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<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/57-73_big.gif" width="145" height="68"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The Cavern Club opened in Mathew Street on
Wednesday 16th January 1957. Its policy
was to put Liverpool on the map as having the leading jazz cellar in the country,
outside of London. Opened and owned by ALAN SYTNER it was named after the
Parisienne Jazz Club "Le Caveau."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The opening act on that first night was the
Merseysippi Jazz Band and over the next three years many of the great names of
British jazz performed on the same stage. During that period the club became a
focal point for jazz enthusiasts. However, although it attracted the big names
the limited capacity of the club meant profits were not great.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">By 1959 Alan Sytner had sold the club to Ray
McFall, who continued to maintain it as a leading jazz venue, however, the days
of jazz at the club were numbered.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The opening of the Cavern had coincided with the
skiffle craze. Skiffle was an improvised form of jazz and the hillbilly sound
that was popularised in Britain during the early 50s was produced with
rudimentary instruments such as guitars, washboard, jug and packing case single
string bass.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The release of Rock Island Line in 1956 sung by
Lonnie Donegan created a boom in skiffle that sent shock waves through teenage
Britain. Nowhere was the craze more evident than in Liverpool. Although skiffle
disappeared as quickly as it started, the Cavern had provided the perfect
setting. The sheer simplicity of skiffle had given many budding teenage
musicians the ability and confidence to perform, however rock ‘n’ roll
became the driving force behind their development.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Most of the big names in the Liverpool music
scene of the early sixties can trace their roots back to the skiffle period.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The Quarrymen Skiffle Group, featuring John
Lennon, made their first appearance at the Cavern on Wednesday 7th August 1957.
A week earlier Ringo Starr is thought to have made his debut with the Eddie
Clayton Skiffle group. Paul McCartney did not made his debut until 24th January
1958 with the Quarrymen. George Harrison had to wait until the Beatles made
their first appearance at a lunchtime session on 9th February 1961.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The Cavern lunchtime sessions were first
introduced in April 1957, to cope with demand from audiences and to cope with the
boom in skiffle. Years later people reflected on the Beatles lunchtime sessions
as the best times at the Cavern.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">This was not a sentiment shared by the jazz fans
who detested the noise that these amplified bands produced.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"><img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/cavpennant.gif" align="left" width="225" height="69">By
1960 the demand for Beat music at the Cavern was increasing, which would
ultimately turn around the financial fortunes of the Cavern. On 25th May
1960 Rory Storm and the Hurricanes featuring Ringo Starr on drums performed the
opening set at the Cavern’s first beat night session. Little did they know
they were striking the first chord of the most exciting period in British Rock
‘n’ Roll history, in what was to become the most famous club in the world.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Gradually the standard format became Beat group
sessions, with interludes of the hit records of the day. Bob Wooler became the
presenter of the lunchtime sessions and jazz became confined to weekends until
mid 1963 when it disappeared altogether.<img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/recordcover.jpg" align="right" width="176" height="178"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Throughout 1960, 1961 and 1962 the club became
the great spawning ground for the Merseybeat sound that swept the world of
music. In 1963 the skiffle era and the extensive local music scene enabled bands to
develop their various genres of music but it was the Beatles upon their return
from Hamburg in December 1960 who soon became club favourites, following their
first performance at the club in February 1961. Audiences and fellow musicians
couldn’t believe how good they were and they soon began drawing large crowds.
Gruelling night after night performances in Hamburg developed their repertoire
and stamina and helped develop their distinctive sound and look.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"><img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/caverntriangle.gif" align="left" width="210" height="190">Equally important was the influential impact
artists like Tony Sheridan had on the Beatles during their Hamburg days. The
movement of the Liverpool bands backwards and forwards to Hamburg gave the young
musicians inspiration and confidence. By mid 1961 the Merseybeat scene was in
full flow, the Cavern and the Beatles held centre stage. Unlike other Liverpool
Beat groups the Beatles had turned professional (May 1960), this not only gave
them the time to develop their repertoire, but also for John and Paul to harness
their natural talent and establish a song-writing partnership which ultimately determined their success.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">At a lunchtime session on November 9th 196, Brian
Epstein from Liverpool’s NEMS record store watched the Beatles perform. By
this time the Beatles were arguably the most accomplished group on Merseyside.
