The Beatles Ground Zero to Pepper

Derek Shelmerdine, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is one of the guests on Tony Higginson’s Book Club

On 18 October 1957 Paul McCartney played his first gig with John Lennon’s group, Quarry Men – The Beatles Ground Zero to Pepper. The song When I’m Sixty-Four on the Sgt Pepper album asks the question “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?”
This show takes a look at the Beatles story from that first, ground zero, gig to the Sgt Pepper album. Do we still love the Beatles, 64 years on?
Great music, classic Beatles tracks and originals of some songs covered by the Fab Four. Plus live, unplugged music from some of the studio guests.

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…7.30 to 10.30 pm (UK) Monday 18 October
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The Beatles Ground Zero to Pepper – Tony Higginson’s Book Club

Will you still love me when I’m Sixty-Four?

A look at the Beatles from the very beginning to Sgt Pepper. The Beatles are, without doubt, the most influential band in rock’n’roll history. The song When I’m Sixty-Four essentially asks the question, will you still love me when I’m 64? We’ll 64 years on… join us for the story and some great music, including live songs.

The story begins at ground zero for the Beatles – Paul McCartney’s first gig with John Lennon’s band, The Quarry Men on 18 October 1957.

On the way to becoming “The Beatles”, George Harrison joined as lead guitarist. John’s art-school friend Stuart Sutcliiffe augmented the lineup as bass guitarist but, sadly, died suddenly in 1962. As the Silver Beatles, they failed an audition to back Billy Fury. In August 1960 Pete Best joined as their first permanent drummer, just before their first trip to Hamburg. They were now “The Beatles” At the end of the residency Stuart Sutcliffe stayed in Hamburg and Paul McCartney moved to bass.

The band fired Pete Best shortly before the release of their first UK single Love Me Do. Now The Fab Four, with the addition of Ringo Starr, they scored their first UK national #1 with their third single, From Me to You. In early 1964 they led the “British invasion”, the first time in pop music history that UK bands dominated the American music scene.

The Beatles were maturing…

By 1965/’66 beat music had morphed into the harder edged rock music. The Beatles matured as a band and released (in the UK) their first completely self-penned album, Rubber Soul. Revolver followed, leading the way to the release of the iconic Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in the Summer of Love in 1967.

On Sgt Pepper, the Beatles asked, “Will you still need me? Will you still feed me? When I’m Sixty-Four.” This show was first broadcast live on Facebook and Zoom on 18 October 2021. It takes a look at the Beatles’ legacy. Exactly 64 years on to the day, from the date that Paul McCartney played onstage alongside John Lennon for the very first time.

Derek Shelmerdine presents the outline of the story, with Tony and his other guests adding their own Beatles stories and observations. There is live music, poetry readings and some very lively conversation. Not to forget the recorded music including, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Top Notes, Gene Vincent and, of course, The Beatles, to punctuate the story.

Tony Higginson’s Beyond Books Book Club

Every week Tony Higginson hosts his Beyond Books Book Club, which goes out live on Zoom and Facebook at 7.30 to 9.30 pm (UK) on Monday Evenings.
If you are watching the show live on Facebook – join in the conversation.

Author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled, Derek Shelmerdine is a regular monthly guest on the Beyond Books Book Club.

The Book Club has a regular panel of writers, poets, musicians and book-lovers in general. The discussion is wide ranging with readings, poetry recitals and live performances from the musicians.

A signed copy of Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is available from Tony Higginson’s online bookshop.