HANK - Tuesday January 3rd 2017

[GoldenStreet]

I don't believe there is a Beatles connection to the 2i's. I don't think the Beatles ever set foot in there, they didn't even play any London gigs until 1962.

This recent obituary for Allan Williams, their initial gig procurer prior to Brian Epstein's arrival on the scene in 1962, makes no mention of the 2i's, so I think it can be assumed any direct connection is highly unlikely.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2 ... -obituary/

Bill

[GrahamH]

Hi all

You will have noticed that the interviewer was considerably younger than Hank, and most of us I guess. I suspect he has, quite understandably, bought into the idea that there was no British pop music before the Beatles. Therefore, any venue associated with the pioneering days of rock and roll must have some Beatles connection. I thought Hank dealt with him very graciously, like the gentleman we know he is.

Graham

[drakula63]

Yeah, Hank could obviously see that the potential for huge embarrassment lay ahead and just said something like "I wasn't aware of that." He knew the guy was wrong.

By the way, I'm considerably younger than Hank too (honest!) and I knew that the interviewer was almost certainly 100% wrong.

Someone really should make a film about the glory days of the 21 Club, sorry, the 2 i's, the true birthplace of British rock n' roll. Probably.

[Fenderman]

There is a very weak connection to the Beatles to the 2i's i suppose, when Cliff needed a lead guitarist for his backing band he tried to find Tony Sheridan who hung around the club but he couldn't be found. The job went to someone called Hank B Marvin!
I wonder how things would have turned out if Tony had got the gig?

[Moderne]

This was discussed back in September.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=14057&p=97160&hilit=beatles+hamburg#p97160

According to Cockroach, Allan Williams did meet someone from Hamburg at the 2Is and arranged some gigs for Liverpool groups so there is a connection.

BTW...I was introduced to Allan Williams in Drummonds in Worcester which was having a 'Beatles Weekend' about 25 years ago and we had a brief chat. Didn't mention the 2Is, though - or the 21 Club for that matter...

[drakula63]

Fair enough, but it is extremely tenuous to say the least. Probably not worthy of claiming any link between the Beatles and the 2 i's.

Allan Williams - another one who's suddenly no longer with us.

[JimN]

I don't believe there is a Beatles connection to the 2i's. I don't think the Beatles ever set foot in there, they didn't even play any London gigs until 1962.

This recent obituary for Allan Williams, their initial gig procurer prior to Brian Epstein's arrival on the scene in 1962, makes no mention of the 2i's, so I think it can be assumed any direct connection is highly unlikely.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2 ... -obituary/

Bill

I think it is well-known that The Beatles' first gig in the south of England at all was at a dance hall in Aldershot in December 1961:

https://www.beatlesbible.com/1961/12/09/live-palais-ballroom-aldershot/

They did also play a set at a Soho (London) club later that evening, but it was not the 2Is.

[George Geddes]

Just to follow up Roy's point, I have just finished reading Frank Allen's history of the Searchers and he mentions the likely consequences of Cliff hiring Tony S...

George

[Fenderman]

I haven't read Frank Allen's book (meant to buy it but never got round to it) so i don't know what the consequences would have been.
Tony was possibly already in Hamburg anyway when the call was made.

[Iain Purdon]

Here's an idea of a Shadows line-up with Tony Sheridan on lead. It has Licorice Locking on double bass and Brian Bennett on drums. Chris Andrews covers the Bruce bit on piano and the Cliff vocal on Move It. They rocked!