Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 30, 1995 TAG: 9511300029
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DEREK A. SHAW
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The anthology for me was very emotional, particularly the first part and the new song, ``Free as a Bird.'' I come from near Liverpool and participated in the Merseyside musical scene. In the early '60s, there were nearly 400 rock 'n' roll groups playing in the Liverpool area. Live music and dancing were everywhere - from church halls to back-room bars, from ballrooms to working-men's clubs, from nightclubs to warehouse cellars. The thriving musical scene was further promoted by the popular local musical newspaper Mersey Beat. This newspaper had a wide circulation. It ran articles on local talent and also listed forthcoming events. The Beatles were voted several times by readers as the most popular group on Merseyside. This happened long before they had made their first hit record.
The best place to see and hear Merseyside groups was at the Cavern Club, and most groups were eager to play there. It was located in the cellar of one of the hundreds of old warehouses in the center of Liverpool. The cellar was like three railway tunnels connected by low brick archways. There were wooden chairs in the center tunnel and open spaces for dancing down each side. The stage was a small, raised platform with barely enough room for group members once drums and amplifiers were in place. The acoustical sound was raw and solid, and a joy to produce and experience. The Cavern had a smell of disinfectant and sweat, and it often got so hot and humid that condensation would run down the walls. Typically, four groups played there each night, but there were also marathon sessions where eight or 10 groups would play. It was also open at lunchtime, and I remember once seeing The Hollies, a group from Manchester, the Merseybeats, and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Lunchtime entrance fee was 10 cents.
The Beatles played at the Cavern hundreds of times. The last time they played there was on Aug. 3, 1963. It was a Bank Holiday special concert, and my band was also on the bill. Unfortunately, we were double booked that evening and had to leave for another gig before the Beatles came on stage. Although this was their last session at the Cavern, it was still several months before their first trip to the United States. The Cavern continued for a number of years, but was eventually knocked down by the city in 1973 to make room for a ventilation duct for the underground railway.
I found the video that accompanied the new Beatles song very evocative. The mantelpiece photographs of young John Lennon struck a chord with me. Earlier this year, I had put together similar photographs of myself in time for my 50th birthday. The video's rooftop views of terraced houses were almost identical to the place where I grew up. The street scene of Penny Lane, the Beatles at the Cavern and other visual quotes were woven into a tapestry of emotion. My emotion wasn't just for my own memories. I was also overwhelmed by the memory of Lennon, and the fact that he's no longer alive today to continue his creativity. His own eloquent words from his song, ``In my life,'' describe these feelings perfectly:
``There are places I'll remember all my life, though some have changed. Some forever, not for better; some have gone and some remain. All these places had their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living, in my life I've loved them all.''
I thank the Beatles for producing their anthology and the two new songs, and hope that new generations will continue to discover the fun, vitality, passion and genius of their music.
Derek A. Shaw, of Roanoke, is a professional engineer at General Electric.
by CNB