Even the most legendary musical acts have to start somewhere, and The Beatles were certainly no different. On August 2, 1961, John Lennon stepped onto a stage alongside his Beatles bandmates at the Cavern Club — a basement venue tucked away at 10 Mathew Street in Liverpool — and history quietly began to unfold. This unassuming club would go on to serve as the launchpad for their stardom, and it was on this very stage that Brian Epstein, who would later become their manager, caught his first glimpse of the band in action.
Fun Facts:
- The Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool was the setting for The Beatles' very first gig.
- The lineup at that inaugural performance included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best.
- It was on this day that Brian Epstein, the man destined to manage the group, witnessed them perform for the first time.
- Within a year, Ringo Starr would take over for Pete Best — a change that upset a good number of fans. That said, Ringo Starr was already familiar to the group, having filled in for the band on several occasions before.
- Though they faced early obstacles, the band's passion and perseverance kept bringing them back to the Cavern Club — an astonishing 292 times in total. That remarkable number speaks volumes about their commitment and devotion to their art.
- In The Beatles Anthology, a book that chronicles the band's musical journey, the Cavern Club is described in vivid detail. Paul McCartney remembered it as a sweaty, damp, and dark place. Far from being a drawback, this distinctive atmosphere only deepened the club's character and legacy.
- The Cavern Club was owned by Alan Sytner, and the venue was in turn owned by several other establishments in Liverpool, including a jazz-only club.
- Over time, the Cavern changed hands multiple times before ultimately being demolished to make way for construction of an underground railway ventilation duct.