OPERATION
BIG BEAT AND THE CAVERN
A report by
Mave Atherton
Operation Big Beat was a celebration of 40 years from November 10th 1961 when 4,300 a record number of fans packed the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton to see The Beatles. Just one of many Sam Leach productions. I attended numerous events along with my friends during the Operation Big Beat week, all of which we thought were exceptional well organized. We enjoyed every event immensely.
Tuesday evening 6th November I listened to the preview of Paul McCartney's latest disc "Driving Rain" at The Cavern in Matthew Street. Not one of Sam's promotions but linked with the Big Beat celebrations. It was a ticket only night organised by Cavern City Tours Ray Johnson Manager for Cavern City Tours organized a really good social evening. 375 special tickets were given away for the promotion. I saw a lot of familiar faces among the Cavern crowd. Both rooms were full of fans. I watched the reaction of other listeners and the evening seemed to go extremely well. There was tremendous applause.
Next Bob Bartley ( Macca look alike) took the stage with his guitar and played a few of Paul's numbers. Then he invited people from the audience to go up on stage to sing and play. One by one they participated and it is right, there is a lot of talent in and around Liverpool. Not only from Liverpool, but as far away as Southern Ireland and Scotland. All were thrilled to play on the famous Cavern Stage. It was a pleasure to listen to their interpretations of McCartney songs. Bob Bartley came back on stage with his group to play out the rest of the evening to the delight of the audience. It was suggested more social entertainment nights like these would go down well at The Cavern.
Over at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton the same evening there was an evening of nostalgia with Harry Prytherch. Introduced by Sam, Harry a former drummer with the Remo Four is a leading authority on Merseybeat history. There isn't anything Harry doesn't know about the Merseybeat era.
Wednesday evening, Sam Leach introduced A Hard Day's Night at the Birkenhead Town Hall. It was a great get together for the fans to view the Beatle film, by courtesy of The Birkenhead Library Club.
On
the evening of Thursday 8th Pete Best appeared at the Grosvenor Ballroom in
Liscard Wallasey.
I met up with Sam Leach and a group of 25 friends of Sam, who had traveled from Chicago to be at The Operation Big Beat festivities. The Grosvenor was a popular venue where The Beatles played back in June 1960 to September 1961. Pete gave a very entertaining hour relating his memories of the days spent with John Paul and George Stuart Sutcliffe. Following Pete's talk and film slide show he answered questions from the audience, signed pictures and had photographs taken with waiting fans.
The evening continued with a live appearance from "American English" a very impressive Beatle tribute band from Chicago. Sam met the boys back in Chicago when he went on a book signing tour of "The Birth of the Beatles”. The British version is titled “The Rocking City“. Sam could not believe how like the real Beatles they were. Not only in their playing, but their mannerisms as well. Sam says they are without a doubt the best Beatle tribute band in the world. I agree with Sam the group certainly have captured the Beatles ways and singing and captured the hearts of the audiences too. The truth is they are a fine band and a really great bunch of lads who enjoy performing for their fans.
Billy
Butler Mrs Butler's Eldest, Radio Merseyside's favourite DJ was present to
support Pete and to watch American English. He was so impressed with the
show he had American English appear on his radio programme the
following day. Sam kindly introduced me and my friend Viv to the boys
after the show. Sam always makes you feel important when you are in his
company, a gentleman and it is appreciated Sam. The boys were chatty
and very pleased to know they have lots of new fans over here in England.
Yes, The Grosvenor Ballroom came alive to 1960's Rock 'n Roll!
Arriving
in New Brighton on Friday evening the town was noisy with a superb free
firework display at Fort Perch Rock. The display was synchronised to
Beatles music. So many people were in town enjoying the festivities. And
the fairground was in full swing as well.
I was
in town for the show at The Floral Pavilion Theatre to watch The
Merseybeats followed by American English. I went with three friends and they all
agreed what a great evenings entertainment we all had. The
Merseybeats played all their brilliant hits of the 60's and the large audience,
all ages enjoyed listening, got up out of their seats and jived and sang
along to all the old favourites.
