Evergreen

52 EVERGREEN Autumn
The line-up that the world came to know, with Ringo Starr joining from Rory Storm
and the Hurricanes.
parquet dance floor. Drinks were
sold from an oak, hotel-like bar,
while a rotating glitter ball cast its
thrilling beams of light onto the
assembled throng. The stage, though
commodious, was only a foot or so
above floor level. As well as many
local groups, the likes of Joe Brown,
Shane Fenton (aka Alvin Stardust)
and Gene Vincent all experienced
its dizzying lack of height.
Thursday nights at Mac’s were all
about jazz and many top acts like
Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttelton
and Acker Bilk appeared there.
Tuesdays, on the other hand, were
reserved for “beat groups”. But while
the band may have been billed
as “The Most Popular Group in
the North”, most local youngsters
treated The Beatles’ gig as “just
another Tuesday”. That said, 360
people are believed to have turned
up — which was certainly an
improvement on their Aldershot gig!
Imagine yourself, then, in winklepickers,
drainpipes or your best
chiffon, as loud guitars ring and the
drums thump a beat that would
become so familiar to so many.
You’ve just got a shot of R. White’s
from the bar and you’re up for a
shot of rhythm and blues.
The MC for that night, Don
Hedges, recalls that the boys had no
stage clothes: “They just got out of
an old banger of a van and played as
they were.”