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Merseybeat

114 articles

Kingsize Taylor & the Dominos

Profile by Bill Harry, Mersey Beat, 22 February 1962

IT IS A well known fact that the Dominos were the first rock group to appear on Merseyside (at least this is the view shared ...

Beat Group Names from America and Liverpool

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 August 1962

IS THE Liverpool area the rockingest part of the great British Isles? A publication, Mersey Beat, just arrived, makes me think this is the ...

The Beatles: Beatles Find Show Biz Isn't All Fun

Interview by Jean Carol, Disc, 24 November 1962

THE BEATLES, newest British group to join the ever-growing list of outfits to challenge the Shadows, dropped into the DISC office just about 12 hours ...

The Beatles: At a Recording Session with the Beatles

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, Mersey Beat, 3 January 1963

THE SECONDS tick away, high in the control room at EMI's recording studios in St. John's Wood, London. Through the glass panel I could see ...

The Beatles: Beatles Beatles

Report and Interview by Wesley Laine, Record Mirror, 2 February 1963

WHETHER YOU like them or not, you've got to admit that the Beatles are just about the most talked-about group on the British beat scene. ...

The Beatles: Liverpool Group Takes Britain by Storm

Profile by June Harris, Disc, 9 February 1963

LAST WEEK Brian Matthew described The Beatles as "the most original musical and visual sensation since The Shadows." And the off-beat writings of leader John ...

The Beatles: Beatles Almost Threw 'Please Please Me' Away

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 March 1963

THE BEATLES opened a copy of the NME and gazed proudly at the Charts when 'Please Please Me' hit the top recently. It was a ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: New to the Charts: Gerry, Pacemakers from Beatle-land!

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 March 1963

CRASHING into the NME Chart this week comes another beat name from Beatle-land, Liverpool's Gerry and the Pacemakers. Gerry is featured vocalist on 'How Do ...

The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers: Merseyside Beat Pays Off At Last!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 23 March 1963

IT'S ALL happening up in Liverpool! First The Beatles, now Gerry and the Pacemakers and in a few weeks time, who knows? The music the ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Gerry And The Pacemakers Reveal Their Success Secret: 'We Let Go!'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 April 1963

"UND JETZT," said Gerry (of the Pacemakers), "ein wünsche für..." The rest of his announcement was drowned by a burst of good-natured jeering from the ...

The Beatles, Dave Berry: The Hamburg Scene: An NRM Special Report

Report and Interview by David Griffiths, Record Mirror, 6 April 1963

WHERE, WOULD you reckon, is the greatest training ground for British beat singers and groups? ...

The Beatles: Throat Sweets Keep Us Going Say Beatles!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 April 1963

A NEVER-ENDING supply of throat sweets is one of the secrets behind the continued success of the Beatles, who come crashing into the NME Chart ...

The Chants, Lee Curtis and the All-Stars, The Fourmost, Beryl Marsden, The Merseybeats, The Remo Four, The Searchers, The Undertakers: "My Rocking City"

Report by Bill Harry, Record Mirror, 20 April 1963

By BILL HARRY, Editor of MERSEY BEAT ...

The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer: How that lucky Mr. Epstein got a head's start with the Beatles

Profile and Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 27 April 1963

IT WOULDN'T be difficult to be exceedingly jealous of Brian Epstein. In fact, I should think a lot of people are — managers particularly. ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Pacemakers are still on Cloud Nine

Profile by June Harris, Disc, 27 April 1963

AT SOME time — he was in such a daze he can't remember exactly when — between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m. on ...

The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer: Billy J. Kramer Adds To Liverpool Chart Invasion!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 May 1963

FIRST THE BEATLES, then Gerry and the Pacemakers. Now a new Liverpool name, Billy J. Kramer, looks set to take the NME Chart by storm ...

Billy J. Kramer: Singing Was Forced On To Me!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 May 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER sat back in his manager's London office and looked thoughtful as the bubbles settled on top of his cup of hot tea. ...

