Photo of the Day: Abbey Road

Abbey Road Wall, May 22nd 2017

The Beatles First Appearance at the London Palladium.

I wanted to talk about the fact that there is no footage to go along with this fantastic audio of the Beatles very first appearance on 'Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium' in 1963.

This appearance is what is widely regarded as the beginning of the Beatlemania phenomenon as a whole in Britain. It certainly attracted the attention of the newspapers who ran stories the next morning of the scenes inside and outside of the Palladium of screaming fans and fainting. Of course, the papers and journalists were months behind the times as this had been going on, in Liverpool at least, for 3 years already! But now the term 'Beatlemania' was coined (by the Daily Mirror, no less) and it was "Happening everywhere... even in sedate Cheltenham!"

Beatlemania: The Daily Mirror noted that it was 'Happening everywhere' in November 1963.

Sunday Night At the London Palladium was a variety show in Britain similar to The Ed Sullivan Show (that the Beatles would debut in America on in February of 1964) in the United States.  The show usually opened with a performance from The Tiller Girls but this evening, the 13th October, the curtains went up and the Beatles appeared briefly. The place went insane! Host Bruce Forsyth (Yep, the same Brucey, he was the same age as Paul is now, back then!) tried in vain to quiet them and when they finally did he told them "And if you want to see them again, they'll be back in 42 minutes!"

The audience, both at home and in the theatre, had to sit through all the other acts that appeared, which included Singer/comedian Des O'Connor and American R'n'B singer Brook Benton.

“I went on just before they did and had six minutes for my act, I could barely hear myself. I knew the audience wanted me out of the way as soon as possible so I made jokes and sang bits of Beatles songs. When I heard Paul warming up on bass behind the curtain, I cut my act short by two minutes.” - Des O'Connor

After Des had done his bit, Bruce Forsyth came back out in a collarless jacket and Beatle wig, saying; "I thought I'd be a dead ringer for Ringo! Are you ready?! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Here they are! The Beatles!" and finally the curtains came back up and the Beatles performed.

The songs they performed were; 'From Me To You', 'I'll Get You', 'She Loves You' (Their most recent hit) and ending with 'Twist & Shout'. Just before the last song, Paul's introduction was drowned out by the screams from the audience, to which Lennon screamed "SHUURRRUP!" to more screams and a round of applause from the older members of the audience who were no doubt getting extremely fed up of the teenage girls' shrieking and screaming.

The Beatles performed once more on the show in January 1964 but after that, never again.

ATV (Which was later to become ITV in Britain) produced the show and I was hoping that, since we all know about the BBC and their policy of wiping in the 1960s and 70s, that ATV wouldn't have done the same thing. Appears they did. Why? Well because back then, everything that was recorded was bigger and took up much more space and when colour TV came around in the late 60s. The BBC and ITV thought that monochromatic footage was of even LESS VALUE and they couldn't re-use the tapes and subsequently....destroyed the tapes. Yes people. The Beatles' appearances on BBC shows like 'Juke Box Jury' and 'Top Of The Pops' are missing, probably wiped. I can only imagine when the BBC started their archiving in the late 70s and discovered that almost all of their output from the beginning of television in the 1930s to the 1960s was gone, you could probably hear their collective heads banging against the wall.

The footage is listed as missing and this audio was captured by a TV viewer who hooked up his record player to record the audio to vinyl. I'd like to say on behalf of Beatles fans everywhere, Thank you to everyone who experienced the Beatles first hand and recorded footage or audio of their appearances! Corporations like the BBC and ATV/ITV obviously decided posterity wasn't in their best interests! I always say that if I could travel back in time. I'd bring a camera and camcorder for the future!

I'm In Love with London and I Feel Fine

 

Leaving my mark on the Abbey Road Wall.

By Elizabeth Alvarado

Okay, the title might be a bit of an understatement because I feel more than fine. But I really wanted to throw in a Beatles song reference to make this seem more exciting than "My adventures in London" or some other boring title like that.

Signed John Lennon guitar, I'm not making this up!

And a signed Paul McCartney guitar that used to be at the Apple offices.

For as long as I can remember, London has been the one place I've always wanted to visit. England itself seemed like such a magical place and I know that sounds really cheesy but I don't know how else to describe it. I've always been so drawn to this place. So you can imagine my surprise when I was accepted to a study abroad program in London through my university. Finally I was going to visit the one place I'd always dreamed of going. Ten glorious weeks in London. It seemed so unreal. Honestly, being here still seems so unreal.

