The Beat Ballad Show Tour

The Beat Ballad Show Tour
Tour by Johnny Gentle and the Beatles
Location Scotland
Start date May 20, 1960 (1960-05-20)
End date May 28, 1960 (1960-05-28)
No. of shows 7

The Beat Ballad Show Tour was a 1960 tour of Scotland by singer Johnny Gentle, backed by the Beatles (billed as Johnny Gentle and His Group).[1][2] It was the first-ever concert tour by the Beatles.

Background

On 10 May, the Beatles competed with other local Liverpool bands in an audition for talent manager Larry Parnes for a chance to back singer Billy Fury on a summer tour called "Idols on Parade".[3] There was also an opportunity for the second-best band to back singers Duffy Power and Johnny Gentle in a tour of Scotland beginning in June. However, Beatles drummer Tommy Moore arrived late, forcing another drummer to sit in with the band. Parnes and Fury were also unimpressed with bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, and the Beatles were turned down for either spot.

However, a few days later, Parnes contacted Beatles manager Allan Williams, as Gentle needed a backing group for a Scottish tour beginning 20 May. The Beatles were the only group Williams could book on such short notice, and they got the job.[4]

The Tour

For the tour, the Beatles adopted stage names - John Lennon became known as "Johnny Lennon", Paul McCartney was "Paul Ramon", George Harrison was "Carl Harrison", Stu Sutcliffe was Stuart de Staël, and Tommy Moore was "Thomas Moore". The band was very underehearsed, barely knowing the songs they were to perform with Gentle.[5] Gentle and the Beatles were friendly with each other on the tour, and Lennon contributed to a song Gentle was writing, "I've Just Fallen For Someone".[6]

The exact songs played on the tour are unknown. It is known that the Beatles performed by themselves before Gentle came on the stage. Harrison would remember performing "Teddy Bear" and "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" by Elvis Presley.[5] Other sources report that they played "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" and "Raining in My Heart" by Buddy Holly, "I Need Your Love Tonight" by Elvis Presley, "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson, "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" by Clarence "Frogman" Henry, "C'mon Everybody" by Eddie Cochran, and "He'll Have to Go" by Jim Reeves.[7]

Dates

Date[8] City Country Venue
20 May 1960AlloaScotlandTown Hall
21 May 1960InvernessNorthern Meeting Hall
23 May 1960FraserburghDalrymple Hall
25 May 1960KeithSt Thomas’ Hall
26 May 1960ForresTown Hall
27 May 1960NairnRegal Ballroom
28 May 1960PeterheadRescue Hall

Tour band

References

  1. ↑ http://www.johnnygentle.co.uk/tours.htm
  2. ↑ Lewisohn 2013, p. 310.
  3. ↑ Lewisohn 2013, p. 302.
  4. ↑ Lewisohn 2013, p. 305.
  5. 1 2 3 Lewisohn 2013, p. 309.
  6. ↑ Lewisohn 2013, p. 312.
  7. ↑ http://www.beatlesbible.com/1960/05/20/live-town-hall-alloa-scotland/
  8. ↑ http://www.johnnygentle.co.uk/tours.htm
  • Lewisohn, Mark (2013). The Beatles: All These Years, Vol. 1: Tune In. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-1-4000-8305-3.
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