Freddie Starr & the Midnighters: Joe Meek and Merseybeat

Interview by Bill Harry, Mersey Beat, 23 May 1963

Meek Records Midnighters First Disc
 ...

The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Roy Orbison: The Beatles, Roy Orbison, Gerry & the Pacemakers: Adelphi, Slough

Live Review by June Harris, Disc, 25 May 1963

Beatles-Roy Orbison tour is a sensation! ...

The Big Three: "They All Copied Us," Said The Big Three To NRM's David Griffiths

Interview by David Griffiths, Record Mirror, 1 June 1963

THE FIRST thing you notice about them is that they are quite normal size — three average-height lads. But when they start to play — ...

Freddie & The Dreamers: The Hilarious Account Of How Freddie 'Floated' From Milk To Hit

Profile and Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 7 June 1963

MR. FREDERICK GARRATTY has it all worked out exactly when he became just plain Freddie, a full-time professional entertainer with a backing group called the ...

Gerry & the Pacemakers: Gerry and the Judies*

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 8 June 1963

*DOLLS, BIRDS, CHICKS, DAMES ...

Freddie & The Dreamers: Freddie, of the Dreamers, has a Weakness for 'Birds', Fruit and Squash

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 22 June 1963

FREDDIE GARRETTY ordered a glass of orange squash, six dishes of fruit salad, and confessed that two items share the number one spot in his ...

The Swinging Blue Jeans: Blue Jeans Swing into Chart

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 5 July 1963

THE SWINGING Blue Jeans have been swinging for a long time. Back in 1957, when they were first formed, the line-up was typical of those ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Just Say 'Didn'I' To Get The Pacemakers Laughing

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 July 1963

GERRY AND the Pacemakers staggered into their dressing-room, glistening with perspiration as each fell into a chair and sipped an ice-cold drink. "Like it?" grinned ...

Billy J. Kramer: Great Session by Billy J — But Those Tonsils Will Have To Come Out!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 6 July 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER has tonsil trouble. "I reckon I'll have 'em chopped out in September," he told me over the phone last week. "The specialist ...

The Beatles, Elvis Presley: John Lennon: El's Still The King — But He's Got To Watch It!

Interview by Jean Carol, Disc, 6 July 1963

That 'I don't like Presley' remark on Juke Box Jury has caused an uproar, but JOHN LENNON is sticking to what he said.... ...

The Searchers: Searchers Paid £40 To Make LP

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 July 1963

THE SEARCHERS might not be in the NME Top Ten this week – making an amazing jump from No. 24 to No. 5! – if ...

The Searchers: Hit Brings Big Offers for the Searchers

Profile and Interview by June Harris, Disc, 13 July 1963

No sales for three weeks, then crash, the new boys make it big! ...

The Beatles: Beatles Recover From That Fantastic EP

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 17 July 1963

JOHN LENNON removed his black rimmed glasses and wiped the steam off with his tie. The other three Beatles hunted blindly for chairs, dropped in ...

The Beatles, The Isley Brothers, The Tremeloes: The 'Twist And Shout' Battle Hots Up! (And How The NME Helped)

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 July 1963

THERE'S A long and fascinating story behind the big come-back success of 'Twist And Shout' (now with three versions in the best-sellers) — and it's ...

The Big Three: Everything Happens to the Big Three — Even an Electric Shock!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 20 July 1963

"ISN'T IT fab" remarked Johnny Hutchinson. "Are we really in the charts again? It's gear. The works." Johnny was enthusing over the success of the ...

The Beatles: Pete Best: The Other Beatle

Profile by Bill Harry, Mersey Beat, 1 August 1963

'Moody and Magnificent' 
they said — 'He was the Great Attraction'.
 Fans went wild over him. He was... The Other Beatle ...

