Did Paul McCartney play his electric guitar first in Neston?
Published: 12th April 2010 17:18 |
'The Silver Beetles' as The Beatles were then known, played six consecutive Thursday night shows from June 2nd 1960 at The Institute, on Hinderton Road, Neston (now the Civic Hall).
An AboutMyArea visitor asks the following question:
My name is Xosé Crisanto Gándara. I'm a Doctor of Philology and Music from Spain and I'm currently writing an article about Paul McCartney's first electric guitar - his Rosetti Solid 7 guitar, bought in Liverpool on June 30th 1960.
The Silver Beetles - as they were named in those days - played at Neston Institute (today Neston Civic Hall) six consecutive Thursday night shows from 2 June 1960 until 7 July 1960, and I think it is very probable that he used the guitar for the first time at Neston Institute.
So, the point would be to find witnesses of those performances. People who could attend them should be now in their sixties. Could you help me?
I'd like to find people who can remember if Paul was using that red coloured Rosetti Solid 7 guitar on those historical days. I have enclosed a picture of the guitar, but it seems there are no photos of the band playing there...unless your readers may know differently?
Next June 30 will be the 50th anniversary of the purchase, and I need all the sources available, witnesses of those performances being particularly valuable ones.
Can you help?
If so, please leave a comment below, or email the Editor and we will pass your information on to Xosé.
If you have any general recollections of the concerts that you would like to share with other website visitors, please also add your comments. If anyone has any images such as gig posters or ticket stubs that they would like us to reproduce on the website, please email us here.
The Beatles: taken at Indra Club in Hamburg on August 15, 1960 - the very day they arrived there for the 1st time. The drummer is not the one who played at Neston gigs, but the others - as well as their guitars and amps - were. Hopefully this could help to 'refresh' witnesses memories.
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Comments

BTW: the promoter for those conecrts was a certain Less Dodd, from Paramount Enterprises...
All the best,
XCG

In fact, the Indra photo was taken on August 16. I made a mistake typing the date when I sent the photo to you...
Let's cross the fingers...
XCG

I too am researching stories of the Beatles coming to Neston in the 60s. We are hoping to use a story as a basis for a drama presentation that the lcoal youth theatre will devise for the Neston Village Fair. So any stories would be fascinating for us to read too.
Good luck
Samantha Giblin
Director - Little Actors Youth Theatre

Nice project!! Hope we can get info from the people attending those historical gigs in June-July 1960...
Best,
XCG

I might be able to help to some extent on whether paul first played his six string Rosetti at the Institute in Neston in June 1960.
Well the dates were arranged by Alan Williams, the group were on tour in Scotland before they played at the Institute and Paul first played his Rosetti in Scotland.
The group were promoted by Les Dodd`s Paramount Enterprises, Les Dodd had been running events at The Institute, Neston since 1936.
Les Dodd paid the group £10 per gig at The Institute of which the group gave Alan Williams £1
Also Paul has been a bass player in the group for as long as I can remember.
Regards
Roger

Thanks a lot for your message!!
That's the point: Johnny Gentle says in his book that Paul first played his Rosetti Solid 7 in Scotland. Hire-Purchase agreement for the guitar -bought at Hessy's in Liverpool- clearly states June 30 as date of purchase. Johnny Gentle's tour in Scotland finished one month before (=28 May).
I contacted those seven villages in Scotland -where the tour was done in May 1960- asking for witnesses of the concerts, to find if anybody could remember the guitar, but no success so far...
So, the question is: when was the guitar really used for the first time?? At Johnny Gentle's tour in Scotland (=started on May 20), or at Neston??
That's the REAL info I need...
I apreciatte your comments...
Xosé
P.S.: please, excuse my poor English!!

20 Friday: Performance at Town Hall in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. Other acts are Tommy Steele, Alex Harvey and his Beat Band and Bobby Rankine.
21 Saturday: Performance at the Northern Meeting Ballroom in Inverness. Also performing are Ronnie Watt and the Chekkers Rock Dance Band.
23 Monday: Performance at Dalrymple Hall in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Johnny Gentle crashes the van carrying himself and the Beatles. Tommy Moore is hit in the mouth by a guitar.
25 Wednesday: Performance at St. Thomas' Hall in Keith, Banffshire.
26 Thursday: Performance at the Town Hall in Forres, Morayshire. Also performing are Rikki Barnes and his All Stars with Lena and Stevie.
27 Friday: Performance at the Regal Ballroom in Nairn, Nairnshire.
28 Saturday: Performance at the Rescue Hall in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. The tour ends.
The Silver Beetles Performances at Wirral Peninsula:
June the 2nd., Thursday: Neston Institute, Neston
June the 4th., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvernor Ballroom, Liscard, Wallasay
June the 6th., Monday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom, with Gerry and the Pacemakers
June the 9th., Thursday: Neston Institute
June the 11th., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
June the 13th., Monday: Performance at Jacaranda Club, Liverpool
June the 16th., Thursday: Neston Institute. Also performing are Keith Rowlands and the Deesiders
June the 18th., Saturday. Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
June the 23rd., Thursday: Neston Institute
June the 25th., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
June the 30th., Thursday: Neston Institute. Official date of guitar purchase according to Hessy's Hire-Purchase receipt
July the 2nd., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
July the 7th., Thursday: Neston Institute
July the 9th., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
July the 16th., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
July the 23rd., Saturday: Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
July the 30th., Saturday. Corporation's Grosvenor Ballroom
So..., what??
Best,
XCG


See here: http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=10611.0
Xosé


How could I get your email address, please?? I'm interested in your work, as it is useful for my own research about Paul McCartney's first electric guitar. I would like to get a photo of your show..
Thanks in advance and best regards from Spain...

http://www.beatlesfanclub.nl/artikelen/uitgediepte-verhalen/5843
Still waiting for the English publication. Unfortunately, no Neston witnesses of those historical Jun-July 1960 gigs attended my askings...

http://www.beatlesfanclub.nl/artikelen/uitgediepte-verhalen/5843
Still waiting for the English publication. Unfortunately, no Neston witnesses of those historical June-July 1960 gigs attended my askings...


Do you have more info about that??
Thanks and best wishes!!

Taken from this site:
http://www.beatlesbible.com/1960/06/02/live-the-institute-neston-wirral/



Think you very much!!
XCG

Hi, There has been a certain amont of chat about the time that the Silver Beatles played at the Neston Civic Institute. My name is Peter Bolt and I played lead guitar with the Deesiders as a support group to the Beatles on 16th June 1960 - what a night that was.

Could you -please- ask him if he remembers Paul McCartney's Guitar on that night??
Best regards,
XCG

Did you have any news from Mr. Peter Bolt??
Thanks in advance and best wishes!!
XCG

Info please!

there seems to be some added folk lore.
As a witness to some of the events that night and as one who attended the inquest I can assure you that there was no stabbing and that the lad died as a result of a reaction to the anaesthetic during an operation to an eye injury received in the fight.
As with every confrontation there are two sides to the story and as a friend of both the lads I am compelled to speak out. I was one of the weekly fans of the Institute dances and yes they were great.





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