I arrived in London on March 23rd and everything has been so insanely amazing. I can't remember the last time I felt this happy. As a huge Beatles fan, this is the ultimate pilgrimage to make (apart from Liverpool of course) and it's still beyond me how much better London is than I thought it would be. Yes, this is really mushy and full of clichés but this is what London has done to me.

The second week I was here I went to see "Let It Be" which is a musical on the west end about the Beatles. It's basically a tribute band singing over 40 Beatles songs. The guys looked nothing like the real Beatles (surprise, surprise) but I was far enough way that if I squinted and turned my head to the side I could trick myself into thinking they looked just like them. It was actually really fun - the show not pretending they looked like the Beatles. The show ended with "Hey Jude" and I swear that song might just be the closest thing we have to magic. The way it brings people together never fails to amaze me. Throughout the show much of the audience had been reserved and casually nodded their heads along to the music (unlike me who was screaming out every song and probably (definitely) embarrassing myself) but once "Hey Jude" started everyone was on their feet screaming out the lyrics and it was great. If there’s one thing I love, it’s not being the only person embarrassing myself through my horrible singing. 

The Bag O'Nails Club!

The next day I visited Abbey Road and I was so overcome with emotion that I actually started to cry. I mean, I pretty much cry at everything but I really wasn't expecting this. I'd seen Abbey Road Studios in so many pictures and to actually be there was quite an experience. After signing the wall with possibly the lamest message ever, I took approximately 6,384 pictures. (This is a joke, by the way - but it was a lot) Finally I was going to cross that famous crosswalk. It didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped considering that cars would pass by in a hurry and honk incessantly, but I finally did it. None of the pictures came out too well but I'm not sure whether that's my fault for being so awkward or my roommate's for being the worst photographer ever. 

*Insert Heavy Fan Girl Breathing Here*

Don't know what I'm doing with my hands but I felt SO happy here!!

 

Me, trying not to cry and smile at the same time.

Obviously the next stop after Abbey Road was Paul McCartney's house. Luckily, no one else thought to visit Paul's house so I was alone with my photographer and yes, I started crying here too. For some reason, I kept remembering this thing I'd read in a book once about how fans would stand on overturned flower pots to peek over the gate and they'd be able to see Paul in the bathroom. Yes, in the bathroom (!!!). As I was standing outside the gate I kept thinking about how great it must have been to be a Beatles fan in the 60s. Just to see Paul in the bathroom.

People walking by gave me weird looks for taking a photo of the sign but I didn't care, I had to get one!

Paul's house. Unfortunately, no overturned flower pots so I could peek over the gate.

 

This past weekend I went on a Beatles walking tour and it wasn't as bad as I'd expected. Sure, the tour guide spit a lot when he spoke but he was nice and seemed really enthusiastic. I kind of wish he'd been younger though because I seriously think we could have been soul mates. He majored in journalism too and he loves the Beatles. And obviously those two characteristics are the only ones needed to qualify as my soul mate. After the tour, I went back to Abbey Road and just leaned against the gate hoping and praying I’d magically be transported back in time, but alas, nothing. While I was standing there an old man approached me and gave me a flier advertising his Beatles shop down the road. After a few more minutes of wishful thinking I followed the directions on the flier to the shop and while it was tiny, it was overfilled with tons of Beatles merchandise. There was even original memorabilia from the 60s that the owner has been collecting for years. I had a nice chat with him about his collection and then I left with my purchases which included a Beatles pen, shot glass and mug – three things I obviously need.

A costume from 'Help!'

Just in case I haven't made it obvious enough - London has been everything I'd hoped for and much, much more. I wish I could just stay here forever and ever. Do you ever have those moments where you feel as if you're dreaming? Because that's exactly how I feel right now. And I never want to wake up.

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We'd like to thank Elizabeth for graciously taking time out of her adventures to do a write up for us here so THANK YOU and we encourage you to check out Elizabeth's writing at:

http://www.collegemagazine.com/author/alvara64uw-edu/

Fan Stories: Erica Williams

 

The Cavern Proudly Presents: Erica Williams in her first appearance at the Cavern.
 Here she is everybody, the woman that stole my heart (alright, alright, I paid her to take it!), Ladies & Genitals, Erica Williams!