The Dakotas, Billy J. Kramer: Billy J. Kramer Talks About the Dakotas

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 9 August 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER stood in the wings at Southend Odeon at the weekend, clicking his fingers to the rhythm of the Dakotas. A spotlight penetrated ...

The Beatles, The Big Three, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Merseybeats: The Beatles, the Liverpool Sound, Gerry and the Pacemakers... The Cavern — This Is Where It All Started!

Report by Jean Carol, Disc, 17 August 1963

JEAN CAROL finds out what it is really like. ...

The Searchers: Everything Happens to the Searchers!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 24 August 1963

Success, accidents, you name it, they've had it! ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Gerry And The Pacemakers Too Busy For Recordings!

Report and Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 14 September 1963

IT'S BEEN a bit quiet on the recording front for Gerry and the Pacemakers — and the main reason is that the effervescent Mr. Marsden ...

The Tremeloes: The Tired Tremeloes..!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 14 September 1963

In the charts with 'Twist And Shout' and with 'Do You Love Me' crashing in at No. 33, Brian and the boys begin to feel ...

Billy J. Kramer: Billy J. Still Can't Believe it!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 21 September 1963

No. 1 with his first. No. 1 with his second, and now he tops his own package... no wonder Billy J. still can't believe it! ...

The Searchers: June Harris Visits the Searchers... And Finds Them Doing Nothing!

Report by June Harris, Disc, 21 September 1963

THE THEATRE was quiet! A few people sat scattered around the auditorium, and The Searchers were on stage, saying and doing nothing! ...

Freddie & The Dreamers, Roy Orbison, The Searchers, The Tremeloes: Roy Orbison, Freddie & the Dreamers, Brian Poole & the Tremeloes, the Searchers: Walthamstow Granada, London

Live Review by June Harris, Disc, 21 September 1963

ROY, BRIAN, FREDDIE — THEY'RE A KNOCKOUT! ...

Billy J. Kramer: Life With Billy J.!

Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 5 October 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER lashed back his second entire French loaf, whooshed amiably through a large crab salad — and talked about the trials, tribulations and ...

Cilla Black: After Those Beatles — The Gear Girl

Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 5 October 1963

"I LOVE PARTIES," SAYS THE GIRL FROM LIVERPOOL. "WE ACT SOFT, DANCE FLAMENCO AND WEAR WAX ROSES IN OUR MOUTHS." ...

The Searchers: 'Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya' is Selling a Bomb, but the Searchers are Still Arguing About It!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 12 October 1963

THINGS ARE swinging for the Searchers. Their 'Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya' EP stormed into our Top Thirty two weeks ago at 16, moved up to ...

The Beatles: The Year of the Beatles, part one

Profile and Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 17 October 1963

AS THEY MAKE THE ROYAL SHOW: A STUDY OF HOW THEY DID IT ...

The Beatles: Part II Of "The Year of the Beatles": This is where the 'O' level world becomes Rock...

Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 18 October 1963

WHAT DISTINGUISHES the Beatles and the Liverpool Movement from the rest is their self-confidence. ...

The Beatles: Part III Of 'The Year Of The Beatles': It's Like Living It Up With Four Marx Brothers

Profile and Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 19 October 1963

EACH BEATLE differs so much from the other Beatles that it's odd they get on so well together. They like each other best. "We are ...

The Beatles: It's The Beatles! Oh, What A Night It Was... That Top Of The Bill Debut At The London Palladium

Report by Tony Barrow, Liverpool Echo, 21 October 1963

BEGINS TO-DAY: The Fabulous Stary Of Liverpool's Famous Four ...

The Beatles, The Quarrymen: It's the Beatles! Fans Just Didn't Dig The 'Quarrymen'

Retrospective by Tony Barrow, Liverpool Echo, 22 October 1963

THE STRUGGLING DAYS... ALL OF FIVE YEARS AGO Second Article In The Series By TONY BARROW ...