Epstein offered to become their manager and by May 1962 he had secured a
recording contract for them.<img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/paulgeorge_small.jpg" alt="paul&george.jpg (46168 bytes)" align="right" width="75" height="94"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Although Brian introduced many changes to the
band’s appearance and the venues they performed at, he realised how important
the Cavern was to the bands success and their valuable fan base there. John,
Paul, George and Pete seemed such a stable line-up, it is no surprise that fans
were so shocked when Pete was replaced by Ringo Starr. Pete played his last gig
at the Cavern with the Beatles on 15th August 1962, exactly one week later Ringo
Starr was playing drums. Ironically, the performance that day was an historic
moment as Granada TV filmed some of the Beatles set. This archive footage
features the songs ‘Some Other Guy’ and ‘Kansas City’. Voices in the
crowd can be heard chanting ‘we want Pete’. This historic moment sealed the
lifelong association between the Beatles and the Cavern.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"><img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/beatles1_small.jpg" alt="beatles1.jpg (58756 bytes)" align="left" width="114" height="75">Sadly
the Beatles recording success and breakthrough into the national music scene
meant they were rapidly outgrowing the club. Their last lunchtime performance
was 4th February 1963 and their last performance was at a special show on 3rd
August 1963. Although the Beatles went on to completely overshadow the other
Merseybeat bands they left a thriving music scene behind in the Cavern.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"><font FACE="Arial">The scene at the Cavern had
increased in popularity throughout 1961 and 1962, bands such as Gerry and the
Pacemakers, the Swinging Blue Genes, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, the Big
Three, King Size Taylor, the Searchers and the Chants had all built up their own
fan base. Some of those bands would register their own success in the world of
music.</font>.<img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/beatles2_small.jpg" alt="beatles2.jpg (46005 bytes)" align="right" width="104" height="75"></font></p>
<font FACE="Arial">
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Bob Wooler had become the driving force behind the Beat scene
in the Cavern and by the summer of 1962 had persuaded Ray McFall that the time
was right to start booking big names. On 1 July 1962 Gene Vincent (with the
Beatles on the same bill) made his debut at the Cavern.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Just over a year later the Beatles made their last performance
but Gene Vincent’s appearance started the long line of big names that would
appear at the club over the next eleven years.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF"><img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/jagger_small.jpg" alt="jagger.jpg (17573 bytes)" align="left" width="75" height="111">By
1964 the Beatles had taken the world by storm and with the success and
popularity of Brian Epstein’s other Liverpool groups and artistes, Liverpool
and the Cavern had become the focal point. Celebrities, performers and the media
clamoured to get a glimpse of the club.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Bob Wooler insisted that he needed help to cope with the
situation and a young man named Billy Butler stepped in. By this time young
bands like the Escorts, the Hideaways and the Klubbs had become the new kids on
the block. However by mid 1964 Mersey Beat had peaked. Ray McFall’s attempt to
enter the world of recording with ‘Cavern Sound Recording’ ended up a
financial failure. Even as the home of the Beatles the Cavern became a victim of
changing trends and bad financial management. The need to carry out major
renovation to comply with health and safety regulations was the last straw. The
costs were out of Ray McFall’s reach and the club had to close. Despite vain
attempts by Bob Wooler, groups and fans, the Cavern closed on 27 February 1966.
Ray McFall was declared bankrupt.</font></p>
<p><font color="#FFFFFF"><img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/cavtop20_small.jpg" align="right" alt="cavtop20.jpg (41051 bytes)" width="75" height="145"></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">An appeal fund was set up as people clamoured to re-open the
club. An offer of £5500 was made by local businessmen Joe Davey and Alf
Georghegan (pronounced Geegan), which was accepted, and they set about
developing and improving the club.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">On 23 July 1966 the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson,
officially opened the club. The outcry at the closure of the club had resulted
in a group of Cavern supporters presenting the Prime Minister (who was also a
local member of parliament) with a petition. Wilson offered his support and
obviously saw the PR opportunities it presented. Jimmy Saville, Ken Dodd and a
host of local dignitaries joined Harold Wilson. Brian Epstein and the Beatles
sent a telegram wishing the club every success.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Although the club would remain an important local venue for
another seven years, it proved impossible to restore the club to its former
glory.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The general opinion seemed to be that the club had lost its
uniqueness and originality that had set it apart from other venues.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">On 9 August 1967 the club started to sell alcohol. By this
time Bob Wooler had less involvement and Billy Butler had become the principal
DJ and compare. The music policy was moving towards a mix of live music and
discotheque.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">In 1969 Roy Adams took over the management. Although he
continued to provide a good standard of music and bringing in top acts together
with a mix of top quality local musicians, the halcyon days of the Beatles and
the Cavern had become fading memories.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Once the club closed in May 1973 and Roy Adams re-opened a new
Cavern Club over the road the Cavern members and regulars moved elsewhere.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF">The Cavern would have to wait until the 1980s and 90s before
it would receive its legendary status based on its affinity with the greatest
band of the twentieth century.</font></p>
</font>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"> <img border="0" src="../cavernclub/images/oldcavern.jpg" width="236" height="343"></font></p>
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