Posted on 10/04/202410/04/2024 by Buzz — Leave a comment

THE CAVERN CLUB – A FEW FAMOUS DENIZENS

Patrick (Paddy) Delaney – The Cavern Club doorman

Pat Delaney’s signature:

Paddy Delaney's Autograph — Paddy Delaney’s Autograph

A story about Mr. Delaney from none other than Bill Harry that was found Online

MerseyCats – The Liverpool R ‘N’ R Childrens Charity-Paddy Delaney on the Door, Ted Knibbs gives it all away

Paddy’s obituary written by Spencer Leigh in 2009

Paddy Delaney: Doorman at the Cavern Club during its Sixties heyday | The Independent | The Independent

A YouTube Interview with Paddy Delaney

The Beatles and the Cavern Club: Interview with Paddy Delaney and George Harrison’s Parents – YouTube

Interview with Paddy Delaney and George Harrison’s Parents

Although Allan Williams did occasionally visit the Cavern, he was a very independent and headstrong individual. He had opened his own club, the Jacaranda, and had his hands in the operation of numerous Liverpool venues. He signed this EP by The Big Three along with Cavern compere Bob Wooler on the back side of the EP. The Big Three were acknowledged as possibly being the best rock musicians in Liverpool even at the time of the Beatles. Their lack of songwriting ability was the apparent drawback to a bigger claim at fame. This perception was passed on to me by none other than Tony Bramwell, a friend of the Fabs!

The signatures of the Beatles first manager along with the Cavern compere:

Signatures of Allan Williams and Bob Wooler

Cavern Owner: Ray McFall

Pictured: Bob Wooler – Cavern compere with the owner of the Cavern – Ray McFall. Wooler appears in the background. Ray McFall was instrumental in achieving the transition from what was viewed as primarily a jazz club, to a rock ‘n’ roll club. Hesitant at first, the success of the Beatles forced his hand as his business instincts directed him to make the change in the focus of the club!

Ray McFall – obituary (telegraph.co.uk)

A Ray McFall signed Cavern contract in 1964 for a group to appear at the Cavern called the “Redcaps” which I purchased from the UK company entitled TRACKS.

You saw the Bob Wooler signature on THE BIG THREE EP above and here is a photo of a book written about Bob Wooler by Spencer Leigh. We all know that Bob literally introduced the Beatles at the Cavern well over 100 times. Bob was beaten up at Paul McCartney’s 21st birthday party by John Lennon when he attempted to make a joke about Lennon’s trip to Spain with Brian Epstein in 1963. A financial settlement was reportedly worked out between John and Bob Wooler.

Thought a great way to end this post is this immortal Granada TV Cavern appearance (colorized) that appears on YouTube with Bob Wooler’s intro of the Beatles! Hope you enjoy!

The Beatles – Some Other Guy (LIVE at The Cavern Club) [*COLORIZED*] – YouTube

The Beatles at The Cavern

Buzz

If You Want To Know More About The Cavern Club

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.

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Posted on 28/02/202328/02/2023 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Despair as The Cavern Club Closes

And in The End?

Until that fateful last night on 28th February 1966, no one knew anything was wrong. It was just like any other Sunday night at the Cavern – until Ray McFall arrived and informed the staff that the bailiffs would be there the next morning. He said the club was to stay open all night – with free admission. Young men were furious, girls cried, and by the early hours, patrons had blocked the stairs leading down to the club. No one could get in or out.

When the police arrived, Paddy told the protestors to let them in. The kids were escorted out but they wanted doorman Paddy to be the last one to leave.

Cavern Sound Ltd

The two working directors of Cavern Sound Ltd., Nigel Greenberg and Peter Hepworth, whose recording studio occupied the basement of No. 8 Mathew Street, next door to the Cavern at No. 10, had no idea Ray McFall was about to declare bankruptcy when they locked up the previous Friday. The recording studio could only be accessed through the front door of No. 8, where the Cavern offices were situated.

The Bailiffs

Nigel recalls: “When we arrived for work that Monday we found that bailiffs, acting on behalf of the Official Receiver, were sealing up the front roller shutter to prevent anyone from removing any of Ray McFall’s assets, which were to be sold to pay off his debts.