1. What's your name?

Erica Williams

2. How old/young are you?

25-35 would be the box I would check here... you know, if there were boxes.  :-p

3. Where are you in the world?

Austin, Texas, The Live Music Capital of the World!! (read that with lots of echo.)

4. What is your earliest Beatles memory?

My EARLIEST Beatles memory is seeing my mom's "Meet the Beatles" record in our record collection when I was really little and used to like looking through her albums.  I really feel like I've always known who they were though.  I became a FAN, however, when my aunt first showed me the film, A Hard Day's Night, when I was about 11.  But, I didn't become COMPLETELY OBSESSED until much more recently, in 2005 when I first saw Paul in concert.

5. Did you ever attend a Beatles concert between 1960 and 1966? 

Unfortunately, only in my dreams.

6. Have you met any of the Beatles? Or anyone associated with them?

I have met Paul McCartney!!  Shook his hand too!  I also met Sam Leach in Liverpool and saw Allan Williams in the same place, but didn't speak to him.  Oh, and I've met Dhani Harrison.  Hey, kids count, right?

7. Have you ever seen John, Paul, George or Ringo on a solo tour/gig?

I've seen Paul five times and Ringo twice.  Sadly, John was gone before I was born and George never toured America when I was growing up.

8. In what way have the Beatles inspired you? Did you take up a career because of them?

The Beatles inspire me to get up in the mornings and breathe in and breathe out all day long, simply by having existed.  They are life.  They also inspired me to try and learn to play guitar, which never actually happened because, unfortunately, they never inspired me to have more patience.

9. Ever been to the UK on a Beatle Pilgrimage? Where did you go and what did you see?

Every trip to the UK is a Beatles Pilgrimage if you're a fan.  Yes, I've been a few times, each time I get to see a little more.  Mainly, as far as Beatley places go, I've been to London and Liverpool.  In London, I've been to Abbey Road, Paul's house on Cavendish Ave., the old Apple HQ on Savile Row, the old Apple Boutique on Baker Street, the old Indica Gallery, and probably other places I can't remember.  In Liverpool, I've been to John and Paul's houses, the Cavern Club, the Grapes pub, the old Jacaranda, Paul and George's school, which is now LIPA, and John's art college.  I still want to go to the Casbah though.

10. What is the craziest thing you have done as a fan?

Possibly the craziest thing I've done as a fan, is when I decided one afternoon to fly that same evening to New York City, from Austin, and sleep on the street for a night and a half for the chance to meet Paul McCartney.  :-)


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Erica is an amateur genealogist and runs an incredible family history website and is always on the lookout for more clients at extremely affordable rates! Check it out at:

http://ourfamilytreesite.blogspot.com/

Paul McCartney To Perform at the VE Day Celebrations In London.

A Victory To Remember: Macca to rock the 70th Anniversary of VE Day in London.

There are reports that a concert commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Allied Victory over the Nazi's in Europe in 1945 is to be headlined by Rod Stewart, Elton John and Paul McCartney in May.

The concert is reportedly going to be held in London at Horse Guards Parade, which is the venue for the annual 'Trooping The Colour' celebration for the Monarch's Official Birthday. The concert will be live broadcast in the UK and apart from Macca, Elton and Rod will feature a number of other artists who have yet to be confirmed.

It is also reported that Dame Vera Lynn will make an appearance. Lynn, who has recently marked her 98th birthday, is best known for her hits during the Second World War that include "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" and the song that made her the British Forces' Sweetheart, "We'll Meet Again".

We can't wait to see Paul play this and if the reports are true, which I'm sure they are, it's going to be quite a night!

Fan Stories: Andrea Robbins

Here's another Beatle fan story on this Halloween (though it's not scary!)

This post features Andrea Robbins. Andrea is 31, lives in Germany but is originally from the United States and is a big fan of the Fabulous Four from Liverpool, especially George!

Honoured by her country, decorated by her Queen and loved here in the Beatle universe, here is Andrea Robbins!

 

Andrea Robbins outside a very famous studio.

Earliest Beatles memory?