When
American English came on stage the place was electric! What a night!
Everyone was singing and clapping and standing up to dance. The lads, Kev,
a John look alike, has captured John so well in his ways and looks. Eric
(Paul) you think it is Paul singing, his voice sounds very like Paul’s. Marty
a handsome George and a brilliant guitarist mesmerized everyone when he sang
his famous number "Something"
you could cry it was so moving. Tommy is Ringo. Wow! What a drummer!
Kenny on synthesizer is an orchestra on his own a great producer standing
in as George Martin. Fabulous musicians all of them and the five make up
the group American English. I have to agree with Sam Leach " American
English are not just a Beatles Tribute Band... they are a Broadway Show."
At
the end of the show the applause was terrific. The audience gave a standing
ovation and well deserved it was too. The boys came into the
audience to meet their fans and everyone so enjoyed the evening and meeting
their new hero's.
Saturday
brought a cold day but the rain kept off as the Commemorative Plaque Ceremony
took place on the Promenade by the Tower Grounds. The Lord Mayor was
present to help Sam unveil the marble plaque dedicated to Sam and to
commemorate the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Operation Big Beat and
the Merseybeat music of The Beatles at the Tower Ballroom. The Mayor gave
a short speech honouring Sam and the work he did in promoting the Beatles
along with other Merseyside groups of the 60's. Lee Curtis another famous
Liverpool name from the 60's was there also to support Sam, along with June
Ashley of New Brighton and Dot Naybour of Wallasey two of the original fans who
attended The Tower Ballroom forty years ago, when the Merseybeat sound
took off in grand style.
We
then went along to see the art show at Perch Fort Rock. A museum
of Beatle related articles were on show, as we wound our way inside The Fort.
All the pictures in the show were Beatle related and June Lornie director of The
Liverpool Academy of Arts and her friends gladly showed us around the
exhibition. Such talent from local artists, we all agreed it was an excellent
show.
On
Saturday evening a double bill took place and if you were quick enough to leave
at the end of the first show, you could attend both venues. My friends
surprised me by hiring a stretch limo for the evening to take us to the theatre
in style. An early birthday present, thank you girls. The champagne went down a
treat. A night we will never forget. After our hotel meal we made
our way to the Theatre.
The
first show of the evening was held at The Floral Pavilion Theatre
New Brighton for a 1961 tribute. Sam Leach opened the show. The programme
starred Carl Wharton as Rory Storm, and Rave On, Pete Best's Band entertained us
with Pete and his brother Roag, both playing drums on stage together, what a
great time we all had. The Howard Casey All Star Band was fantastic,
playing and singing their own programme and backing Lee Curtis, reliving
all the songs of the 60's. Lee Curtis sang unrehearsed, but who needs
to rehearse with such a professional group. It was great! Dave
Jamieson from Liverpool's Merseycat's gave a thank you to all who took part and
gave a presentation at the end of the show to the youngest member Paul Cross age
11 who had entertained us playing drums with Rave On. A young man I feel
sure we will see a lot of in the future. Paul
is John Cross’s son. John who we
all know from the days of Strawberry Fayre in 1967 and then following a solo
career as a full time guitar vocalist. More
recently he formed The Copycats and Rave On.
A
quick get away over to the other side of the water. Our party arrived in
style having the stretch limo collect us and take us over to The
Olympia in West Derby Road. Back in Liverpool we were too late to see
Local group Joey Shield's and the Wheels. I was told they played
brilliantly well and were a great supporting act for American English.
When we arrived at The Olympia, American English were already playing. Our
friends from New Brighton had the same idea as us, to combine the two shows and
finish off a wonderful nights entertainment by watching the boys from
Chicago play in such a decorative theatre and fitting stage.
