The story behind the first Beatles concert, 50 years ago today, at the famous Liverpool venue.
The first concert by the Beatles at The Cavern Club, over a lunchtime on 9th February 1961 - 50 years ago today - was hardly an auspicious affair. They were paid £5 for the appearance, a concert that wasn't advertised, and George Harrison was nearly denied admission to play because he was wearing jeans.
The small, basement club wasn't full, customers were munching sandwiches and hot dogs and not all the clientele knew what to expect at a venue that had traditionally played host since its 1957 opening to jazz stars such as George Melly and Acker Bilk.
The Cavern had originally been based on a French jazz club, Le Caveau de la Huchette, but by 1961 the venue's music policy was changing. Skiffle and rock 'n' roll were in (Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome Tonight? was top of the record charts on 9th February) and bands such as The Swinging Blue Jeans, Gerry And The Pacemakers and newcomers The Beatles - who were just back from Hamburg - were being given their chance.
On that landmark lunchtime, the Beatles played the first of 292 concerts at The Cavern until their final appearance on 3 August 1963. Some of the Beatles had played the club before - as the Quarrymen - but for this concert in 1961 it was the first time Harrison and Lennon and the band had been together as the Beatles at the Cavern.
Harrison, then only 17, arrived in blue jeans, which were banned from the club, but he managed to convince the bouncer, Paddy Delaney, that he was one of the performers and was allowed in.
