14 March 1960 Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent began a run at the Liverpool Empire. John, Paul and George all came to see the show. On the bill was Billy Fury for whom they would audition in May plus Tony Sheridan, Joe Brown and Georgie Fame. Cochran would be killed in a car crash one month later.

Been talking about the joy of the first Beatles film 🎥 A Hard Day’s Night- subject of my new book on The Word… podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

8 March 1958 Mike McCartney's pic of John (aged 17), Paul (aged 15) and George (aged 15) at Paul's cousin Ian Harris' wedding reception at 147 Dinas Lane, Huyton, Liverpool. Ian and his dad had built the original Cavern Club stage in 1957. Ian's mum was Auntie Gin - of Let 'Em In fame

Peter Sellers on lead ukulele with Steeleye Span in 1975 on the song New York Girls which I believe was played in during the course of their Christmas 1975 comedy special on Radio 1 - which surely qualifies the programme for inclusion on Goon Pod one day!

Always an interesting stage in the discovery process. Roughing out the landscape around Wapping station; Liverpool dock terminus of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway; c. 1830. So few sources here, so many questions.

This really is an excellent book! I can recommend it!!!

It's Daniel Craig's birthday (born 2 March 1968) and here he is at the end of the back row on the right in Class 10 at Hoylake C of E Primary School in the Wirral in 1979

Good morning! In our new episode out today we embark on the US Billboard 1960s Number 1s with a heady mix of Novelty, Death Discs and, of course, Elvis and bears feature occasionally... plinkhq.com/i/1531129636...

It’s being reported that Len Garry, tea-chest bassist (and guitarist for the later version) of the Quarrymen has died. He was there at the start, playing in some of the most significant early shows for the group and was there on the day of the significant John and Paul meeting. Bless you, Len. x

Shine silently... tonight's episode of Small Prophets is another enchanting surprise. It's at 10pm (11pm N Ireland) on BBC Two, and the whole series is on BBC iPlayer. @radiotimes.bsky.social

Goon Pod Film Club on Patreon is now just £1 a month - for that you get a new edition covering a classic British comedy film every month and access to the archive of over 20 shows and growing! The latest episode dropped this weekend - 'Carry On Camping'! Patreon.com/GoonPod

Delighted to say I will be discussing the mathematical formula (Beatles+Lester=Fab4) that gave us the film A Hard Day's Night, at the Oxford Lit Fest on Sunday March 29th 4pm oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-e...

Len Garry in the centre in the first picture of John and Paul on stage together in November 1957

Sad news about Len Garry - tea chest bass player who played alongside John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison in The Quarrymen www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

The police investigate another instance of tramraiding

To celebrate a victory for #hopeoverhate, here's a @privateeyenews.bsky.social #cartoon published during the last #greenparty leadership #election ... #gortonanddenton #byelection #politics

Saturday Quiz Where on The Wirral are these four locations?

Around the 16:00 point in this interview, Mark Lewisohn seems to reveal when the next two volumes of his Beatles biography will have been published. And in the spirit of Paul announcing The Beatles had split up in November 1969, the presenters don't seem to notice! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuyv...

#FingerpostFriday Ashton Park, West Kirby.

RHLSTP Book Club with Ian Leslie and his brilliant book about John and Paul (from off of the Beatles, not the New Testament, though which was bigger?) shows.acast.com/rhlstp/episo... Buy the book here uk.bookshop.org/p/books/john...

⏲️ New episode out 🌆 @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social are back with a bonus episode on 15-Minute Cities. How did such a sensible and benign approach to urban planning give birth to a wild conspiracy theory about authoritarianism? Listen / watch now ➡️ linktr.ee/originstoryp...

The newspaper story about 17 year old A level student Melanie Coe running away from home that appeared in the Daily Mirror on 27 February 1967 and which inspired Paul McCartney to write the song She's Leaving Home which was recorded just two and a half weeks later on 17 March.

New Podcast! I’m joined by Dan Absher to discuss his book ‘The Fab Four - Pillars of Impact’ Dan’s book presents The Beatles as the ultimate case study for building exceptional teams and tell us how we can learn from them and incorporate those lessons into our day to day work.

In this age of #corruption with no #consequences , here's a Phoenix Magazine #cartoon #nepotism #taxbillionaires

This was fun to do, and genuinely made me re-think my opinion on an often overlooked song. Repost far and wide!

Enjoyed this episode very much. Always great to hear @stevenc63.bsky.social Obviously this was done to mark one year since he came on the Beatles Walking Tour in Liverpool with me!