The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers: It's The Beatles! Part 3: 30/- Each A Night — They Nearly Disbanded. Then Came The Epstein Touch

Retrospective by Tony Barrow, Liverpool Echo, 23 October 1963

IN JULY 1961 at Litherland Town Hall, a Crosby man put on a show which could now pack Liverpool Stadium twice over and probably leave ...

The Beatles: It's the Beatles! part 4: What It Is Like To Be Famous

Interview by Tony Barrow, Liverpool Echo, 24 October 1963

JUST AS thousands of pop-conscious and/or fashion-conscious young men have added collarless Cardin jackets or suits to their sleek wardrobes, it looks as though the ...

The Beatles, George Martin: It's The Beatles! To Each — Quick Wits And A Mind Of His Own

Report and Interview by Tony Barrow, Liverpool Echo, 26 October 1963

Concluding the story of LIVERPOOL'S FAMOUS FOUR ...

The Beatles: With The Beatles (Parlophone)

Review by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 9 November 1963

WITH THE BEATLES IS THE TITLE OF THE FANTASTIC NEW BEATLES ALBUM. HERE'S A DETAILED REVIEW BY PETER JONES ...

The Beatles: Only Do TV — At First

Report and Interview by Alan Walsh, Disc, 7 December 1963

WHEN THE Beatles go to America next year it will be virtually only to appear on the Ed Sullivan TV show. Speaking to me in ...

The Beatles Go Home To Liverpool In Triumph

Report by Alan Walsh, Disc, 14 December 1963

RINGO STARR, perched on a dais six feet above the stage of Liverpool's Empire Theatre, looked chilled despite his overcoat. Below him on the stage ...

The Beatles: Beatles: Yes, It's All So Different Now, Says John

Report and Interview by June Harris, Disc, 21 December 1963

JOHN LENNON was the first to enter the Southend Odeon. He strolled across the stage looking very un-Beatlish in a suede cap and huge dark ...

The Beatles: Paris Prepares For That Beatle Invasion

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 21 December 1963

June Harris talks to Jo Bergman of the Beatles Press office, just back from Paris ...

The Beatles — and 1964

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 21 December 1963

Nobody can look back on 1963 with more satisfaction than The Beatles. In the last 12 months they've caused riots at the Royal Variety Performance, ...

The Beatles — and 1964

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 21 December 1963

This year has been just fantastic, but despite what the pessimists say, the next 12 months could be even bigger for the Beatles. Nobody can look ...

The Beatles: Yes, It's All So Different Now, Says John

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 21 December 1963

JOHN LENNON was the first to enter the Southend Odeon. He strolled across the stage looking very un-Beatlish in a suede cap and huge dark ...

The Searchers: Searchers Aim to Shake the Market!

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 4 January 1964

THIS YEAR, more than anything, The Searchers want to shake the British market with a new, way-out sound! Their success last year with numbers like ...

The Beatles: Beatles Head For No.1 In U.S.!

Report by June Harris, Disc, 18 January 1964

THE BEATLES' 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' is heading straight for the Number One spot in the American 100! Last Friday the record soared ...

The Swinging Blue Jeans: New Sound Wanted for Blue Jeans' Next Disc

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 25 January 1964

THE SWINGING Blue Jeans were rehearsing like mad in the final few minutes before their guest appearance on Go Man Go. ...

The Beatles: It's Bedlam for the Beatles

Report by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 13 February 1964

THINGS ARE really getting beyond a joke. The Beatles arrived back in New York from Washington yesterday afternoon and were marooned for three-quarters of an ...

The Beatles: "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" An Afterthought

Interview by Ronnie Oberman, Evening Star, The (Washington DC), 14 February 1964

THE FAMOUS "yeah, yeah, yeah," in the Beatles' recording 'She Loves You' on the Swan label was a last-minute addition. ...

The Merseybeats: Merseybeats — On The Way Up — Look For A Replacement

Interview by Alan Walsh, Disc, 15 February 1964

IN THE background was that thumping, dynamic beat that tells you this is Liverpool! And the voice on the phone, too, was unmistakably Scouse. Tony ...

