Although they were under contract to play at Bruno Koschmider’s Kaiserkeller club until 31 December 1960, they made a verbal agreement with rival club owner Peter Eckhorn to play at his new venue, the Top Ten Club.
The club had opened at the end of October 1960, and was in direct competition with the Kaiserkeller. Tony Sheridan and his group The Jets were the opening act, and Eckhorn had persuaded Koschmider’s bouncer Horst Fascher to work as the club’s manager.
As The Jets were shortly to return to England, Eckhorn began looking for groups to replace them. At the time The Beatles were becoming jaded with working for Koschmider, and knew the facilities at the Top Ten were better.
The Beatles were given an audition for Eckhorn and gave it their all. The following night they gave a performance at the club, much to Bruno Koschmider’s displeasure.
Also on this day...
- 2015: Ringo Starr live: Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
- 2014: Paul McCartney live: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro
- 2009: Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy trailer released
- 2009: Paul McCartney reveals Good Evening New York City teaser video
- 2008: Beatles music to feature in forthcoming video game
- 2005: Paul McCartney live: Qwest Center, Omaha
- 1989: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Rainbow Hall, Nagoya
- 1989: Paul McCartney live: Hallenstadion, Zürich
- 1967: Filming: Magical Mystery Tour
- 1964: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
- 1963: Television: Drop In, Stockholm, Sweden
- 1963: Mixing: Money (That’s What I Want)
- 1962: Travel: Liverpool to Hamburg
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1960: The Beatles live: Kaiserkeller, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
we were called the 5 jays and worked in the top 10 club 1964 /65, the system was one band did a hour the next band did there hour then us back on again, then the other band back on again, this went on from 6.30 start in evening through till the club was empty,the other band was the sommerset band, this went on 7 days or nights a week, ricky barnes was running the club then for peter eckhorn,we used to go and watch the bands at the star club ,on our 1 hour breaks, any body that has a different story are talking rubbish, ricky played brilliant sax,tony sheridon used to play with most of the bands on stage, issabell bond, terrible looking but super voice, they had a recording studio under the stage area to record the groups that were playing, hamburg was the place where the Beatles learnt to sing tight harmonies and play with no mistakes,hard work,but super times,history in the making.ray the bass