Forthlin Road

Photograph by Mike McCartney 

 December 1960

Beatles at the Fun Fair

Photos taken by Astrid Kirchherr photography

 November 10, 1960 - Hamburg, Germany 

The Fab Five

 August 17, 1960

For Evermore

 August 16, 1960

Off to Hamburg

 August 15, 1960 

The Hurricanes at the Jive Hive

 June 1, 1960 

Ringo's Cavern Debut

 

May 24, 1960

Did we ever learn who owned the drums Ringo was playing?

The Silver Beatles Audition

 May 10, 1960 

Young Blood

 

A Story from 1960

 I was reading the January 2012 issue of the British Beatles Fan Club Magazine and this letter to the editor from "As I Write This Letter" caught my attention and I thought I'd share it here. 

Now aged 70, I have been advised by family to tell this anecdote of when I met John Lennon and Paul McCartney in May 1960.  I was finishing off basic army training in Inverness (Fort George). When allowed out of camp, I went to a couple of concerts, one at the Northern Meeting Room, Inverness, and one at the Regal Ballroom, Nairn. We were looking for girls then, and the best place to find them was at dance halls. Anyway, after the second concert, I was out having a ciggie when I was approached by this scruffy individual carrying a guitar. He asked me for a light for his ciggie, then told me his name was Paul. I dont' think he said McCartney, it was more like Morano or something (Paul Ramon - ED).

We chatted for a while when we were then approached by a tall skinny guy who also placed a guitar in this scruffy old van. He asked Paul for a ciggie, was told there was none left so he asked me. I gave him one and he asked why we were in uniform and was it true that Jocks don't wear anything under their skirts???? I told John it was a Kilt, and no, we were not allowed to wear anything. John then bend down and attempted to lift my kilt! I pushed his hand away and told him to bugger off. He just laughed and asked me if I had seen the show and what I thought? I told John I thought they were terrible and that Johnny Gentle was better than them (The Silver Beatles, I think they called themselves then). I gave John a few ciggies and a box of matches and told them they would be better off going home to where they belong and joining the army or getting a real job as they would never make it in the rock n roll world!

I really felt sorry for them as they looked in need of a good feed and also seemed short of cash. John prophetically said something like, "Never mind, Jock, you will hear a lot more of us sooner than you think." Now you know something only my family and grandchildren knew about.

Kind regards,

Bill Munnoch, Falkirk

Johnny Gentle and the Beatles: A Book Review

 

Not too long ago, I posted about the recent death of Johnny Gentle and said how I discovered that his book, Johnny Gentle and the Beatles, which has been out of print for a long time, was available as an ebook.   I warned that I would be reviewing it soon -- and yes -- I have finished the book and am ready to tell you my thoughts. 

I was extremely impressed with this book.   It was very well written and researched.   For a book that is about just a few weeks in the life of The Beatles, it was detailed and interesting.  

Johnny Gentle was an early 1960s "crooner" who was fairly popular in the UK in 1960.  He just never quite made it big.  He had some hit songs, but they never moved up the charts.  He was talented and could sing rock and roll but was pegged as a singer of ballads.  However, teenage girls loved him, and he was very popular in Teenage Magazines.  This was where Johnny Gentle was at the time The Silver Beatles auditioned for Larry Parnes and were hired to tour Scottland for one week as Johnny Gentle's back-up band.  

What I guess I didn't realize (or maybe forgot) was that after Johnny's set with the Beatles backing him, the Beatles went and did their own concert.  It is great to read about the Beatles' setlist and how it changed during the tour and how the reaction to The Beatles just got better and better.  Even without a hit record or any exposure, teenagers who came to hear Johnny Gentle absolutely LOVED the Beatle's music.  

One of my favorite stories in the book told the story of when The Beatles were hungry and went to a beach because they figured they'd find food cheap there.  Some girls who had seen them at the Johnny Gentle concert recognized them and invited them to come to one of their houses for lunch.   So there she had The Beatles in her house eating sandwiches.  I bet that is a story those girls told years later! 

Check out this book if you are someone who doesn't mind reading an ebook.

https://amzn.to/3vjA632

The link above is the Amazon Affiliate link for the book reviewed tonight.  All purchases made using this link earn this site a small percentage of the sale.  Funds earned are used to pay for the annual fees to keep the site online. Thank you for your support. 

Rest in Peace Johnny

 

Johnny Gentle autograph from Sara's collection 

John Askew, better known to Beatle fans as Johnny Gentle passed away on February 29, 2024.  He was 87 years old.  

I admit to not knowing a lot about Johnny Gentle or the week-long tour the Beatles spent in Scotland in 1960.  I do recall reading about it in Tune In.  I just learned that the book about the tour (which I have the cover page autographed for but don't have the full book) is available as an ebook.  I just purchsed it, so expect a review at some point this year.  

The Johnny Gentle tour is such an important part of early Beatles history.  I express my sympathies to Johnny's family and friends.  

Paris 1960

 

I scanned this photo from a poster.  It looks much better than what I previously had of this photo.   Previously, John sort of looked very washed out and you couldn't tell there was someone in the background. 

Hello Madame!

 

The Originals

 

Hamburg Clock Shop

 

In 1960, one of the early Hamburg Beatles fans was  Monika Pricken.  At the time she was just 17 (see what I did there?) and since George was the same age, she became friends with him.  According to Monika's account, it was not a romantic friendship at all.   Her Dad owned a clock shop in town and here you can see Paul and George photographed inside her Dad's shop.    When George eventually got deported for being underage, it was Monika's mum that packed him the sandwiches to take on the trip back to Liverpool.   I am sure George's mum, Louise, appreciated her looking after her son like that.  

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes know how to rock n roll

Photo Booth Shot

 

Ringo's other band

Photos from July 1960 of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes

Stu's birthday!

If Stuart Sutcliffe were still alive, he would have turned 80 years old today.   It is a little difficult to imagine Stu as an older man, isn't it?    If Stu had lived, think of the amazing Beatles album covers we might have gotten?   I am sure that John would have asked his friend to do art for a cover or two as Klaus Voorman did the art for the cover of Revolver.   


It is a wonderful day today to celebrate the life of Stu and his time with The Beatles and friendship with John.