The Beatles: The One Who Got Away

Interview by Keith Altham, Fabulous, 15 February 1964

PETE BEST is the Beatle who got away. The drummer who was replaced by Ringo Starr just before the boys hit the big time. What ...

The Beatles: I Love Them All, Says Ringo

Report and Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 22 February 1964

THERE WERE 8000 on the roof. A thousand running through the building. And police galore. ...

Billy J. Kramer: Billy Has An Eye For Pop Fashion

Interview by Alan Walsh, Disc, 29 February 1964

BILLY J. KRAMER, rated one of Britain's snappiest popsters dresswise, was talking to me about his wardrobe. We were in Liverpool, where Billy was relaxing ...

Gerry & the Pacemakers: How Does He Sing Through That Grin?

Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 29 February 1964

GERRY IS the one with the grin. He makes jokes about wiring it into position to a top back tooth on either side of his ...

Tony Sheridan, Kingsize Taylor: Tony Sheridan and Kingsize Taylor: The Forgotten Kings of Beat

Profile by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 29 February 1964

AS HAS possibly been observed before, it is all happening in Hamburg. There is more big beat per square yard on the Reeperbahn, with its ...

The Searchers: Here's What Makes Searchers a Hit

Interview by June Harris, Disc, 7 March 1964

WHAT MAKES a hit disc? The singer, the song, the producer, or a combination of all three? More particularly, what makes The Searchers such a ...

Cilla Black, The Dakotas, Billy J. Kramer, Gene Pitney, The Swinging Blue Jeans: Cilla Black writes for Disc... They Spoil Me

Interview by uncredited writer, Disc, 14 March 1964

I'm the only girl on tour — and it's really marvellous! ...

The Beatles: Musicians Union Watching Invasion of British Groups

Report by uncredited writer, Billboard, 28 March 1964

NEW YORK — The influx of the British musical groups on the U.S. personal appearance scene is disturbing the American Federation of Musicians. It's understood ...

The Beatles, Cilla Black, The Dakotas, Billy J. Kramer, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers: Star Beat: Mike Grant Reporting On The Mersey Scene

Report by Mike Grant, Rave, April 1964

A BLONDE hairdresser is said to be very much the apple of Ringo Starr's eye at the moment. She lives and works in Liverpool and ...

The Beatles: Sshhh!!!!! Silence!!! Lights!!! Camera!!! Action!!! It's Those Beatles!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, Fabulous, 16 May 1964

BEATLES HERE. Beatles there. Beatles tearing about everywhere, down at Twickenham film studios. I didn't expect any of them to have time for a chat, ...

Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, Gerry & The Pacemakers: Fab Gives Cilla a 21st Gig

Report by Keith Altham, Fabulous, 23 May 1964

Cilla Black's a mighty popular popster and Fab fans of hers wrote in droves asking about Cilla's birthday. Since her 21st was coming up we just had to ...

The Swinging Blue Jeans: The Blue Jeans Ordeal

Interview by David Griffiths, Record Mirror, 23 May 1964

The Swinging Blue Jeans talk to R.M's David Griffiths about the R&B fanatics who spoilt their act ...

The Beatles: Now You Can Be A Beatle People And Get Right In Here With Them

Overview by uncredited writer, Rave, June 1964

● Just a few people share the Beatles' lives — and their wit, charm, gaiety — because the Beatles can't meet everyone. ● But now YOU ...

The Merseybeats: We Love Mad Fans!

Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 18 July 1964

say those Merseybeats Off the Cuff to Peter Jones ...

The Mojos: Much Ado About Mojos

Profile and Interview by Sylvia Stephen, Fabulous, 25 July 1964

What a FABULOUS assignment! ...

The Mojos Horsing Around

Report by Keith Altham, Fabulous, 15 August 1964

Fab's Keith has a hard day's afternoon at Windor races with the Mojos ...

