Compleat Beatles 1982 Part 3

Summary

The script recounts the Beatles' early days in Hamburg, where they played grueling 7-hour sets that honed their skills and expanded their repertoire. Tony Sheridan, a British musician, was a local star who introduced them to the scene. The band endured tough living conditions and were mentored by Horst Fascher, a former boxer. Their experiences in Hamburg transformed them from an amateur group into professionals, influencing their music and stage presence. Upon returning to Liverpool, they gained popularity, playing at venues like Litherland Town Hall and the Cavern Club, where they continued to practice and learn new songs, shaping their signature sound.

Takeaways

• 🎵 Tony Sheridan was one of the first British musicians to perform in Germany, quickly becoming a local star in Hamburg.
• 🏭 The Beatles were booked into two clubs, the Kaiser Kella and the Indra, where they played long hours and lived in poor conditions.
• 🛌 The living conditions provided by the club owner were substandard, with the band living in a windowless room.
• 🥊 Horst Fascher, a former boxer, became a protector to the Liverpool groups, including The Beatles, helping them navigate the rough environment.
• 🎶 Hamburg's music scene was initially characterized by a 'watered down' version of rock and roll, with local artists performing Elvis songs with silly German lyrics.
• 🚀 The Beatles' experience in Hamburg toughened them and expanded their musical repertoire, leading to professional growth.
• 🎸 Playing 7 hours a night for 2 months allowed the band to significantly improve their skills, voice control, and guitar techniques.
• 🌟 After returning from Hamburg, The Beatles gained recognition and were promoted by their friend Bill Harry, who started a newspaper called Mersey Beat.
• 📰 Brian Kelly, recognizing their talent, booked The Beatles for significant gigs, increasing their visibility in Liverpool.
• 🎤 Bob Willer, a DJ at the Cavern Club, played a role in The Beatles' local success by booking them for performances and introducing them to new audiences.
• 🌈 The Beatles' unique style and energy captivated audiences, as seen during their debut at Litherland Town Hall, leading to increased demand for their performances.

Q & A

Who was one of the first musicians to go to Germany and become a local star?

Tony Sheridan was one of the first musicians to go to Germany and quickly became a local star in Hamburg.

What was the state of rock and roll in Germany before the Beatles arrived?

Before the Beatles arrived, there was a watered-down German version of rock and roll, with artists like Le Teddy performing Elvis songs with silly German lyrics.

What clubs did Alan Williams book the Beatles into in Hamburg?

Alan Williams booked the Beatles into two dreary clubs in Hamburg: the Kaiser Kella and the Indra.

What was the living condition like for the Beatles in Hamburg?

The living conditions provided by the club owner were terrible, with the Beatles living in a room with no windows and four guys in it.

Who became a friend and protector to the Liverpool groups in Hamburg?

Horst Faser, a former boxer, became a friend and protector to the Liverpool groups in Hamburg.

How did the rough life and long hours in Hamburg affect the Beatles?

The rough life and long hours in Hamburg hardened the Beatles and their music, making them tighter as a band and expanding their repertoire.

What was the impact of playing 7 hours a night on the Beatles' musical development?

Playing 7 hours a night allowed the Beatles to gain tremendous experience, learn to relax and utilize their voices, and improve their guitar skills, which vastly improved their musical capabilities.

Who started a newspaper called Mersey Beat to keep track of the Liverpool beat scene?

Bill Harry, who had shared a flat with John and Stu in art college days, started a newspaper called Mersey Beat.

How did the Beatles become sought after by small dance hall owners in Liverpool?

Following their debut at Litherland Town Hall, where they impressed the audience with their performance, the Beatles became sought after by small dance hall owners throughout Liverpool.

Who was the postal clerk that became a parktime DJ at the Cavern Club and booked the Beatles for lunchtime sessions?

Bob Willer, a postal clerk with an encyclopedic knowledge of all the Liverpool bands, became a parktime DJ at the Cavern Club and booked the Beatles for lunchtime sessions.

How did the Beatles' performances at the Cavern Club contribute to their growth?

At the Cavern Club, the Beatles continued to practice and learn new songs, which contributed to their growth as musicians and performers.

Outlines

00:00

🎸 Early Beatles in Hamburg

Tony Sheridan, a British musician, was one of the first to perform in Germany, becoming a local star in Hamburg. Before the Beatles' arrival, the local music scene was dominated by a diluted version of rock and roll. The Beatles, booked by Alan Williams, played grueling 7-hour sets at the Kaiser Kella and Indra clubs, living in dismal conditions. They were mentored by Horst Fascher, a former boxer, who protected them in the rough environment. The intense experience in Hamburg toughened the band, improved their musicianship, and expanded their repertoire, transforming them into professionals.

