CILLA AT BUTLIN'S
I was sitting chatting with a friend, Bill Booker, in the Blue Angel and he was remembering old times: "Ringo Starr always seemed to be the quiet one, to me, of the Hurricanes. He used to just sit there and tap out drum breaks on his knees," he said. "He was the only one out of the Hurricanes who couldn't swim when they went to Butlin's, but he can swim now. "I went for a week to Butlin's and we also took Cilla Black along for the day. "We couldn't officially enter Cilla for a singing contest as she wasn't staying at the camp - but she got up with the Hurricanes and instead of singing one number she sang three." Her most popular number was 'Boys', and she has sung this with the Hurricanes, the Dominoes, the Big 3, Gerry, and the Fourmost.

HAMBURG & LIVERPOOL
I've always made the point of acknowledging that Hamburg helped many Liverpool groups develop their styles. However, some people seem to think that Hamburg was responsible for creating the Liverpool scene. This, of course, was not true, as Cavern D.J. Bob Wooler points out. Says Bob: "The Liverpool Sound did not originate in Hamburg. There was a ready-made product in Liverpool - and Hamburg would never have had a beat scene if it weren't for the numerous Liverpool groups who went there. "The forerunners of this whole Big Beat craze were Derry & the Seniors who were the first Mersey outfit to go to Hamburg."

ALUN
During my stay in Cardigan I spent a great deal of time with Alun Owen - who wrote the script for 'A Hard Day's Night' - and his attractive wife Mary. "When I spent four weeks with the Beatles it was the first time I'd ever worked with a pop group", said Alun (who is a Liverpudlian), "and I really became interested in the Mersey scene. "But I don't know if I'll ever write about the pop scene again. I would like to write a script for a television play about a Liverpool beat group - but I'm not sure whether I'll do it. I've noticed that there are a lot of things happening behind the scenes which should be exposed - and if I wrote a play I'd have to expose them. But I've met so many groups that I like and I wouldn't write a play if I felt they'd be hurt by it."

A BIT RIBBY!
I always thought the Mojos had pretty hectic hobbies. For instance, Nicky Crouch is a judo enthusiast. Stu James likes horse riding. Keith Karlson, Terry O' Toole and John Konrad go in for fast cars. But someone close to them has a hobby that - to say the least - is equally hectic. I mean manager Spencer Mason. He is mad keen on amateur wrestling.

When I last ran into Spen and the Mojos, he was smiling most of the time - but he gave a grimace of pain now and then. Presently he let on that he had cracked a couple of ribs! He explained: "My opponent had me in a leg scissors. Three times he asked me to give in. Three times I refused. Then I felt this sharp pain - so when he asked the fourth time, I agreed!" I expect by now Spen's ribs are better - and he is all out to get his own back!

THE DAILY HOWL
Coming on to the subject of books - the 50,000 people who bought a copy of John Lennon's 'In His Own Write' will be disappointed to hear that he won't be able to have another book published this year. "I just haven't the time to write," said John, "but I hope to have another book out in 1965." John also mentioned a book called 'The Daily Howl,' which he has been trying to trace for three years. "There were originally TWO Daily Howls," John said. "One of them I wrote when I was about eight, and when I did the other I copied a lot of poems and stories out and put them in the second Daily Howl."

What is the Daily Howl? It is an exercise book full of john's poetry, drawings, notes and stories. A friend of John from Quarry Bank School told me a little about the book. "The Daily Howl used to go all round the class - and everyone enjoyed reading it. There were stories called 'A Carrot In A Potato Mine' and 'The Story Of Davy Crutch-Head,' weather reports - 'Tomorrow will be Muggy, followed by Tuggy, Wuggy and Thuggy' and hilarious cartoons." John lost the book three years ago and I am trying to help him trace it.

TUNNEL
One of the greatest rock and roll stars of them all is Little Richard. When he first appeared on Merseyside the Beatles were also on the bill - and they were already good friends. Both had appeared at the Star Club, Hamburg at the same time and voiced their appreciation of each other's talents. Little Richard's second Merseyside appearance was at the Liverpool Empire and the Beatles were on again.

At his recent show in Birkenhead the boys, naturally, were not on the bill - but there were a host of other Mersey groups on the bill to keep him company.. He was glad it was Birkenhead, not Liverpool he was appearing at. "I don't like traveling through the Mersey tunnel," he said. "I'm always scared it might fall on me."

TOP TIPS
I heard recently that Ralph Ennis of the Swinging Bluejeans won £30 at Birmingham Racecourse on a tip given to him by a fan. This reminded me of the time the Dave Clark Five were in Liverpool. The Grand National was being held and Dave was asked if he could recommend a horse. He'd never backed a horse in his life, but he picked Team Spirit. The manager of the hotel he was staying at heard of his tip and put £10 on the horse. Team Spirit won at 18 to 1 and the hotel manager was better off by £180! But I don't think this happens very often...I also know a man who bet on fifty horses in one month and finished without a win...and all his savings gone!

Return to main section