Billy J. Kramer: Fab Says Happy Birthday Billy J.

Report by Sylvia Stephens, Fabulous, 22 August 1964

It's Billy J's. 21st. What better excuse for a party? So we had one — and it was FAB. ...

Cilla Black: Cilla — She'll Stay Here, Says Brian

Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 22 August 1964

WHAT NEXT for Cilla Black? Only one man really knows the way to develop her career... and that man Is Brian Epstein, guv'nor figure of ...

The Beatles, John Lennon: John Lennon: Happy Birthday to the Head Beatle

Interview by Keith Altham, Fabulous, 10 October 1964

Although The Beatles have never officially had a leader, John Lennon has always been regarded as Beatle-boss because of his major role in their success. ...

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Searchers: Worldwide Audiences for Searchers, Says Frank Allen

Interview by Bill Harry, Mersey Beat, 22 October 1964

BRAND NEW Searcher Frank Allen described to us some of the excitement he felt on his first worldwide trip with the group shortly before he ...

The Beatles, The Quarrymen: The Beatle Who Lost Out!

Retrospective and Interview by uncredited writer, Rave, November 1964

In a lonely caravan Rave finds the man who started it all. Name... Ken Brown ...

The Fourmost: "Why We Copied The 4 Tops"

Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 21 November 1964

THE MAJORITY of Juke Box Jury panellists — that is, three out of the four — hammered the Fourmost's new single 'Baby, I Need Your ...

The Searchers: Strings and Searchers!

Interview by David Griffiths, Record Mirror, 26 December 1964

THERE THEY were — four Searchers in a Pye recording studio. Said Chris Curtis: "We're doing a new album, an elaborate one using strings." ...

Cilla Black: Cilla Is Knocked Out By New Disc!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 January 1965

KEITH ALTHAM meets a sun-tanned singing star and discovers... ...

Billy J. Kramer: Billy J: "It Isn't Going To Last Forever"

Interview by Dawn James, Rave, March 1965

HE LOOKED down at the emptying street below the dressing-room window. He was thoughtful, silent, the boy who has had so many successes and who ...

The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Roy Orbison: Derek Taylor's Life With The Beatles

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, 9 June 1965

Recalls First Meeting When He Marveled At Their Magnetism ...

The Beatles: Derek Taylor Recalls Early Beatle Appeal

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, 16 June 1965

(Editor's note: Last week Derek Taylor began the story of his association with the Beatles. He told of attending a concert in which he first ...

The Beatles, Cilla Black, George Harrison, Tommy Quickly, Ringo Starr: Liverpool: Home Town

Report and Interview by Sylvia Stephens, Fabulous, 19 June 1965

...that's Liddypool, home of so many greats in the pop world, and from the streets where they lived Fab's SYLVIA STEPHEN reports... ...

The Beatles: Derek Taylor: My Life With The Beatles — Beatlemania Grips England

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, 23 June 1965

(Editor's Note: This is the third and concluding installment of Derek Taylor's life with the Beatles, first as a newspaperman covering their exciting rise to ...

Cilla Black: Two years later Cilla Black is much the same really...

Interview by Maureen Cleave, The Evening Standard, 18 September 1965

She is more famous, of course: there were only ten people in the coffee bar but they all came to pay their respects... ...

The Merseys: Mersey Mood

Interview by Nick Jones, Melody Maker, 21 May 1966

The New-Look duo make it in their own right ...

It's All Smiles at the Two-Week Old Cavern Again

Report by Alan Walsh, Melody Maker, 13 August 1966

TWO WEEKS after the barrage of publicity at the opening, it's all smiles at Liverpool's Cavern Club again. ...

Madeline Bell, The Four Tops, The Merseys, The Remo Four: The Four Tops, Madeline Bell, the Merseys, the Remo Four: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Penny Valentine, Disc and Music Echo, 4 February 1967

Ball at the Albert Hall ...