There was always oldies music on in my family from when I was born, but it was generally '50s music and Motown. It wasn't until a day in early March 1995 that music really burst into my life in the form of a film, when I happened across "A Hard Day's Night" on television. That opening chord, the first scene, and I was completely blown away by The Beatles. They were like nothing I'd ever encountered before, and their talent, wit, charisma and energy enthralled me. I was hooked, to say the least, and from that point on, lived and breathed Beatles, immersing myself in their music and history. Things haven't been the same since, thank goodness! :)

Ever met or seen The Beatles/a Beatle live?

The closest I've come to meeting any of The Beatles is being in the same concert venue as Paul and Ringo, and on the same continent as George... and, I suppose, by visiting Liverpool, London and Hamburg. As mentioned, though, I have been fortunate enough to see both Paul and Ringo live. Absolutely wonderful and priceless experiences!

The impact of The Beatles?

They inspire me in more ways than I could pinpoint or even fully realize! They've taught me to hold onto my dreams, to be here now, to always keep a sense of humor. They broaden my outlook, and inspire me to travel (for instance, I wouldn't have journeyed to India if not for George). As other second generation fans will probably know from their own experiences, being a Beatles fan meant that kids at school made fun of me for liking an "old band," that adults were amused and predicted it would just be a phase, and that connecting with other likeminded fans wasn't really an option until the internet became a part of daily life. In that respect, The Beatles taught me to always remain true to myself. They impact my thoughts, philosophies, fashion, and quite honestly, all aspects of my life. I'm incredibly grateful for their existence, and I couldn't think of a more fantastic soundtrack to my life than their music, collectively and solo.

They certainly led me to becoming even more of a research buff - looking to collect hard to find articles, interviews and books, for instance; or delving more deeply into their Hamburg days. Suffice to say, I also wouldn't be blogging without this band, because it's really a labor of love for these Liverpudlians (though, admittedly, the focus of the blog is more on George, who as you might have guessed is my favorite). No matter what life has in store, what happiness and sadness, The Beatles and their music are there.

Andrea's Beatle-fied Room. Doesn't it look Fab & Gear?

You simply must check out Andrea's fab blog That Eventuality which puts George (who is her favourite) in the foreground!

We'd like to thank Andrea for taking the time to answer our questions and if you would like to see your story up on here then please read this page: The Fans

Beatle Places in London

Hello everybody, or those that are still reading this blog! After a relatively long absence in which life got in the way of doing the things I love, I'm back with a report on all things Beatle. In March 2014 we visited my home country of the United Kingdom and spent a couple of days in the capital of England, London.

To further their successful career, the Beatles knew it was inevitable that they couldn't remain in their hometown of Liverpool in the north west of England. They would have to move to London.

London is where Abbey Road studios is located and as many Beatles fans know, this is where they recorded most of their output between 1962 and 1969.

Getting into the swing of things: Piccadilly Circus in 1963. the year the Beatles moved to London.

When the Beatles finally moved down to London in the summer of 1963, they were staying at the President Hotel on Russell Square. It soon became apparent to Brian Epstein that they were in London more than they were anywhere else and more suitable accommodation needed to be found.

After much searching, Epstein settled on a 4th floor flat (apartment) at 57 Green Street in Mayfair. This was the only time the Beatles ever lived together as a group in London and it was an extremely brief time in the Autumn of 1963.

John and Paul were the first to move out in late 1963, John moved because Cynthia and baby Julian had moved down to London and they needed to all live together so they found a place at 13 Emperor's Gate, Brompton. John, Cynthia and Julian moved into the third floor flat secured for them by photographer Robert Freeman, who lived in the flat below them. The name on the doorbell was 'Hadley' to avoid the fans finding out where they lived but by July 1964, the fans had found out that 'Hadley' was really 'Lennon' and so the Lennon's moved out of Emperor's Gate (with a little help from Paul) to 'Kenwood' which is outside of London in Weybridge, Surrey.

Paul moved out in late 1963 when he started dating the actress Jane Asher, moving into the top floor of 57 Wimpole street, Marylebone, where Jane lived with her parents and brother Peter. Paul has gone on record many times saying he hated the flat in Green Street and the fact that he had the back bedroom so when Jane invited him to live with her he jumped at the chance. Paul moved out of Wimpole Street in 1966 when he bought 7 Cavendish Avenue, St. John's Wood, which he still owns today.