24 February 1962 The Beatles played at the YMCA on Birkenhead Road, Hoylake, Wirral (as seen in this ancient photo). They were paid £30 (at the time, vastly more than they were used to getting), an argument followed over how long they would play for and they were supposedly booed off stage

Amazing. Debbie was there for all 292 performances by The Beatles at the Cavern Club and now she owns the place!

Ah these tinkers are back again. Always a joy. And very fascinating. Includes the first ever top 10 of perhaps any kind from 1913 (which turns out to include a song we all know) and the first Billboard Hot 100 record chart from August 1958!

The excellent Goon Pod with the equally excellent Goon Pod Film Club now for a mere £1 a month! Also herewith a smorgaspod of extracts from previous GP Film Club episodes featuring various tip top guests and also me in my unexpected role as Gordon Jackson correspondent!

Filming underway in Walton, Liverpool for the forthcoming Beatles biopics. Note the name on the milk float. Did the Paul is dead rumour start after Paul was run down by a milk float in 1966 and the milkman went on to replace him in the band?

Allan Williams manager of The Beatles who got them their early bookings including their first trip to Hamburg was born 21 February 1930. Pic of Allan on Mathew Street in 1977 from Buskin With The Beatles

On the Beatles walking tour this afternoon we were able to follow the route the band took on this day 63 years ago (19 February 1963) during their photo shoot for Honey Magazine from Ranelagh Street to Derby Square down to the Mersey Ferry terminal and back up to the Cavern Club that night

A 1959 program from my dad's (Ken Rose) archives during his times as a comedian. The Royal Iris for The Jim Gretty Show, on the bill is Gerry Marsden, just before he formed his group The Pacemakers, Al Caldwell & The Texans was Rory Storm and their drummer was Ringo @mikehaskins.bsky.social

The making of Evolver: 62! A brilliant short film from Parlogram. A fascinating interview with director Chris Purcell. #Beatles youtu.be/lga2w021o2s?...

The #watercolour & caption have been added, so the #cartoon just needs trimming and posting to @realafrica.bsky.social for their #wildlifecharity #auction #elephants #conservation

16 February 1962 The Beatles were due to play at Birkenhead Technical College and then at New Brighton Tower Ballroom but (as detailed in Mark Lewisohn's Tune In) Paul was being a bit awkward

In Me Own Write! Got handed the v first copy of my BFI Film Classics book on A Hard Day's Night. Out Apr 2nd in the UK, June 11th in the US. You can pre-order with a 10% discount off the Bloomsbury Books website: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/hard-days...

Hancock's Half Hour - The Poetry Society was on 4 Extra again today. Galton and Simpson ruthlessly skewering the 50's rope-sandal brigade. Life Is Mauve - I Am Orange. Hic Hac Hock. Genius at work, available to listen here www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

11 February 1963 The Beatles started the 11 hour session to record their first LP Please Please Me at EMI Recording Studios on Abbey Road at 10am. Just a few hours earlier and less than 2 miles away poet Sylvia Plath had died aged 30 at 23 Fitzroy Road, Primrose Hill

10 February 1962 the first film footage of The Beatles was made during a performance at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall, North Road, Tranmere. The footage was used in the Now and Then video in 2023. Warning - may not be genuine audio! www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA7k...

Post a pic of your favourite fictional band

This is out on Amazon Prime in the UK today – essential viewing! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/det... Watch out for my next episode drop on Thursday, with director Chris Purcell as my guest.

10 February 1962 Brian Epstein's letter to Decca's Dick Rowe who had rejected signing The Beatles after their audition on 1 January but had then offered Brian the chance for ex Shadows drummer Tony Meehan to produce a record by them by private arrangement for a fee of around £100. Brian decided no

9 February 1961 Beatles' first show at the Cavern. Paul McCartney had to be persuaded to attend as he had a day job at Massey and Coggins electrical engineers in Edge Hill. The band were paid £5. 9 Feb 1964 Beatles' first appearance on Ed Sullivan when they were seen by 73 million people

New episode! Beatles scholar @feldmanbarrett.bsky.social explores the mystery, storytelling and sitar-soaked brilliance of Norwegian Wood, and why it still feels so modern. Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/1820033/epis... #beatles #thebeatles #beatlesforever

Decca records HQ (on left) on south bank of the Thames where Brian Epstein went 6 February 1962 to be told The Beatles had failed their 1 January audition. Decca's Dick Rowe told him: "The boys won’t go, Mr Epstein. We know these things. You have a good record business in Liverpool. Stick to that."

One from my Lucilla Lavender #greetingcards range... #cows #moon #fairytale #gambling #cartoon Available here: www.lucillalavender.com/product-cate...