The Beatles’ January 1963 tour of Scotland drew to a close on this evening, with a performance at the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen.
Tickets cost three shillings, and the event was billed as The Johnny Scott Band Show, featuring The Beatles.
The group received a mixed reaction from the crowd, some of whom reportedly booed during the show.
They still had a lot of rough edges and the sound system wasn’t perfect, so they got a bit of a mixed reaction, but you could tell they had loads of energy.Most of the songs they did were by other people, like Chuck Berry, and Lennon and McCartney had still to write their biggest songs. But I’m still glad I was there.
The Beatles were paid £45 for the appearance, and never returned to Aberdeen.
We went along and I thought they were fantastic. John Lennon was fantastic: his voice to me was real rock ‘n’ roll and he could really hit it.At the time, it was a crossroads for music, what the Beatles were doing was completely different, and some people didn’t appreciate the difference.
But they were very popular and they got a good ovation at the Beach.
Also on this day...
- 1990: Paul McCartney live: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
- 1969: Get Back/Let It Be sessions: day three
- 1967: Recording: Penny Lane
- 1967: UK album release: The Family Way
- 1965: Live: Another Beatles Christmas Show
- 1964: Live: The Beatles’ Christmas Show
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles live: St John’s Hall, Bootle
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
This week I received an interesting account of a fan who went to the Beatles gig in Aberdeen and spoke with the band. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2016/09/09/beatles-tour-scotland/
My father is john scott from the johnny scott band who was top of the bill that night! I am looking for memorabilia about my father and my mother Rita Kent (stage name)who sang with the band. If anyone has anything i would love to hear from you xx
I was born in Aberdeen but now live in Australia.I remember being there that night when the Beatles were playing and John was the strongest memory that I have.