05:00

🎤 The Beatles' Rise in Liverpool

After returning from Hamburg, the Beatles, still relatively unknown, were promoted by their friend Bill Harry, who started a newspaper called 'Mersey Beat' to track the Liverpool music scene. Talent scout Brian Kelly recognized their potential and booked them for significant gigs. Their debut at Litherland Town Hall left a lasting impression, and they quickly became popular among local dance hall owners. Bob Willer, a DJ at the Cavern Club, also booked them, contributing to their growing fame. The Beatles continued to practice and expand their song list, even learning new songs like 'Hippy Hippie Shake' from old records, which suited Paul McCartney's vocal range.

Keywords

💡Tony Sheridan

Tony Sheridan was a British musician who became a local star in Hamburg, Germany. He is significant in the video's narrative as one of the pioneers of the British music scene in Germany, setting the stage for other bands like The Beatles to follow. His presence in Hamburg represents the early days of the British rock and roll movement abroad.

💡Hamburg

Hamburg is a city in Germany that played a pivotal role in the development of The Beatles' career. As depicted in the script, it was a place where they experienced a rigorous performance schedule, which honed their skills and expanded their musical repertoire. The city is portrayed as a catalyst for the band's growth, both musically and personally.

💡Reeperbahn

The Reeperbahn is a famous street in Hamburg known for its nightlife and entertainment venues. In the context of the video, it symbolizes the vibrant and somewhat seedy environment where The Beatles performed, contributing to their toughening and professional development as musicians.

💡Kaiserkeller and Indra

The Kaiserkeller and Indra were clubs in Hamburg where The Beatles played during their early career. These venues are mentioned as places where they endured a grueling performance schedule, which included playing up to 7 hours a night. This experience is highlighted as a key factor in their musical maturation and endurance.

💡Living conditions

The living conditions in Hamburg, as described in the script, were harsh for The Beatles. They lived in a room with no windows, which contrasts sharply with their homes in Liverpool. This aspect of their early career underscores the sacrifices and hardships they faced, which likely contributed to their resilience and determination.

💡Horst Faser

Horst Faser, a former boxer, is mentioned as a protector and friend to the Liverpool groups in Hamburg. His role in the narrative illustrates the sometimes dangerous environment that the bands navigated, and how they relied on local connections for safety and support.

💡Sex, drugs, and drink

The abundance of sex, drugs, and drink in Hamburg is mentioned as a significant aspect of the city's nightlife and the experiences of The Beatles. These elements are portrayed as both a temptation and a challenge for the young musicians, shaping their personal and professional lives.

💡Professionalism

The term 'professionalism' is used to describe the transformation of The Beatles from an amateur group to seasoned musicians. The video emphasizes how their experiences in Hamburg, particularly the demanding performance schedule, contributed to their development of a professional work ethic and musical proficiency.

💡Repertoire

The expansion of The Beatles' repertoire is highlighted as a critical outcome of their time in Hamburg. The need to perform for long hours each night forced them to learn and adapt a wide range of songs, which in turn enriched their musical capabilities and versatility.

💡Mersey Beat

Mersey Beat was a newspaper started by Bill Harry to track the burgeoning Liverpool music scene. It represents the growing interest and documentation of the local music culture that The Beatles were a part of. The newspaper serves as an example of how the band's success was not only a result of their talent but also the broader cultural context they were embedded in.

💡Cavern Club

The Cavern Club was a significant venue in Liverpool where The Beatles performed regularly after their return from Hamburg. It is mentioned as a place where they continued to practice and learn new songs, indicating the ongoing evolution of their music even after their initial period of growth in Hamburg.

Highlights

Tony Sheridan was one of the first musicians to perform in Germany, becoming a local star in Hamburg.

Before the Beatles, there was a diluted German version of rock and roll, with local artists poorly imitating Elvis Presley.

The Beatles played at the Kaiser Kella and the Indra clubs, enduring a grueling schedule of up to 7 hours a night.

Living conditions for the Beatles were harsh, with no windows and poor sanitation.

Horst Faser, a former boxer, became a protector to the Liverpool groups, including the Beatles.

The Beatles' experience in Hamburg exposed them to a lifestyle abundant with sex, drugs, and alcohol.

The rough life and long hours in Hamburg hardened the Beatles and improved their music.

Playing 7 hours a night for 2 months significantly improved the Beatles' musical skills and repertoire.

The Beatles evolved from an unwanted group to professionals during their time in Hamburg.

Bill Harry, a friend from Liverpool, started a newspaper called Mersey Beat to track the growing Liverpool music scene.

Upon returning to Liverpool, the Beatles were promoted as a big band despite being relatively unknown.

Brian Kelly, a promoter, recognized the Beatles' talent and booked them for significant gigs.

