The Cavern Club, situated on Mathew Street in central Liverpool, had played host to The Quarrymen before. On this day, however, The Beatles made their debut at the venue.
The Beatles swiftly became a regular fixture at the Cavern, attracting a loyal audience until their final appearance on 3 August 1963. For this first show, lasting from 1-2pm, they were given a £5 fee to share between them.
This was George Harrison’s first time on the Cavern stage, as it was for Stuart Sutcliffe. Harrison arrived in blue jeans, which were banned from the club, but he managed to convince the bouncer, Paddy Delaney, that he was one of the performers.
They were different and they were very well rehearsed because they had come back from three months of torture in Hamburg. The other groups were like Cliff Richard and the Shadows, but The Beatles’ music was so vibrant… However, I didn’t like them wearing jeans which were taboo in the Cavern. Our doormen would stop anyone wearing jeans. I felt that if people were wearing good, clean clothes they would be more likely to behave themselves as they wouldn’t want them getting dirty and damaged.
The Cavern, Spencer Leigh
The precise number of The Beatles’ Cavern performances is not known, although they played at least 155 lunchtime and 125 evening shows between this date and 3 August 1963.
Also on this day...
- 2013: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Vector Arena, Auckland
- 2012: Paul McCartney’s star unveiled on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1993: US album release: Off The Ground by Paul McCartney
- 1990: Paul McCartney live: Worcester Centrum, Worcester
- 1972: Wings live: Nottingham University
- 1970: Recording: Whispering Grass, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Ringo Starr
- 1967: Recording: Fixing A Hole
- 1964: The Beatles’ first Ed Sullivan Show
- 1963: The Beatles live: Empire Theatre, Sunderland
- 1962: The Beatles live: Technical College Hall, Birkenhead
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
I thought Stuart Sutcliffe was in Hamburg?
He flew back to Liverpool in February 1961, and returned to Hamburg in April.
What was the opening number that The Beatles played at the lunchtime gig on 9th February 1961?
And what was the set list?
Please tell me if you can answer these questions 🙂 I’d really like to know the answers.
Stu returned from Hamburg on January 20, 1961.
So he wouldn’t have been playing with the group at this first gig? I keep reading conflicting information
I was working as a pianist on the ships between England and Rotterdam in 2001. Pete Best was travelling on the ship with his band to play in the Beatles old haunts on Hamburg. I spoke to his guitarist for half an hour or so. He told me how surreal it felt to be travelling to play in Hamburg with a Beatle who was actually there.
I wonder how many of the songs they did were the same that the Beatles did when they played there with Best.
Hello – has anyone ever noticed the incredible numerology here in the fact that The BEATLES played their very 1st show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool , England on February 9th 1961 – and then exactly 3 years later on February 9th 1964 played their first show on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York City !