Liverpool Pilgrimage
In which I get to visit some special houses, as well as a cellar.
During our recent trip to the UK we took a day to head to Liverpool to check out three special locations that I’ve been writing and podcasting about for many years, but had never got the chance to visit before.
When I was at college in Liverpool in the late seventies, or even when I was researching the original Before They Were Beatles book, these were locations I knew by name, but they weren’t places you could go check out in person.
But thanks to the National Trust, we could now get to visit the childhood homes of John and Paul. Thankfully our schedule worked out in a way that we could at last make the pilgrimage to Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road.
Our first stop was the National Trust property at Speke Hall near Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport to check-in, grab a bit to eat, and pick up the small coach that would ferry us to the houses.
First stop was John’s childhood home. ‘Mendips,’ at 251 Menlove Ave, and I was surprised by just how wide and busy Menlove Avenue was. I had always imagined it being in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Pulling up outside the house that looked so familiar from the many photographs I’ve seen over the years, still gave a thrill of excitement that we’d be getting to visit such an iconic spot.
It didn’t disappoint. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor, and was able to pitch her stories to appeal to both the casual visitor as well as the Beatles aficionados. It is remarkable that the house had been pretty much left alone by the previous owners and was something of a time capsule with the personal touches added. The highlight for me was stepping into the front porch where John and Paul would often rehearse new songs. I’ve read so many times about the unique acoustic properties in there, and John used to say his voice never sounded better than it did in that porch. I wasn’t prepared for just how different things sounded in there. It was a special moment I’ll never forget. Mendips overall gave a good insight into the relatively comfortable environment that helped foster John’s creativity.
With those Mendips memories established it was time to head just a few miles away to Paul’s childhood home at 20 Forthlin Road. What a contrast to John’s comfortable middle class home, as Paul’s childhood home was a small terrace row home sharing an alleyway with the attached house to get to the back garden, which had been nicely staged with his father Jim McCartney’s deck chair on the small patch of grass - a vista again familiar from photos over the years.
The house was really small, and a little cramped when the full tour was inside. Again the guide was informative and entertaining, telling great stories of Paul and family and Jim’s support of his musical ambitions. The frugality and the inventiveness on show in this home made a big impact on me. This was obviously a home where money was short yet rich in love.
In the weeks since our visits, whenever I think back to those two homes, its Forthlin Road that made the greatest impression.
After the tours we headed into the center of Liverpool to meet up with The Savage Young Beatles’ manager, Bill, and there was only one place we could meet - The Jacaranda.
Stepping down into the basement area was like stepping back in time. Another space I’ve read and written about over the years, yet to be stood looking at that small stage and imagining the early days of a struggling band playing for snacks and cigarettes and laying the foundations of the greatest band in history was another magical moment.
The memories of those visits will stay with me for many years.
Alan
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The Savage Young Beatles
The boys will also be making a return visit to The Woodlands in Widnes on 24th August, so if you are going to be around the area on that weekend, go check them out.
Podcast Updates
Due to our long UK trip I didn’t get to record a new podcast episode this month, so the previous Forgotten Beatles episode on drummer Jimmie Nichol is still available and can be found on your favorite podcast platform, or directly right HERE.
Several years ago, I was lucky enough to be in Melbourne, Australia, for business at the same time that an exhibit about The Beatles’ 1964 Australian tour was showing at a museum near my hotel. So I had to go check it out.
One image in that exhibit captured my attention - the one below - the one of Jimmie Nicol sitting alone and ignored at the airport on his way home after his brief stint as The Beatles' drummer.
That image stayed with me and became the catalyst for The Forgotten Beatles podcast series - a desire to shine the spotlight on those musicians and singers who, even if only for a brief moment, have been a Beatle.
Beatles Books From My Shelves
“Dreaming The Beatles” by Rob Sheffield
Subtitled “The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World” I was expecting this to provide insights into the Fab Four’s cross-cultural international appeal.
It isn’t that. In fact it’s the exact opposite in that it’s a personal reflection of one individual’s relationship with The Beatles and their music.
Rolling Stone writer and music critic Rob Sheffield uses Beatle songs, albums, and Beatles moments as springboards for a series of stream of conciseness essays that come together to provide a loose history of the band and its ongoing legacy. As a personal account Sheffield makes several remarks that you may not agree with (he clearly does not like Paul), as well as some insightful observations that will get you nodding your head.
The style is very conversational and flows well. It was almost a single sitting read for me (my flight home needed to be just 30 minutes longer).
Perhaps the best summary of this book comes it’s final chapter “The Beatles story keeps taking new turns on the personal level as well as the public one.”
The Beatles in Comics
Title / Issue: Tintin #855
Publisher: Dargaud SA - France
Date : 11 March, 1965
.OK I’ll admit I know nothing about the story behind this cover - but it makes me laugh every time I come across it.
A quick bit of research on the web didn’t reveal anything beyond the basic information about publisher and date - it does, however, seem to be readily available on eBay at reasonable prices.
Rock out to our BTWB Playlists
If you would like to listen to full versions of the songs mentioned in either the main Before They Were Beatles podcast, or the new Forgotten Beatles series you can now find them on my new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@AlanPorterWriter
Or you can check out the Before They Were Beatles playlist on Spotify at
What Else Is Alan Working On?
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See you next time.
Alan J. Porter
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