What a smashing little book! The author Debbie Greenberg was an addicted cave dweller in the 1960’s in the world’s most famous club – The Cavern in Liverpool.
She witnessed all 292 performances of The Beatles and gives a vivid insight eloquently expressed, the conditions; the sweat, smell, and memories inside the Cavern.
When the Cavern Club closed in 1966 her father Alf Geoghegan became the new owner and Debbie was thrust into a new family business resurrecting the legacy of this iconic shrine of the Mersey Beat era.
The book is a very easy read with loads of interesting photos, posters and press clips. The book includes some interesting encounters with many celebrities, especially a surprise visit by ‘Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman. Life in the fast lane isn’t always a bed of roses and Debbie gives an account of many problems and turmoil the family had to overcome.
The book contains a wealth of inside information not only about the Cavern, but also a concise remarkable autobiography, which I found so interesting and honestly expressed.
The Beatles at the Cavern on 22nd August 1962 copyright Peter Kaye
It was The Beatles last night at The Cavern. Although Brian Epstein promised that The Beatles would return to The Cavern, they never did. 3rd August 1963 would the last of their almost 300 appearances at the Mathew Street club that had become their home since 1961.
Debbie Greenberg, a Cavernite at the time, would go on to be more involved with The Cavern when her father became the owner of the legendary club. Debbie’s story with the Cavern is detailed in her incredible book, “Cavern: The Inside Story“.
In this excerpt, she shares some of her memories and feelings of seeing The Beatles at The Cavern for the last time.
From Debbie Greenberg’s book:
I was about to leave our house on the afternoon of 3rd August 1963 when I spotted the Beatles arriving at the Harrison’s house in Macketts Lane. George’s car, a racing green Jaguar with the license plate 28 PXX. In their pink shirts. Brown suede waistcoats and dark trousers, they leapt out of the car and ran into the house.
I couldn’t wait to get down to the Cavern to see them play again. I made sure I was there well before the Cavern opened at 7pm. I met Sue in town at 5p.m. and we joined the queue outside the Cavern. It was wise to get there early. By the time the doors finally opened the queue stretched all the way down Mathew Street. Little did we know this would be the last time we would see the Beatles at the Cavern.
The club was overflowing. We stood packed like sardines, but still managed to drum a beat with our feet and hands. From the back of the crowd we could see the Beatles on stage in the same outfits I had seen them in a few hours earlier.
It was the most incredible experience to hear them playing their number one hit, “Please Please Me”, after following them on their journey to stardom.
The Beatles at the Cavern on 22nd August 1962 copyright Peter Kaye
During The Beatles final performance at the Cavern on 3rd August 1963. The lights fused and Paul instantly took over on the piano and entertained us until the lights were restored with his rendition of ‘When I’m 64’. We hadn’t heard this song before, so it was a real impromptu treat for us.
The memorable night was edged with tears. We had mixed feelings about the Beatles moving on. We were thrilled they had found fame. But at the same time couldn’t help feeling sad that we had lost them to the rest of the world. After all, they were our Beatles.
Get your copy of Debbie’s book here – with a special offer too!
Cavern Club – The Inside Story
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.
On a warm July 28th in 1968, The Beatles went on ‘The Mad Day Out’, a phrase coined by now legendary photographer, Tom Murray. One of the locations was by the River Thames in Wapping. The Beatles posed on the river bank with Tower Bridge in the background.
Tom very kindly allowed me to use one of his amazing photos as the cover of my book ‘Guide to the Beatles London’.
The book is divided into the followings sections:
1. The Story of The Beatles in London. A chronological history from their first visit to London to their break-up.
2. A walking tour of The Beatles London. A three hour walking tour around major Beatles locations in Central London.
3. Drive My Car. Other Beatles locations in and around London. My book is still available
Liverpool’s terminally happy and enthusiastic export, Angie McCartney, stepmum to Paul, is still loving life at 90, and in two great interviews here, listen to Angie being interviewed by Jude Kessler and Lanea Stagg on their She Said She Said podcast, and also our favourite Antipodean, Plastic EP!
Angie’s Fascinating Book
Your Mother Should Know by Angie McCartney
Angie with Jude Kessler and Lanea Stagg on She Said, She Said
Breathtakingly well-written… Absolutely, not to be missed!
What a unique and entertaining jaunt. For me, The Beatles’ number one fan (at least in my heart) 30 Minutes in Memphis by Paul Ferrante is made all the more special due to the 100% accurate attention to Beatle history as well as the general socio-political atmosphere of the nation back in 1966. When ultimate Beatles fan, Marnie––daughter of the Memphis police sergeant and a typical example of teenage innocence in the ’60s, is told that the Fab Four are scheduled to perform and that her best friend has secured tickets for her birthday, she is over the moon! That is, until a disastrous yet misrepresented quote by John Lennon, on Christianity’s declining popularity, is released in a popular teen publication, which ignites a firestorm in an already racially charged atmosphere.
Forbidden from going to the concert, Marnie is paralyzed with fear when she discovers that the local KKK chapter, led by her father’s boss, Lieutenant Joe Bob Sutter, is planning to make this Beatles concert their last. They plan to assassinate John Lennon, perhaps all four of them on stage. With the show just days away, Marnie and Myles must prevent this tragedy from occurring. 30 Minutes in Memphis is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. A unique blend of historical fact and “on beat” storytelling that blends seamlessly, creating an indelible portrait of teenage life in the ’60s touched by the volatility of the period. Breathtakingly well-written, without a scrap of profanity. Absolutely, not to be missed!
Bill Harry, friend of John Lennon and Founder of Mersey Beat, who wrote the foreword to the book, says: “This is a treasure chest of research and a visual delight, this will prove to be a work no Beatles fan should be without.”
After “Liddypool“, David Bedford expanded a chapter from “Liddypool” called the Fab 27, which told how John’s first Quarrymen ended up as John, Paul, George and Ringo.
By the time he had expanded the story to include those who taught The Beatles to play and the artists they backed on stage, he had 104 people and couldn’t believe how many he had, and the connection with the Fab Four.
Geoff Lee, classmate of John Lennon at Quarry Bank School reveals for the first time how he suggested to John Lennon that, because of his great singing voice, he should start a skiffle group. The group Lennon started was called The Quarrymen: the Quarrymen became The Beatles.
Not only did Geoff suggest John start the group that became The Beatles, but gave the young Lennon his first guitar. Bedford says, “We had always thought that John’s first guitar was purchased by his mother, but it wasn’t!” John later remembered Geoff’s generosity.
“I used to borrow a guitar at first. I couldn’t play, but a pal of mine had one and it fascinated me. Eventually my mother bought me one from one of those mail order firms. I suppose it was a bit crummy, when you think about it. But I played it all the time and I got a lot of practise.”
Geoff’s story is featured in the new book by Beatles historian and author David Bedford, “The Fab one hundred and Four” which tells of the evolution of The Beatles from The Quarrymen to the Fab Four.
Featured in The Fab one hundred and Four are: 1. the first published photographs of Silver Beatles’ drummer Norman Chapman. 2. the real influences in their formative years – family members, schoolmates, mentors and musical contemporaries. 3. profiles of every musician who was a member of the group – from The Quarrymen to The Beatles – from 1956 through 1962. Whether they were in the group for a night, a week, a year, two years or more, they are all mentioned here.
Listen to David’s interview with podcaster Bob Sorrentino about the book.
