On this day The Beatles’ 92nd evening show at the Cavern Club took place. They headlined a bill which also included The Zenith Six Jazz Band, the Swinging Blue Genes, and Peppy and the New York Twisters.
It was also Ringo Starr’s first Cavern show as a proper member of the group, although he had stood in for them on previous occasions when Pete Best was unable to play.
I wasn’t worried abou the change in drummers as it wasn’t the drummer who made the group for me, but there were girls crying in Mathew Street and saying that they would never support the Cavern again.
The Cavern, Spencer Leigh
There was some animosity directed towards The Beatles for their decision to sack Best.
They were shouting ‘Ringo out, Pete in’ and refusing to let them play. There was a big question as to whether this could be The Beatles’ downfall. Everyone was talking about it. Ritchie was playing in a group that wasn’t taken seriously and suddenly he’s in the biggest thing on Merseyside. He was a very good rock drummer, but there were a lot of better drummers around, like Johnny Hutch.
The Cavern, Spencer Leigh
Overall this was The Beatles’ 217th appearance at the underground Mathew Street venue, including their lunchtime shows.
The precise number of the group’s Cavern performances is not known, although they played at least 155 lunchtime and 125 evening shows between 9 February 1961 and 3 August 1963.
I’d love to know what he said!
My friend who was THERE .. they were chanting Pete forever,Ringo Never! George said if you want Pete you can have him! And as they went to side band room Mick Jones thumped George and gave him the black eye. Funny how Epstein told the press that George was hit by a Bus!!! As the photo shoot at EMI Abbey Road the black eye on George was prominent…. The Beatle Bible is WRONG as it was MICKEY JONES who thumped George
In ”Tune In”, Lewisohn says it was 19-year old Denny Flynn who headbutted George during a lunch time session on August 24.