the beatles first played the cavern on 9 february 1961.
when did the beatles first play the cavern?
9 february 1961
the cavern club was the third club managed by alan synter, which originally opened as a jazz-only club on 16 january 1957, being styled after the paris venue, le caveau. the quarrymen made their first appearance at the club on 21 february 1957, but by 9 february 1961, when the group first performed there under their new name of the beatles, the club was under the ownership of ray mcfall. the cavern club's popularity grew, rapidly becoming the most famous club in britain. according to the club's resident dj, bob wooler, the beatles made 292 appearances at the club in 1961, 1962 and 1963, culminating in a final appearance there on 3 august 1963—one month after the group recorded "she loves you", and six months before their first trip to the united states.
the beatles at the cavern club
the beatles' press officer, tony barrow, wrote a book called "on the scene at the cavern", using the pseudonym alistair griffin. "on the scene at the cavern," a book including text as well as photographs from the crowds and performances at the club, was celebrated at a launch party at the cavern club in august 1964. in the book, barrow described in vivid detail the scene at the cavern club in its heyday. "even on a night when the beatles weren’t billed to appear there were odds-on chances you’d find paul or george or one of the other boys propping up the counter of the cavern’s coke bar and chatting to groups of fans," barrow tells readers of "on the scene at the cavern". "and if you looked in at a lunchtime session cillia black would have checked your coat into the cloakroom or spooned out a plate of tomato soup for you." on the scene at the cavern" was published by panther books, and it was reissued in 1984 with additional pictures and text from the days of the cavern club. barrow also wrote for the beatles monthly book at this time using the pseudonym frederick james. and a "cavern trip to hamburg" was organised, involving a visit to the star-club where the beatles had been a resident group.
the beatles at the cavern club