21 FEBRUARY, 1961: CAVERN CLUB, LIVERPOOL (LUNCHTIME), CASBAH COFFEE CLUB, LIVERPOOL (EVENING), TOWN HALL, LITHERLAND (NIGHT)
Only one of a huge number of double and triple venue days for the Beatles in 1961. The band played nearly every day of this year.
27 MARCH - 2 JULY, 1961: SECOND TRIP TO HAMBURG, TOP TEN CLUB, HAMBURG (NINETY-EIGHT NIGHTS)
Proper working papers in hand, the Beatles returned to Hamburg to play the Top Ten Club. Their fee was double what had been at Koschmeider’s Kaiserkeller. Over the three months, Stu Sutcliffe eased gradually out of the band to pursue his first love, painting. His role as bass guitarist was taken over by Paul. When the Beatles left Hamburg, Stu stayed behind.
9 NOVEMBER, 1961: CAVERN CLUB, LIVERPOOL (LUNCHTIME), TOWN HALL, LITHERLAND (NIGHT)
It was probably on this day that Brian Epstein first descended the Cavern’s steps into the club’s thick atmosphere of sweat and sound - as he put it in his autobiography, “a cellar full of noise”.