Rare Photographs
The Beatles played for only 18 people in the Aldershot Club in December 1961.
They were to become superstars one and a half years later.
Despite having endured a nine-hour journey from Liverpool, before taking the stage the group descended on the two coffee bars in the town offering free admission to anyone interested in seeing a rock ‘n’ roll show - but in the end only 18 people turned up.
The Palais Ballroom event was promoted by Sam Leach, who had put on The Beatles numerous times previously in the Merseyside area.
His rather optimistic belief was that, since no A&R men or record label executives were willing to travel to Liverpool to see the group play, he would take them to the south east instead.
Leach’s good intentions, however, were undone by his lack of geographical knowledge.
Rather than showcasing The Beatles in the Greater London area, he booked them for five consecutive Saturday nights at the Palais Ballroom in Aldershot.
Aldershot was a military town 37 miles from London, and the Palais Ballroom was run by local resident Bob Potter.
Pete Best said about the event:
"Halfway through one number George and Paul put on their overcoats and took to the floor to dance a foxtrot together, while the rest of us struggled along, making enough music for them and the handful of spectators.
We clowned our way through the whole of the second half.
John and Paul deliberately played wrong chords and notes and added words to the songs that were never in the original lyrics."
Photographs from the event, taken by Leach’s friend Richard Matthews, show The Beatles looking somewhat glum as they played.
Afterwards the group consoled themselves by drinking bottles of Watney’s brown ale, played football on the dance floor with bingo balls, and ran riot around the venue.
A neighbour called the police, and when The Beatles emerged from the ballroom at 1 AM, there were three police cars and four police vans waiting for them.
The Beatles were told to leave the town and never to return.
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Story Source: @ fair use
https://www.beatlesbible.com/1961/12/09/live-palais-ballroom-aldershot/