Did you seen The Beatles in Newcastle? You could be part of a new show

The Beatles at Newcastle's City Hall, 23 Nov. 1963



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Did you seen The Beatles in Newcastle? You could be part of a new show
The Beatles played in Newcastle several times in 1963 - your memories are needed for a show at the 02 Academy
By David Morton
6 JUN 2018


The Beatles on Tyne Tees TV circa 1964/5 (Image: newcastle chronicle)

OK, it’s been a while, but did you see The Beatles when they rocked the North East back in the 1960s?

If you did, you could play a starring role in a new show coming to Newcastle .

Fresh from sell-out tours of the USA and Europe, The Mersey Beatles are playing the very same towns, cities and famous British venues the original Fab Four did during the days of Beatlemania.

The Liverpool band’s Get Back UK Tour hits Newcastle’s O2 Academy on Friday, November 30. Tickets are on sale now from the venue or via www.ticketmaster.co.uk

And as part of their interactive show, The Mersey Beatles will feature treasured stories and memories from fans who saw John, Paul , George and Ringo when they played Westgate Road’s O2 Academy – then known as the Majestic Ballroom – back in 1963.


The 02 Academy Newcastle (Image: publicity pic)

So, were you there? What can you remember of the original gigs? Did you meet the band? Did you scream? Did you meet your sweetheart while Twisting and Shouting? What made The Beatles so special?

For the real Fab Four, 1963 threw up a string of landmark dates in Newcastle.

On January 28: The Beatles played the Majestic in the midst of that year’s notoriously harsh winter.

On March 23: They were back in Newcastle at the City Hall on the Tommy Roe/Chris Montez bill.

On June 26: They returned to the Majestic. But did the band stay at the Royal Turks Hotel or the Jesmond Imperial Hotel when they reputedly wrote the classic She Loves You? This has long been a bone of contention.

October 27: The box office for the Beatles’ November 23 City Hall show opened. There are a series of well-known Chronicle pictures of fans queuing.

November 23: The Beatles played the City Hall. A Chronicle review from the time recalls the ensuing bedlam.


It's October, 1963, and long lines of Beatles fans queue around the corner from Newcastle City Hall in the attempt to get tickets

Now, your memories could feature on screens during the O2 Academy show – and fans with the stories The Mersey Beatles like best will win free tickets to the night.

Formed in 1999, The Mersey Beatles – Mark Bloor (John), Steven Howard (Paul), Craig McGown (George) and Brian Ambrose (Ringo) – were the resident band at Liverpool’s world-famous Cavern Club for more than a decade and have toured the world many times over.

Mark said: “All our shows are a celebration of the best band and best music ever made, and audiences always play a huge part in the experience. We like people to get up on their feet, dancing and joining in.

“For this, our biggest ever UK tour, we are playing the same venues and towns the Fab Four played back in the days of Beatlemania. We want as many of those fans who were at the original gigs to relive those golden days. And what better way than to capture their stories and memories than to include them as part of the show?


The Evening Chronicle published a Beatles souvenir edition, November 16, 1963

“So, if you were at the original gigs, or your parents or grandparents were, then please get in touch. We’d love to hear those stories and share them at each show.”

Fab Four fans attending The Mersey Beatles’ O2 Academy gig – which covers all areas of The Beatles career from Beatlemania to Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road – are in for a real treat.

If you attended an original show by The Beatles in Newcastle, please email your memories to merseybeatles@rhodesmedia.com – the stories the band like the best will win free tickets.

Tickets for The Mersey Beatles show at Newcastle’s O2 Academy on Friday November 30 are on sale now from the venue or via www.ticketmaster.co.uk



28 JAN 1963 The #Beatles perform at the Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland