and its influence on and synergistic relationship with the culture at large. The book’s genesis was the author’s hope that a daily Beatles song could provide a brief respite from the significant stress and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and beyond that, from the challenges of any personally difficult time – our times of trouble.
Interview between Ken Michaels and David Bedford as they discuss The Beatles What If? and many other Beatles topics too.
David Bedford returns for this fun conversation involving his latest book “The Beatles: What If? Times When Beatles History Could Have Worked Out Differently”) which deals with circumstances where Beatles history could easily have changed. Many of us have thought about what might have happened if the Beatles never went to Hamburg, or if Brian Epstein never died, or if he never became the Beatles manager? How about if “Love Me Do” failed to make it on the U.K. charts, or if John never died, would the Beatles have ever reunited? David and his co-author Andrew Phillips approach all these possible different curves in the Beatles history and give their honest opinions of how history would have changed, and we discuss some of them right here. David also talks about his new Beatles musical “Shake It Up Baby” and his forthcoming documentary film “No Hamburg, No Beatles.” Thank you, David, for another brilliant show from you!
Get your copy of the book now!
The Beatles What If? Limited Edition Hardback (UK EUROPE)
How different would the world have been without The Beatles?
This book explores the many times The Beatles story could have turned out so differently. What if it didn’t happen the way it did?
Ever since author Nigel Pearce published his book, Inside Number 3: The Illustrated History of Apple Records, Beatles fans have had the best chance ever to relive those colourful days once again inside The Beatles’ Apple Headquarters at 3, Savile Row. Nigel’s book takes us inside Apple, and the only successful part of Apple: Apple Records.
All this was done via a brand-new angle, with Nigel showing part of his incredible and unique collection of products and artefacts captured in the book. There will be artists and records, as well as documents that you will be discovering for the first time.
However, in this multi-media age, he has now brought those photographs and images to life in a unique presentation that has already wowed the audience at the recent Felixstowe Beatles Festival in June 2025.
Nigel’s Record Collection of Apple Records
The whole presentation lasts for over two hours, though it doesn’t feel like at all! This is a trip, not via a history book, but via a superb collage of content, visuals, and stories told by Nigel. You are taken back to 1966 to understand Apple’s vague start, through those colourful years and brought back to the modern day, by that one immoveable force that was The Beatles.
Apple Boutique
March 1966 is the starting point and immediately you find yourself in the Revolver sessions with the Beatles’ promo videos of “Rain” and “Taxman”. Nigel illustrates the first public knowledge of Apple with some slides and then we move into the technicolour world of The Apple Boutique at 94 Bakers Street with colour film showing the insides and with Dame Maggie Smith and Bob Newhart – a unique and fantastic piece of film.
Number 3 Savile Row
Onto 1968, and the whole “Hey Jude” broadcast, which caused so much stress and panic to ITV executives that night is re-constructed and is shown in full and you are back there again in 1968. From then on it is a rollercoaster of video and photo content, both rare and well-known, and it is so well put together that the whole book and Apple building is brought to life. We see perhaps the world’s first ever DVD/ Video presentation of “Our First Four”, which is a very rare production of the first artists to appear in a set by Apple as we travel through the archives of Apple Records. But it is a vibrant and colourful voyage of Beatles discovery through Apple Records.
Our First Four
Who is included in the presentation apart from The Beatles? We have The Radna Krisna Temple, The Iveys and Badfinger, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, James Taylor, and so much more.
Badfinger
If that is not enough, then to give it all context, time pops are placed throughout the presentation that expertly frames these times and events and wraps you in the living history of the ‘60s.
When it is all over, you are not only brought back to today’s world having delved into the previously little-known history of Apple Records.
The angle in which Nigel has presented this is unique and fascinating and is only possible via his collection and illustration of the artefacts to which he has collated over the years. Yes, The Beatles story has been told many times, but The Story of Apple has never been revealed in this detail.
Book him for your event, school or simply a presentation to a group that you have put together, you will re-live those great times, and you will feel that you have glimpsed into the rarely told part of The Beatles’ story: Apple Records.
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
The Cavern had failed to keep going in the wake of The Beatles’ success with owner Ray McFall being declared bankrupt. In stepped Debbie’s father Alf Geoghegan and friend Joe Davey: Debbie was asked by her father if he should buy it! Guess what she said? A grand re-opening was planned.
The Prime Minister Harold Wilsonand VIP Guests
Prime Minister Harold Wilson
After months of working all the hours that God sent the day of the re-opening of the original Cavern Club finally arrived. The Prime Minister Harold Wilson, resident of No 10 Downing Street would metaphorically turn the key to another famous No 10.. My dad, (Alf Geoghegan) and Joe Davey had bought the lease to the Cavern in March 1966 when the previous owner (Ray McFall) went bankrupt.
Invitation List
Saturday 23rd July 1966
The day arrived and the world’s press was waiting. The red carpet was laid down on Mathew Street and a red ribbon hung across the entrance to the Cavern. Inside, champagne was on ice and canapes were prepared. At 12.15pm the resident of No. 10 Downing Street would metaphorically turn the key to another famous No. 10. Liverpool’s famous pop shrine was to be given a new lease of life.
Excitement and anticipation quickly overcame our exhaustion when the police opened the barriers for the Lord Mayor’s shiny black limousine which pulled to a gentle stop outside the club. Excited chatter burst into a crescendo of cheers and whistles as the chauffeur opened the door for Harold Wilson to alight, followed by his wife Mary and his son Giles with the Lord Mayor close behind. The police held the press back as they surrounded the car and converged towards the entrance of the Cavern, all vying for the best shots.
The World’s Press
Mathew Street was bursting at the seams with throngs of people eager to catch a glimpse of the V I P’s and celebrities that were arriving for the grand re-opening. Harold Wilson, followed by distinguished guests made their way down to the Cavern stage for the speeches and the unveiling of the commemorative plaque. The World’s Press simultaneously switched on their light meters and the surge of electricity caused the lights to fuse.
Is There an Electrician in the House?
None of the microphones worked and my dad had to shout from the stage “Is there an electrician in the house.” From somewhere in the darkness a voice answered, ‘I know where the electrics are, I’ll sort it.” We never knew who this saviour was until fifteen years later: that is a whole story in itself!
The ceremony resumed and the celebrations began.
The VIP Guest list
VIP Guest List 1
An eighteen-hour star studded marathon followed in three sessions. The Hideaways kicked off the entertainment, followed by numerous local bands and acts included Billy J Kramer, Marty Wilde, George Fame, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick and Titch, The Bachelors, The Searchers ,The Fourmost, The Merseys, Solomon Burke, Rufus Thomas, The Scaffold, and The Pete Best Combo.
This first-hand account of Debbie’s teen years frequenting and eventually helping to run the original Cavern Club is the authentic inside story of the Beatles launch pad, full of triumphs and failures – and surprise celebrity encounters.
£17.25Original price was: £17.25.£13.50Current price is: £13.50.
The new book by David Bedford and Andrew Phillips, The Beatles What If? has Beatles fans talking around the world! Find out why in this interview on Robert Miller’s “Follow Your Dreams” podcast.
We discuss different scenarios in Beatles history where everything COULD have worked out differently. DO you agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments.