I
was pleased to meet the famous Horst Fascher there. Horst is a legendary
character in Beatle lore and the once manager of the Star Club in Hamburg. Our
new American friends we had met from the past few days were all having a
great time. The show was lively with everyone joining in the singing
and dancing. The boys Ken, Tommy, Kev, Marty and handsome Eric,
(who reminded us of another brown eyed handsome man) were all dressed
wonderfully in their Sgt Pepper outfits with a star-studded background on stage.
They sang their hearts out celebrating Operation Big Beat's Birthday
way into the early hours.
On
the Sunday morning the fans descended on New Brighton again for the Merseybeat
Convention at Fort Perch Rock. There were also local pubs with live bands
appearing, in and around the town. The Free Bus Tour had proved
popular all week, taking visitors around the local haunts where The Beatles had
appeared 40 years ago.
Fort
Perch Rock was compact, but a busy convention with Beatle memorabilia
for sale. There were stalls with lots of Beatle related books,
CD's, vinyl records and Operation Big Beat articles commemorating a great festival.
Sam Leach was enjoying signing his books for fans. And of course
the art exhibition was still proving to be popular.
The
best exhibit on show in my estimation was The Brian Epstein Diaries, which were
formally owed by Brian’s chauffeur Bryan Barrett and sold at Christies at the
beginning of October this year for a huge sum in the region of £15,000.
The thirteen diaries dating from 1950 up until 1963 were given to Barrett
to look after by Epstein. Bryan
Barrett kept them for nearly 40 years.
Freda
Kelly was very informative telling visitors the history, which surrounds
the diaries, and we were able to hold one of the diaries while we took a
photograph. To think Brian Epstein had all his ideas written in the
diaries, the dates of each meeting through those famous times and how he made
the Beatles the phenomenal they are today. What a fascinating
historic and valuable collection this was.
Sam
disappeared to kick off the charity football match in the Tower Grounds between
the Merseybeat
All
Stars XI V Billy Butler's Radio Merseyside XI. I
heard on the radio that morning that radio DJ Frankie Connor was very
disappointed he couldn't play. He had to fill in for one of the other
radio DJ's in the studio. I didn't hear the result of the match. I
expect it was a free for all (sorry lads) a lot of kicked shins and the
best team won? Us ladies decided to stay behind rather than stand in
the cold and have a hot cup of tea in Fort Perch Rock's welcome cafe. We
met some local personalities and I believe later when the football match
had ended more celebrities went along to meet fans at the
convention. A smashing day out.
From
4pm to 7-30pm American English gave their grand farewell appearance at
the famous Liverpool Cavern. The stage was set where Sir Paul McCartney
had appeared in December 1999 for his Run Devil Run Show. The boys,
excited and thrilled to play on the Cavern stage gave a show of a lifetime.
Their audience went wild. It was a spectacular event. What a thrill
to see the final show of the tour. Such a fabulous band.
Sam
gave a thank you speech and the new American English fans went wild
again. Old and new alike. People in that audience had watched and
played with the real Beatles. These people had been The Beatle’s
friends. What an honour for American English to have fans like these and
what an honour to have American English appear in Liverpool.
Thanks
Sammy you did it again! Thanks to American English Kev, Eric,
Marty Tommy and Ken. Thanks also to Ikon and the American English
team who run the show. Thank you to all the groups, singers and
musicians and Merseycat’s who gave us such fantastic entertainment throughout
the week. Thanks go to Radio Merseyside and their team. Thanks to Doug Darroch
from Fort Perch Rock and thanks to the New Wallsasey Regeneration for letting
us relive Operation Big Beat after such a long time. And a final thank you
to all I have not mentioned who made it a memorable week.
I
saw the Beatles on the stage in the old Cavern back in 1962. I used to go
to a lot of lunchtime sessions in those far off days. A fanatic then
and just an over aged groupie now. I have to say, I have never seen
anything to match the real Beatles before I saw these boys play. They are
the best Beatle tribute band I have ever seen. We can't wait to see
American English again at the Liverpool Beatle Convention in August 2002.
"It won't be long!"