The Beatles' debut at Litherland Town Hall left a lasting impression with their unique style and sound.

Bob Willer, a DJ at the Cavern Club, began booking the Beatles for lunchtime sessions.

The Beatles' practice and learning of new songs, such as 'Hippie Hippie Shake', contributed to their musical growth.

The Beatles' time in Hamburg was a catalyst for their evolution as musicians and performers.

Transcripts

one of the first musicians to go to

Germany was Tony Sheridan a former

regular on the British TV show oh

boy I

like in Hamburg he quickly became a

local star and a permanent fixture on

the reaper

bar before we came there was sort of a

watered down German version of rock and

roll which was say for example Le Teddy

be the Presley song done by a German

artist who would wiggle his legs as much

as possible and sing a very silly German

lyric the show was sort of the main

thing they wanted a little show and they

they would say m m you

know like inciting you to jump around

and smash things Alan Williams had

booked the Beatles into two dreary clubs

the Kaiser Kella and the Indra where for

the next months they played a

backbreaking schedule of up to 7 hours a

night the living accommodations provided

by the club owner were a far cry from

their tidy Liverpool

homes when they played here at the Indra

and the Kaa K they were living in a room

with no window in and four guys of them

the condition they had was terrible in

that

time hor faser a former boxer who had

been banned from the ring for killing a

sailor in in a street fight became

friend and protector to the Liverpool

groups I remember that that Tony went to

him and said listen but if you need some

protection here and if if you're in

trouble with some girls who are

prostitutes and maybe you don't know

that they are prostitute you get

involved with them and The Pimps found

it out that you can you can have a lot

of

trouble talk to hor about he takes care

about you and then Jes that I was more

or less

their yeah like bodyguard more or

less although Stewart their oldest

member had only just turned

20 The Beatles having grown up in a

Seaport town were far from

naive yet their eyes were opened by the

abundance of sex drugs and drink that

Hamburg

offered the rough life and the long

hours far from home hardened

them and their music the band got

Tighter and their repertoire expanded

they were no longer that bum group that

nobody wanted they were

professionals

kiss I

feel my lips again taste honey taste

hone tasting

the 7 hours a night thing the practice

and having to enlarge the repertoire as

far as possible that that really made

you either good if you have what it took

to be good or you gave up pretty soon

with playing 7 hours a night for 2

months the experience you gained for

yourself is tremendous you learn how to

relax your voice how to utilize your

voice how to improve on the guitar it I

think everybody went to hir came back

vastly improved in their ideas in the

technique and also in the in

capabilities in the evolution of things

especially music there were certain

centers and there were places which

which serve as a sort of um a cat a

breeding ground and people play the

roles of

catalysts and Hamburg was one of

those Bill Harry had shared a flat with

John and Stu in the arc College days

while they were in Hamburg he was at

home rapidly becoming an expert on the

growing Liverpool beat

scene he would soon start a newspaper

called Mery beat to keep track of all

the new groups and new clubs they came

back from

Hamburg uh still as an unknown band I

started uh promoting them as the sort of

big band though they weren't really the

big band in Liverpool I sort of promoted

them like that because they were close

friends of mine and um a promoter Brian

Kelly had uh realized their talent and

he he' booked them on all his jires

which were the um the the big gigs at

the time a Institute in litherland town

hall the curtain opened at litherland

Town Hall and there was just these guys

on stage at the time everybody was into

uniformity wearing uh the same clothes

and these guys with herir longer more

I'd ever seen in me life and I think

sort of jeans and

leather jackets just anyway smoking

cigarettes you know just up there doing

it and having a ball the moment The

Beatles struck up and did their

stomping everybody every kid froze and

then they all run to the stage and

started

screaming following their debut at liand

Town Hall The Beatles became sought

after by small dance hall owners

throughout Liverpool

Bob Willer a postal clerk with an

encyclopedic knowledge of all the

Liverpool bands had recently become a

parktime DJ at the cavern at a local

jazz

club when he began booking groups for

the club's lunchtime sessions among them

were the

Beatles hi there all you cave dwellers

this is Bob Willer saying welcome to the

best of we got the high five high and

the lights down low so here we

go of now Tak my away from

me my

way I just my

home I'm only one

yell

my only

one

feel the cab converted to Rock and Roll

With The Beatles as one of its regular

bands as in Hamburg they continue to

practice and to learn new songs I dug

out of my old records uh a record by

Chan Romero called hippie hippie shake

and I played it it's a long time since

I'd played that record at a jive Hall

and Paul had he heard this record he

said what's who's that now I I

understood why he liked it because it

suited his vocal range you see and his

pitching in a strident manner falsetto

sty so he said lend that record and

surely enough they uh learn the record

oh