With John and Paul gone, George and Ringo lived at 57 Green Street for only a short time before moving into an apartment at Whaddon House, William Mews, located not far from Harrods in Knightsbridge. Brian Epstein also lived here. George and Ringo lived here for over a year before finally buying homes in the "Stockbroker belt" in Surrey, the same as John had done. Before Ringo moved to Surrey, he moved into an apartment in 34 Montagu Square, Marylebone. After moving to Surrey, he retained the lease on the flat and several rock stars and friends were allowed to live in it, most notably Jimi Hendrix in 1966 & 67 and perhaps even more famously, John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1968. This is the place where Lennon and Ono were busted for drugs by the notorious Detective Sergeant Norman Pilcher. Starr finally sold the lease in 1969 and today there is a blue plaque on the building commemorating Lennon's time in the flat.

Of all the Beatles, Paul is the only one to have remained in London during their career, his home in St. John's Wood being only a short 5 minute walk from Abbey Road made this a perfect place for the Beatles to get together before and after a session.

Since the Beatles spent the majority of their time in London when they weren't touring, there are so many places they visited/lived in/worked in. The most notable of these are Abbey Road and 3 Savile Row. The latter being Apple Corps' HQ from 1968 to 1975. The basement of the building was converted into a recording studio and this is where the majority of the band's 'Let It Be' album was recorded and indeed much of the second half of the accompanying documentary film. As if that wasn't enough to secure the building in the annals of Rock history the Beatles themselves fully cemented it's legendary status by playing their final, albeit impromptu and unannounced, live concert on the rooftop of the building in January 1969. The Rooftop Concert has been incessantly copied and parodied over the years, notably in an episode of the Simpsons where George Harrison guest starred as himself and wryly comments when he sees Homer's Barbershop Quartet playing on the roof of Mo's Bar "It's been done".

The blue plaque dedicated to John & George on the Baker Street Apple Boutique that was open for a short while

The building today is now an estate agents.

Baker Street also is home to the London Beatles store, your one stop shop for Beatles Merchandise

Abbey Road studios. Thankfully still a working studio.

With an obligatory message by ourselves (Erica and Dominic)

And a visit to Paul's Cavendish Avenue home. (He wasn't home)

This is where John met Yoko for the first time, Formerly the Indica Gallery.

3 Savile Row as it looked in 2007. Our last visit there was an ugly Abercrombie & Fitch board around the building

How the Beatles last gig looked to the typical passerby in 1969.

Savile Row is also well known worldwide for its tailor shops.

There are several other fantastic sights to see in London too and a lot of them have a Beatles connection, no matter how small. One place they will have a lifelong connection to, however is Liverpool, which shall be explored in my next blog, so stay tuned!

Rare Beatles Photographs by Henry Grossman

The Beatles were probably the most photographed band on the planet. There are billions of photos of them that have been published, there's the well known ones like their album cover shots and shots of them live but there are also ones that are less well known. Beatles photographs that you may never have seen? Yes.

Rock Paper Photo is a fantastic website that features a wonderfully rare and largely unpublished Beatles photograph collection by Henry Grossman, who is known for his contributions to Time and LIFE magazines.

Grossman's personal Beatles photo archive contains 6,000 photographs of the Fab Four and has been hidden away, just awaiting rediscovery. Henry began photographing the Beatles during their iconic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964 and ever since then was allowed exclusive access by the band to their inner circle. The photographs he got are absolutely wonderful and I am privileged to be able to promote these images on this blog.

The Beatles give a press conference in New York City, 1964. Photo by Henry Grossman. (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

These wonderful images capture the Beatles at the height of Beatlemania. Grossman was part of a select few photographers who were trusted by the band to photograph them. His shots of the group during Help are some of the best photographs of the Beatles ever taken, capturing them at a time when they were beginning to tire of the constant screaming and mania that surrounded them everywhere they went.

John Lennon & Paul McCartney during the filming of Help! The Bahamas, 1965. Photo by Henry Grossman. (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

George Harrison and a lucky lady extra during the filming of Help! The Bahamas, 1965. Photo by Henry Grossman. (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

Ringo Starr keeps the beat going during the filming of Help! The Bahamas, 1965. Photo by Henry Grossman. (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

"The problem was that we went to the Bahamas to film all the hot scenes, and it was freezing. We had to ride around and run around in shirts and trousers, and it was absolutely bloody cold!" - Ringo Starr on filming Help! in the Bahamas.

