The Cavern

Thanks to Dave from A Sound Day for publishing this post on October 25, 2024. It was part of his Turntable Talk: Our guest columnists are invited to go on a magical musical road trip and visit any musical location they want to – past or present – and see it in all its glory. 

I would love to go to the Cavern. The Beatles would not have to be there for me to enjoy its dark wet walls. They have built a new one but it’s not the same location of the original. That is great for the tourists but what’s the point? I would love to go back to 1957 – 1972 to walk into the cavern. Just to feel the history inside of that place. The Beatles were not the only big name to play there as you will see. A small cellar club that would be known around the world…including a small town in Tennessee.

The original Cavern Club was founded on January 16, 1957, by Alan Sytner. Sytner was inspired by jazz clubs he had visited in Paris such as the Le Caveau de la Huchette. The Cavern Club was initially a jazz club, with early performances focusing on traditional jazz and skiffle, a blend of folk and jazz. No rock and roll or blue jeans were allowed in the club. Ringo Starr debuted there on July 31, 1957, playing drums in the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group. John Lennon would appear there on August 7, 1957, with the Quarrymen Skiffle Group. That year Big Bill Broonzy played there along with jazz great Ronnie Scott. In 1959 Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee played there as well.

In the early 1960s, rock ‘n’ roll became popular in Liverpool, with skiffle bands embracing electric guitars and rhythm. The Beatles made their first appearance on February 9, 1961. They performed there 292 times between 1961-1963. Brian Epstein ran a record store called NEMS and when a teen asked for My Bonnie by Tony Sheridan and The Beatles…Brian wanted to find it. He was told that The Beatles played at the Cavern so on November 9, 1961, Brian walked down the steps in the Cavern to discover The Beatles’ playing.

In less than a year he had them sign an EMI contract and Ringo replaced Pete Best in August of 1962. A year later on August 3, 1963, the Beatles played their last show there…they had outgrown the Cavern and had to start touring nationally. After The Beatles left, other bands came there to play in Liverpool. The Cavern became a hotspot for other British acts, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Queen, The Yardbirds, Black Sabbath, Elton John, and The Hollies.

Paul McCartney didn’t forget the place. In 1968 he and Linda went back to visit the Cavern. The band Curiosity Shop was rehearsing, and Paul decided to join them by helping on the drums. Before getting on stage with the band Paul got behind the piano in the lounge and performed a solo performance of Hey Jude.

After struggling with financial issues, the original club was closed in 1973 due to the construction of a railway ventilation shaft. Much of the original Cavern was demolished, though some bricks were saved. A lot of the Cavern was filled in by rubble. In the early eighties architect David Backhouse said that the plans to excavate and re-open the Cavern Club in its original form would not be possible for structural reasons. Tests had revealed the arches of the old cellar had been too badly damaged during the demolition of the ground floor of the Cavern Club and the warehouses above.

There is a new Cavern as I said at the beginning and if I make it over there yes, I will see it but it would not be the same as seeing the real deal. That got me thinking…is that stage still there just covered with rubble from 1973?  Dave, Obbverse, Randy, Keith, John, and Christian…grab a shovel and meet me there now!

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

34 thoughts on “The Cavern”

  5. Thanks again for taking part, Max. A good pick to be sure, real music history .As we discussed before, what a crying shame it got torn down…to make room for an air vent!?

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    1. Yes…I think that is why people went… if you were in front of the stage…I’m sure you could hear it well…but in the back no…. I’ve played in basements before and it’s not fun.

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  14. Pingback: The Cavern – MobsterTiger

  16. I’ve been to the new Cavern, it’s mainly a tourist mecca, but all the early 60’s Who’s Who of who performed at the original on the wall displays is pretty cool. Outside you have a statue of Cilla Black (iconic 60’s Brian Epstein/George Martin Pop star/hat-check girl at the original Cavern) and Beatles stuff everywhere there and along the River Mersey seafront. Whole mega-cruise ships stop-off there for The Beatles tours, museums and shows in the new-look re-built Liverpool. Not a lot of people know this but the oldest Chinatown in the UK is still there too, lots of history.

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  17. I went to the Cavern on the Magical Mystery Tour of Liverpool, and don’t recall them mentioning it being a replica. I do remember that the Cavern had been filled in but was given the impression that they dug it out. Now I’m wondering if I was misinformed or have a dodgy memory (likely the latter, as it was in 1998).

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    1. Well the original is under tons of rubble…I wish they wouldn’t have done that or could have dug it out again but that was too costly. I do believe some of the bricks could be part of the new one.

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