'Stars in Southend 1963'

The Beatles grouped together in their dressing room.

Who doesn’t know the Beatles? The most famous pop band the world has ever known.

The group from Liverpool consisted of John Lennon ( 1940 – 1980 ), Paul McCartney ( 1942 – ), George Harrison ( 1943 – 2001 ) and Ringo Starr ( 1940 – ).

They were booked to play many of the country’s Odeons back in 1963 just as they were exploding onto the music scene. John and Paul were the front men writing most of their songs throughout the bands active years between 1960 to 1970, though George and Ringo wrote a few songs too which mainly appeared on the albums.

Derek Cross commented ‘they were the most easy going, friendliest people than any of the other artists I met and was fortunate to have my picture taken with them when invited by Paul’.

After the band split, each member went their separate ways with varying success.

John had teamed up with Yoko Ono ( his artistic and musical adviser ) before moving to New York where he was eventually assassinated in 1980.

Paul went solo for a while before going on to form the group ‘Wings’ with his wife Linda and guitarist Denny Laine….a very successful band !

George became a solo artist and had embarked on producing films for Handmade Films, notably financing the movie ‘The Life of Brian’ in 1980. George died of lung cancer in 2001.

Ringo ‘the drummer’ ( real name Richard Starkey ) went on to make some movies, but always producing songs and albums along the way…..he even narrated the children’s television series ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’. He currently tours with ‘The All Starr Band’

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