The Beatles in Hamburg

Uncommon card · No. 142851

The original lineup of the Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best—regularly performed at clubs in Hamburg, West Germany, from August 1960 to May 1962. This period honed their performance skills, widened their reputation, and led to their first recording, which brought them to the attention of Brian Epstein. In November and December 1962 they played with Ringo Starr on drums. The Beatles' booking agent, Allan Williams, decided to send the group to Hamburg when another group he managed, Derry and the Seniors, proved successful there. Having no permanent drummer at the time, they recruited Best a few days before their departure. After breaking their contract by playing at another club, Harrison was deported for being underaged, and McCartney and Best were arrested and deported for attempted arson. In Hamburg, the Beatles met Astrid Kirchherr, who was instrumental in their adoption of the mop-topped Beatle haircut, and Sutcliffe decided to leave...

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