Various Artists: Mersey Beat ’62-‘64

Review by Ken Barnes, Phonograph Record, December 1974

IN THE LITANY of wondrous 1974 reissues which led off my review of Odds & Sods/Backtrackin' last issue, I neglected to shower proper praises on ...

The Tremeloes: Tremeloes: Even the Bad Times are Good

Report by Ken Barnes, Phonograph Record, May 1976

THE TREMELOES have a problem – they've been too successful. 15 years together (the first five, backing Brian Poole) and upwards of a dozen pop ...

The La's: Fit To Pop!

Interview by Julian Henry, Underground, January 1988

The La's earn 'totally normal' tag! ...

The Beatles and Astrid Kirchherr: They Loved Stu Yeah Yeah Yeah

Report and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 2 April 1994

They weren't always old men owning half of Scotland and giving all their money to spiritual motor racing gurus. On the eve of a Beatles ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Gerry Marsden's Beating Heart

Profile and Interview by Chris Bourke, The New Zealand Herald, March 1997

GERRY MARSDEN will never walk alone. All he needs to do is go to Anfield and watch his beloved Liverpool football team. He can sit ...

The Beatles: "No one else had the flair, the panache, the wit that Brian had," says Paul McCartney. So why did he die miserably and alone?

Retrospective by Jon Savage, The Guardian, 18 December 1998

Jon Savage describes how Brian Epstein fell victim to drugs and the pressures of being a secret homosexual. ...

Paul McCartney: The Cavern, Liverpool

Live Review by David Sinclair, Rolling Stone, 20 January 2000

IN ITS OWN downbeat English way, Mathew Street in Liverpool is as much a shrine to the Beatles as Graceland is to Elvis. Walk up ...

The Swinging Blue Jeans

Book Excerpt by Phil Hardy, Dave Laing, The Faber Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music, 2001

Ray Ennis, b. 26 May 1942, Liverpool, England; Ralph Ellis, b. 8 March 1942, Liverpool (replaced 1965 by Terry Sylvester, b. 8 January 1945, Liverpool); ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits, The Small Faces, Dusty Springfield: Various Artists: British Invasion (Reelin' in the Years)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Steven R Rosen, Blurt, September 2009

Gerry & the Pacemakers, Dusty Springfield, Herman's Hermits and Small Faces get the first-class treatment. ...

The Beatles, Neil Christian & the Crusaders, Alex Harvey and His Soul Band, The Searchers, Tony Sheridan, Spencer Davis Group: Lebensraum Twist

Retrospective and Interview by Alan Clayson, Record Collector, Fall 2011

Alan Clayson investigates British artists of the 1960s whose early output included records issued only in Germany. ...

The Beatles and Hamburg

Retrospective by David Burke, Vintage Rock, Winter 2012

THE BEATLES may have come from Liverpool, England – but they were made in Hamburg, Germany. That, at least, is the view of Allan Williams, ...

Jackie Lomax, 1944-2013

Obituary by Richard Williams, The Guardian, 17 September 2013

THE CAREER OF the Liverpool-born singer and songwriter Jackie Lomax, who has died aged 69, seemed set on a golden path when he became one ...

The Beatles: Derek Taylor: As Time Goes By (Faber)

Book Review by Mick Brown, Sunday Telegraph, 5 May 2018

ONE MAGICAL weekend in the summer of 1968, Derek Taylor, the press agent for the Beatles, took a trip with Paul McCartney and the singer ...

The Beatles: From Beetles to Beatles: It was 60 years ago today

Essay by Simon Warner, Kerouac.com, 1 June 2020

How Beat and a British poet changed the history of rock music ...

Kingsize Taylor, 1939-2023

Obituary by Spencer Leigh, The Guardian, 11 January 2023

Singer and guitarist with the Dominoes, Merseybeat rivals to the Beatles in the early 1960s ...

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