The Beatles in Hamburg

With the help of a local promoter in Liverpool, the Beatles got the opportunity they were looking for, the chance to play in Hamburg. The only problem was that they did not have a drummer. Looking around the found drummer Pete Best, and in August 1960 headed off to Hamburg.

Their first gig in Hamburg was at the notorious Indra Club, frequented by rowdy drunks. After a shaky start at the club, the Beatles honed their stage presence over the course of close to 50 consecutive nights of playing. As they got better word spread and the crowds got bigger and bigger.

Finally things got out of hand and the police decide to shut down the club. That did not stop the Beatles, the simply moved to a larger venue at the Kaiserkeller. With the Beatles came the crowds.

One of the bands the Beatles played with was a band called Rory Storm & The Hurricanes. The drummer of this band was Ringo Starr. Things went well at the new club until German authorities found out that Harrison was underage and had him deported.

Back in England their reputation grew, and in 1961 the band headed back to Hamburg. This time they played at better clubs and made some recordings. This was important because in the course of recording they got a full time manager. This then eventually led them to manager Brian Epstein and legendary (now) George Martin. With the help of these people and better songs, the group signed a deal with EMI. One condition: Get rid of Best and bring in Ringo.

By 1962 the band was back in England, and the rest is music history. In later years the band would head back to Hamburg.

As you visit Hamburg now you know that it was this city that gave life to the Beatles as the world new them. The events and people in this city were a critical and key component of the later success of the band.

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