DECEMBER 17, 1960 – Returning from a string of club dates in Hamburg, Germany, The Beatles appeared at Mona Best’s Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool, a venue they hadn’t played at since the Quarrymen days, on October 10, 1959. Chas Newby, formerly the rhythm guitarist with The Blackjacks with Pete Best and skiffle group The Barmen, joined The Beatles on bass guitar (to replace Stuart Sutcliffe, who had remained in Hamburg with girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr), a position he would hold for only two weeks and four performances. When Newby bowed out to return to college, Paul McCartney became The Beatles’ bass player.The Beatles borrowed equipment from the other act that was booked to play that night, Gene Day and the Jango Beats, who later renamed themselves Earl Preston and the TTs.Posters declaring “The Beatles, Direct From Hamburg, Germany” were placed around the Casbah, and the basement venue was crammed with people expecting to see a German band perform. Many were disappointed when Lennon, McCartney and Harrison walked to the stage area.Once they began playing, however, it was clear that a transformation had occurred during their time in Germany. The crowd went wild, The Beatles performed sensationally, and Beatlemania in Britain began to get underway. The Beatles played at the Casbah Coffee Club a total of 37 times between 1960 and 1962.
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