The Beatles played two shows on this date. This first show at the Plaza Ballroom in Handsworth, Birmingham was followed by another at the Plaza in Old Hill.
The venues, along with the Ritz in King’s Heath and the Brum Kavern in Birmingham, were run by Mary ‘Ma’ Regan and her husband. Ma Regan was a former schoolteacher who became something of a local celebrity in the 1960s after bringing a series of top musical acts to the area. She also managed a number of Birmingham groups.
The Plaza in Handsworth stood at 189 Rookery Road, and had previously been the Rookery Picture House cinema. It became a dance hall and live music venue before being converted to the Gurdwara Bebe Nanaki Ji temple in the 1980s.
On this date the venue hosted The Beatles, who were topping the charts with their debut album Please Please Me. The band performed a nine-song set: ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Thank You Girl’, ‘Chains’, ‘Please Please Me’, ‘A Taste Of Honey’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, Baby It’s You, ‘From Me To You’ and Twist and Shout.
The support acts were The Cheetahs and The Redcaps. Tickets cost 7/6d (37½ pence), sold on a first-come-first-served basis. Many disappointed fans were turned away from the venue.
The Beatles were late for their second show in Old Hill, for which they were supported by local group Denny and the Diplomats. The group’s drummer later recalled how they coped with the delay.
Firstly they were booked to appear at the Regans’ other Plaza in Handsworth. Unsurprisingly, they ran late and our scheduled half-hour spot became an hour or more. Usually we would perform several Beatle songs in our set, but obviously we had to drop those from our repertoire.Truth was, we were running out of songs to play and reverted to a couple of ambitious instrumentals. We included Hava Nagila (which had Denny playing lead guitar behind his back ) and the Dave Brubeck Quartet classic jazz piece Take Five, which featured me playing a drum solo in 5/4 time.
We realised The Beatles had finally arrived and we could hear them talking backstage. Then we saw them all watching us from the side of the stage. We finished our set, the curtains closed, the crowd now in a state of nervous, near hysterical anticipation.
Also on this day...
- 2014: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: WinStar World Casino, Thackerville
- 2014: Paul McCartney live: Times Union Center, Albany
- 2010: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: State Theatre, New Brunswick
- 2008: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi
- 2007: Paul McCartney live: iTunes Festival
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Ravinia Festival, Highland Park
- 1968: Recording: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
- 1966: The Beatles leave the Philippines
- 1963: The Beatles live: Plaza, Old Hill
- 1962: The Beatles live: Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
The information given above for the supporting bands for The Beatles at the Plaza Ballroom Handsworth on Friday July 5th 1963 is incorrect! I know because I was the drummer in The Cheetahs – one of the two supporting bands that night, the other band was The Redcaps. I had taken delivery of the first kit of gold Ludwig drums in Birmingham that week and Ringo was so taken with them that he asked to use them that night. We all shared one dressing room and I still have the personally signed photograph given to me by The Beatles to this day.
Incidentally ,The Cheetahs were the only group personally managed by Mary Regan and were resident at both the Plaza Handsworth and the Ritz in Kings Heath for most of that year – I have never heard of The Blue Stars
Thanks for the info Euan. The Blue Stars were definitely around at the time. I’ve changed the page to mention The Cheetahs and The Redcaps. If you have any more memories of playing with The Beatles please feel free to share!
The Blue Stars from Cannock, Staffs supported The Beatles at The Plaza. I know because I was there!!. I was in a group myself at the time called The Fleetwoods so we went along to check out the chords they used for Please, please me amongst others. The Blue Stars did about three Beatles songs themselves as part of their act which I thought was a bit brave of them. I have to speak as I find but, me and my bandmates felt that the Blue Stars did better versions of the songs. – more in keeping with the Beatles’ actual recordings.
The Beatles also played the Plaza Handsworth and Ritz Ballroom Kings Heath in 1962.
The cossacks from cannock was another band supporting the Beatles at old hill plaza that night in 63.
So, on which date in 1963 did the beatles play the Plaza Handsworth ???
Worked from 16 yoa at the Plaza Rookery Road. My job was keeping the bar stocked along with several friends about when the Beatles appeared. Being a big Rolling Stones fan I never bothered to go into the dressing room off stage or even nip upstairs to watch the Beatles. (A lifelong regret). Didn’t think much of the Cheetas , Yje Red Caps were OK though. Best gigs I saw were Carl Wayne and the Vikings (Later known as The Move), The Kinks. The Long John Baldrey, Show (alternatively known as Bluesology) (with very young support acts like Rod Stewart, Kiki Dee, and Brian Augers Trinity. and Elton John.
Later on the were other acts I saw such as Lulu, Dusty Springfield. Gino Washington and the Ram Jam Band, Little Stevie Wonder, along with several other Motown groups. Other acts I knew were Karl Palmer (of Emerson Lake and Palme) and a young Robert Plant.
Great time working there actually meeting and chatting to these people. Best of all I went to the Plaza socially at least twice a, week (when not working) but never paid to go in. I worked the in my spare time until it closed. Can’t remember much more (Old age is setting in}.
My dad Dave Mountney owned the gold set of Ludwigs.He was the drummer in the plazents, resident at the plaza, before that in the beachcombers.