A Day in the Life Blog

The opening night of a five-date booking in Scotland and the Beatles' first proper tour, also a return visit to the town played as support to Johnny Gentle on May 25, 1960 - was cancelled owing to the terrible weather conditions which had the whole of Scotland in an icy grip. Snowdrifts made virtually all of the Highlands roads impassable, and the Beatles hadn't a chance of getting through to Keith in time to fulfill the engagement.

The tour had got away to a bad start even before this setback. Thanks to the inclement weather, the Beatles' flight from London to Edinburgh during the morning of January 2, (the group had flown to London from Hamburg on January 1st, and spent the night there) was switched at the last moment to land at Aberdeen.

Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany

The Beatles grudgingly left England and their chart record, radio, TV and increasingly prestigious live bookings, for an undesirable 5th and final club trip to Hamburg, playing for 13 nights. Despite the increased fee of 750DM (67 pounds) per man, per week, all four Beatles could think about was getting back to capitalize on their success.

Their only night off was on Christmas Day, December 25th, and their final performance on New Year's Eve, were taped on amateur equipment and released for the first time in 1977 - against the Beatles' own wishes. Though extremely low-fidelity, they are fascinating recordings, and have been reissued extensively.

The Beatles' final 42 hours on the Star-Club stage brought the group's grueling Hamburg experience to a total of approximately 800 hours. Quite how valuable the work tied up in this remarkable statistic was to prove was, at this point, beyond comprehension. The Beatles had served their apprenticeship, and served it the hard way. They were now ready to take on whatever the world could throw at them.

Studio Four, Granada TV Center, Manchester

The Beatles 3rd appearance on the Granada television program, "People & Places", transmitted live this time between 6:35 and 7:00 pm.

They peformed 2 numbers, "Love Me Do" and "Twist and Shout", as rehearsed from 3:00 to 4:00 pm and again from 4:15 to 6:00.

Night: Cavern Club, Liverpool

Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead

Two entirely separate engagements in one night. During the evening, the Beatles performed a standard Majestic booking. Then, at midnight, the first ever Mersey Beat poll awards show (for 1962) began. As winners of the poll, the Beatles closed the show at 4:00 pm and were also presented with a beautiful plaque.

The poll runners-up, on stage immediately prior to the Beatles, were Lee Curtis and the All-Stars, so there was another encounter with Pete Best.

Music Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

A major booking with promoter Lewis Buckley. Most top acts of the day played here.

Another southern engagement, arranged following the withdrawal of Joe Brown, originally advertised to appear.

LOVE ME DO, PARLOPHONE RECORDING

THE BEATLES ALSO ROBIN HALL AND JIMMIE MACGREGOR WITH SUPPORTING GROUP

CORN EXCANGE, BEDFORD

December 13, 8:00 to 11:30 pm Admission 3

Lunchtime: Cavern Club, Liverpool

Night: Cavern, Club, Liverpool

La Scala Ballroom, Runcorn

The Beatles' second Runcorn date, although - unlike the first - this was a NEMS presentation.

Lunchtime: Cavern Club, Liverpool