Paul goofing around between scenes. The Bahamas, 1965. Photo by Henry Grossman. (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

George looks like he's had enough of the cold weather. The Bahamas, 1965. Photo by Henry Grossman. (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

The Beatles in Hyde Park, London, 1967. Photo by Henry Grossman (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

John looking fab in a Sgt. Pepper-esque suit at his Kenwood home in Weybridge, Surrey, 1967. Photo by Henry Grossman (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

Paul clears up his stubble at Abbey Road Studios, London, 1967. Photo by Henry Grossman (Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo)

These fabulous shots and more by Henry Grossman can all be purchased here.

Check out Rolling Stone.com for more fabulous shots by Henry Grossman, courtesy of Rock, Paper, Photo.com

Visiting The United Kingdom - A Guide for Beatles Fans

The United Kingdom is made up of 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. (Image © Freeworldmaps.net)

Visiting the United Kingdom is every non-British Beatle fans' dream. As a native Brit myself, I have decided to create this post to advise those who are going to be visiting Britain for the first time and to make the most out of their experience.

Beatles fans will want to visit England, in particular the cities of Liverpool and London.

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool Skyline with the HMS Ark Royal.

Liverpool is situated in the county of Merseyside, which is in the northwest of England. Liverpool has the singular distinction of being the true birthplace of John, Paul, George and Ringo in the 1940s and is the city where the Beatles were formed in the late 1950s.

As such, Liverpool is full of historic Beatles sites and buildings that will forever be associated with the band. These include:

251 Menlove Avenue "Mendips"- John Lennon lived here under the care of his Aunt Mimi & Uncle George, George Smith died in 1955 and Lennon remained in Mendips until he moved out when Beatlemania was in full swing in 1963. Mimi sold Mendips in 1965 and moved down to a bungalow that John had bought for her in Poole, Dorset in the south of England. She remained in Poole until her death in December 1991. Mimi passed away nearly 11 years to the day John Lennon was murdered on 8th December 1980. Mendips was bought by Yoko Ono and she donated it to the National Trust who restored it's interior to how it would have looked when Lennon was living there in the 1950s and now offer tours of the property to fans.

20 Forthlin Road - Paul McCartney's former childhood home which is also under the care of the National Trust. Like Lennon's home, 20 Forthlin road is also restored to how it would have looked when McCartney lived there and is available for tours by the National Trust. Many early Beatles songs were written at 20 Forthlin road and this is what interested the National Trust in the property. Paul McCartney moved out of the home in 1963 and his father, Jim, moved out of 20 Forthlin road in 1965 when Paul bought him a house in the Wirral. Jim died in 1976. In 1995 the National Trust purchased the property and opened it to the public in 1998.

12 Arnold Grove - George Harrison's birthplace. George lived in this house for the first 6 years of his life before the family moved to 25 Upton Green in Speke, another area of Liverpool. Today, 12 Arnold Grove is privately owned and you can view the house's exterior, the interior is not open to the public and probably wouldn't contain any references to George Harrison as a toddler anyway.

25 Upton Green -This was George Harrison's second Liverpool home. He lived here from 1950 to 1963 and this was the house where George's mother Louise encouraged the early Beatles to practice and hone their stage act. This is also still privately owned and not open to the public.

10 Admiral Grove -This was Ringo's second Liverpool home. His Madryn street birthplace was under threat of demolition but plans have been halted, despite Ringo himself saying not to bother as he didn't really remember Madryn street anyway.  10 Admiral Grove can be seen in the 1963 documentary 'The Mersey Sound' when Ringo leaves the house and gets mobbed by kids while getting into a car driven by George Harrison. 10 Admiral Grove is privately owned and not open to the public.

St. Peter's Church - Lennon and McCartney met for the first time here in 1957. There is also a gravestone in the churchyard that bears the name 'Eleanor Rigby' which is thought by some to have inspired the song.

The Cavern Club - The Beatles performed for a total of 263 times here between 1961 and 1963. This is also where Brian Epstein first saw them perform in 1961. The club closed in 1973 and, in an enormous amount of stupidity by Liverpool city council and British Rail, who wanted to demolish the street level buildings for work to commence on a new underground rail system, the Cavern was filled in to provide foundation for a car park. It remained like a sealed tomb for the rest of the decade and finally it was extensively rebuilt in 1984 and reopened. The club today is estimated to retain 75% of the original club.