“I tried to explain to one of the bailiffs that Cavern Sound Ltd. was a completely separate legal entity to the Cavern Club and that none of the studio equipment belonged to Ray, but the bailiff would have none of it and prevented us from entering the building.”

Find out more about Cavern Sound Ltd.

What happened next in Cavern history?

Find out more about the Cavern story in Debbie’s fascinating book

Debbie Greenberg

Cavern Club – The Inside Story

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Posted on 19/04/202219/04/2022 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Debbie at the Fest for Beatles Fans

Fest for Beatles Fans, New Jersey

My first Beatles Fest in Jersey City was memorable for all the right reasons. On arrival at our hotel, we were greeted by a magical view of the night skyline of Manhattan from across the Hudson River.

The Music

It was so good to finally meet all my fellow authors in person and to experience the exciting atmosphere of the Beatles Fest for the first time. There was so much happening every day. Author’s panels, celebrity talks and presentations and of course the one ingredient that brought us all together in the first place, the music.

Terry Crain with Debbie and Nigel — Beatles Bookstore Authors Terry Crain with Debbie and husband Nigel

10 Years at the Cavern

I had been invited to give a presentation relating to my ten years at the Cavern; five years as a member and five years as an owner. The audience were thrilled to learn that I had attended all 292 of The Beatles appearances at the Cavern, so much so that they rose as one and gave me a standing ovation which was very gratifying.

It was great to catch up with Mark Lewisohn again, who has been a good friend of ours for almost forty years.

Liverpool

There were so many fantastic bands appearing that we were spoilt for choice. The spectacular sound of the band LIVERPOOL, and the band that came the closest to transporting me back to hearing The Beatles in the Cavern in the early sixties was The Black Ties. Their sound was raw and loud, and I felt as if I had jumped aboard a time machine and had been dropped back in the Cavern listening to The Beatles when they started to play , “I Saw Her Standing There”.

Cavern Club: The Inside Story

I did well with sales of my book, CAVERN CLUB THE INSIDE STORY and received very positive feedback.

Cavern Club – The Inside Story

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Nigel and I met such lovely like-minded people, experts, authors, and customers. Everybody was happy and the feeling was infectious throughout the venue, there was music everywhere.

I am already looking forward to my next Beatles Fest in Jersey City next year.

Thanks

Huge thanks go to Mark Lapidos, Susan Ratisher Ryan and all the teams of technicians and musicians and everyone that made the weekend so memorable.

Kati, Andy Leigh, Me ,Nigel Greenberg, Simon Weitzman and Nancy Cohen

Posted on 09/02/202208/02/2023 by liddypool — Leave a comment

The Beatles Debut at The Cavern Club: 9th February 1961

Debbie Greenberg, our resident Cavern Club expert, looks back at the very first time The Beatles appeared at the legendary Cavern Club. In an excerpt from her book, Cavern Club: The Inside Story, Debbie discusses The Beatles debut.

“The Cavern’s identity started to change at the start of the decade. Rock ‘n’ roll replaced jazz and the Cavern became the heart that gave Mersey its beat.

Debbie with Paul McCartney at The Cavern

“We watched The Beatles debut at The Cavern lunchtime session on 9th February 1961. We were blown away. The Beatles were different, their music was incredible, their appearance raunchy, their energy infectious. They just oozed excitement.

“Six weeks later on the 23rd March, after a lunchtime session at the Cavern, they jumped on a train at Liverpool’s Lime Street Station on their way to Hamburg for a second time having previously played there in 1960.

We Missed Them

“This time they sped out of our lives for four months. We missed them, but still went down to the Cavern to watch the other groups, like Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Singing Blue Genes, The Remo Four, Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes and many more.

“They were all fabulous groups but they weren’t The Beatles.

Exactly three years to the day from their debut at The Cavern Club in front of a couple of hundred fans, they appeared in front of 73 million Americans on the Ed Sullivan Show.

What a journey they had made in just three years.

Find out more about the story of The Cavern Club in Debbie’s book, Cavern Club: The Inside Story.

Cavern Club – The Inside Story

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