The Beatles live: Star-Club, Hamburg

This was The Beatles’ seventh of 48 nights at Hamburg’s Star-Club, the city’s newest rock ‘n’ roll venue.

The Beatles played three separate residencies at the club in 1962. This was the first, and saw the group perform for a total of 172 hours over seven weeks. Their only night off was Good Friday, 20 April.

This first stint at the Star-Club began on Friday 13 April, and came to a close on 31 May 1962. The Beatles left Hamburg on Saturday 2 June.

It was The Beatles’ third residency in a Hamburg club within two years, and followed a series of shows at the Indra, the Kaiserkeller and the Top Ten Club.

This was also the date of Stuart Sutcliffe’s funeral in Huyton, Merseyside. The Beatles did not attend; nor did they send flowers. Cynthia Powell (later Lennon) did go, as did Stuart’s closest art school friend Rod Murray.

From Germany, Astrid Kirchherr and Klaus Voormann attended. Louise Harrison was present for her son George, and Allan and Beryl Williams and Allan’s father Dick were also among the mourners.