Ivan Vaughan didn’t only introduce Paul McCartney to John Lennon, but months earlier, he had introduced Len Garry to Lennon.
Len tells his story here:
Beatles History Blog
The Day John met Paul – What Really Happened?
On 6th July 1957, Paul McCartney was introduced to John Lennon after watching The Quarrymen perform at St. Peter’s Church in Woolton, Liverpool.
What really did happen? Having spoken to all of the surviving members of the Quarrymen, I could finally get as close to the truth as is possible.
Watch for the story of that incredible day.
Happy Birthday George
On what would have been George’s birthday, join me as I take a little wander down Arnold Grove where George was born.
Celebrate with me with some great photos of a young George and his family.
Strawberry Field: Where Something is Real
Strawberry Fields Forever is one of John Lennon and the Beatles greatest songs in my opinion.
When Beatles fans visit Liverpool, they queue up to have their photos taken in front of the famous red gates and can now wander the grounds too.
But what was Strawberry Field to John? It wasn’t those gates!
Watch this video to find out the REAL Strawberry Fields Forever!
The Beatles Eleanor Rigby. Who Was She?
Eleanor Rigby is one of the great Beatles songs that never ages. Who was she? Was she real?
What about the gravestone at St Peter’s? Come with me to explore!
Step Inside St Peter’s Church where John Lennon sang in the Choir
Although St. PETER’S Church is famous for being the place where John Lennon met Paul McCartney on 6th July 1957, John had been attending Sunday School here from the age of 5. Many of his friends from The Quarrymen also attended here too.
John, his best friends Pete Shotton and Nigel Walley also sang in the choir, though it won’t surprise you that John was thrown out of the choir too!
Join me as I go through the doors and into the church to see inside the famous St Peter’s where John sang in the choir
From The Cavern to Ed Sullivan in 3 Years
On 9th February 1961, The Beatles made their debut at the Cavern Club during a lunchtime special. They qent on to make 292 appearances at the legendary club.
The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in front of 73 million people on 9th February 1964.
How did they get there? What is the connection with their debut at The Cavern Club?
Watch the latest video below
Walk in The Footsteps of John Lennon and The Quarrymen
In our latest Video on YouTube we are sharing some of the unseen footage and interviews from when we made “Looking for Lennon”.
Not many visitors to Liverpool realise that in the heart of Woolton, close to John Lennon’s home at “Mendips”, was a Quarry. This was still active in the 1950s. When the Quarrymen performed at the St Peter’s Garden Fete, they played on top of the Quarry.
You can view some drone footage (see photo) that we shot in the quarry – it is a residential area now – which looks over St Peter’s Church and the footpath, which many people also don’t know about, that runs from Lennon’s side of Woolton to St. Peter’s Church.
Walk in the footsteps of John Lennon and The Quarrymen. Enjoy the short film – more to come soon
The Beatles Venues – From First to Last!
Beatles Virtual Tour – Tonight, 24th January 2021
Join David Bedford and Richard Porter as they take you on a magical mystery virtual tour through some of the famous, and not-so-famous, venues that the Beatles played.
Starting at Quarry Bank School for their first performance and ending with The Beatles on the rooftop at Savile Row, you will see rare and previously unpublished photographs and stories, as well as a couple of rare video interviews too.
We are visiting:
- Quarry Bank Hall;
- New Clubmoor Hall;
- Wilson Hall;
- Philharmonic Hall;
- Granada East Ham;
- Granada Walthamstow;
- Granada Woolwich;
- The Morgue, Liverpool;
- Lowlands;
- The 2is Coffee Bar, London;
- The Casbah;
- Neston Institute;
- Grosvenor Ballroom, Wallasey;
- Grosvenor House, London;
- Embassy Club, Wallasey;
- Tower Ballroom, New Brighton,
- Empire Pool, Wembley;
- Pigalle Club, London;
- Blue Gardenia;
- Barnston Women’s Institute;
- Hulme Hall;
- Irby Village Hall;
- YMCA Birkenhead;
- Leyton Swimming Pool;
- Gaumont Cinema, Kilburn;
- Royal Albert Hall;
- Majestic Finsbury;
- Fairfield Hall Croydon;
- Wimbledon Palais;
- Astoria Finsbury Park;
- Hammersmith Odeon ’63;
- NME Poll Winners Party 1966;
- Empire Theatre, Liverpool;
- Hammersmith Odeon 1965
- and Rooftop Concert, Savile Row.
Join the Virtual Tour
Join us tonight for this exclusive Beatles Virtual Tour
Exploring The Country of Liverpool
The Country of Liverpool is an exhaustive work linking Country and Western and Rock’n’Roll, between America and Liverpool.
John Lennon biographer Jude Kessler has reviewed “The Country of Liverpool” for Culture Sonar:
“For 50 years, the well-worn tale of 1950s American music imported into the port city of Liverpool, England, via the Cunard Yanks has been the standard explanation for the “rise of the Beatles.” But in his new book, The Country of Liverpool, author David Bedford (Liddypool, The Fab One Hundred and Four) views this simplistic theory as a bit like putting the cart in front of the horse.”
Jude concludes that:
“The Country of Liverpool is an exhaustive work linking Country and Western and Rock’n’Roll, between America and Liverpool. Bedford’s book proves that long before The Beatles set foot on the Ed Sullivan Stage on 9 February 1964, the United States and Liverpool were already joined by a common love affair with Irish-inspired Bluegrass, Folk, Skiffle, and Country and Western, all of which led directly to the birth of Rock’n’Roll and the Mersey Beat.
This is that complete story.
-Jude Southerland Kessler (author of The John Lennon Series)”
Read the full review here:
Get your copy of the “The Country of Liverpool” now
Find out about the New Documentary Film too
