World Rock Pilgrimages: The Places that Inspired Music

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Hamburg Inspired The Beatles Content provided by Virgin Radio
For a group synonymous with Liverpool, Hamburg might not spring to mind as a core location behind The Beatles' success. However, the German city is littered with commemorative plaques at places they walked, worked and lived - and plays undeniable significance in the creation of this Liverpudlian legend.
If I could have lived at any time in history, I would love to have been a thirteen year old in 1962, and spent my adolescence hearing those incredible records with fresh ears, in context with the culture of the time. Geoff Lloyd	Having been booked to play in Hamburg clubs through 1960, the venues still widely-recognised for their roles in the early days of the band include The Indra and Kaiserkeller bars. Here John, Paul, George and original drummer Pete Best were scheduled to play for six or seven hours a night, seven nights a week. By their second visit in April 1961 they'd dropped Pete Best and taken on a new drummer they'd met in Hamburg on the previous trip, by the name of Ringo Starr. Performing in and living above the Top Ten club for three months, they performed as 'The Beat Brothers', and subsequently signed with Polydor shortly after.
Their third trip was to be their last, as by that time they were a worldwide phenomenon and the hype and fans surrounding them were simply too big to fit into the Hamburg night clubs.

Your Comments

pat mcginty liverpool, March 4th 2007

what can you say about the fabs that havent already been said ?
no idea! but i will try.... simply put the greatest rock and roll band the world has ever seen or likely too.
been to hamburg , live in liverpool .... just been to VEGAS to watch LOVE , get there if you can , its so so good!!

Steve Baker Liverpool, November 27th 2006

I remember growing up as a kid listening to my elder brother who played in the Merseybeat scene at the time of the Beatles, I remember my Dad telling him to turn that noise down.

Many Years later after so many great songs and John Lennons classic Imagine, I heard my Dad say when John was shot, He was a prophet. Just four young lads from Liverpool who rocked the world.

Hazel Brazier Kendal Cumbria, November 24th 2006

I saw the 'Beatles' playing in Hamburg in the 60's and they played all night into the early morning. One of the beatles played a double bass whilst lying on his back for about 40 minutes so the rest of the group could have a rest. I think it was some one Sutcliffe who was part of the group. We came out of the club at 5a.m. to hot sausage stands and men (usually) trying to sell their watches or other jewellery if they had lost their money either gambling or on the Raperbaun.

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