Strawberry Field - Strawberry Field was an orphanage run by the Salvation Army from 1936 to 2005. Lennon grew up only a short distance away and would attend the annual garden parties thrown in the grounds as a child. In 1966 while filming 'How I Won The War' Lennon wrote 'Strawberry Fields Forever' a song which ensured the orphanage worldwide fame and now the red gates and sign at the entrance is regularly visited by tourists from all over the world.

Penny Lane - Penny Lane is a road in Liverpool and was made famous by the song 'Penny Lane' which was largely written by Paul. The song largely refers to the Penny Lane junction between Smithdown road and as such there are a number of familiar references when one visits there. The "shelter in the middle of the roundabout" was turned into the "Sgt Pepper's Bistro" in the 1980s but it failed and has stood derelict for many years. However, there are plans to re-open the cafe in the future.

There are numerous other Beatle related sites in Liverpool, ranging from the minor "The Beatles once stood here" to the major "The Beatles once played here" and are too numerous to mention. Some of the bigger attractions are The Grapes Pub, The Jacaranda, The Casbah Coffee Club, NEMS Record Store (although there are plans to demolish the building and put in a Forever 21) and Liverpool Town Hall. There is also the festival 'Beatles Week' that attracts tourists and bands annually every August to celebrate the band.

As soon as you enter Liverpool, it won't be long (yeah!) till you see or hear a Beatles reference. In Liverpool, the Beatles are in your ears and in your eyes.

LONDON

London Skyline looking west with Tower Bridge in the foreground.

 London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom and is a famous city all over the world. In 1963 the Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein moved permanently to London, which kicked off 'Swinging London' and its status as the centre of the world was cemented. As such, there are many historic Beatle sites and places in London for people to see.

Abbey Road Studios - Where the Beatles recorded all of their albums except for 'Let It Be' which was recorded at Twickenham Film Studios and 3 Savile Row. Abbey Road is a major mecca for Beatles fans who like to replicate the album cover of the final recorded Beatles album 'Abbey Road' by walking across the zebra crossing which is a few yards from the studios themselves. The studios are still in operation today but are not open to the general public. The only way you will get to see the famous Studio Two is by paying for a recording session in there.

3 Savile Row - From 1968 to 1975, the Beatles' company Apple Corps was headquartered in this building. Though the Beatles didn't have much to do with the building after 1970, their brief time here is, like everything else they did, marked in the history books. Filming of the Let It Be recording sessions for their documentary film of the same name was done in the basement recording studio and on the roof of the building, the Beatles gave their last ever live performance on 30th January 1969. These days, the building is unoccupied but is owned by a group that leases out the building. In 2011 they leased the building to Abercrombie and Fitch who had plans to open a store on the historic site. As of 2013 those plans were quashed by Westminster Council so the fate of Savile Row hangs in the balance. It is not open to the public.

7 Cavendish Avenue - This townhouse is just a short walk from Abbey Road and belongs to Paul McCartney who has owned it since 1965. Cavendish Avenue is definitely NOT open to the public but you can walk past.

57 Green Street - The only place where the Beatles lived together. They shared the top floor flat at 57 Green Street in the autumn of 1963. They didn't live together here very long though as Beatlemania was in full swing and as soon as fans found out the address they had to leave. John moved out in late '63 into a flat in Knightsbridge with Cynthia and Julian, Paul moved into his then girlfriend Jane Asher's house in Wimpole Street. George & Ringo were the last to leave shortly after they returned from the Beatles first USA visit in February 1964. George & Ringo moved to Whaddon House with Brian Epstein and lived there until they both bought homes in the home counties.


If you are looking to visit the Beatles' former and present homes in the UK, you must be aware that they are private property and that the new occupants may be Rolling Stones fans ;-) But seriously, they will probably be less than thrilled at you being there, so proceed with caution.

The Beatles probably visited every major city of the UK, either together on tour or separately. If you have any questions regarding your visit to the UK and would like some further information, please feel free to email me. I'm happy to talk about the Beatles in their homeland! :-)

The Beatles in Liverpool, 1962.