Mathew Street 2011

An Interesting Email From Beatles Forever

Its that time of the year again when people from overseas are planning their annual pilgrimage to Liverpool, here's just one of the recent emails we've received. Calling all the original bands from the 60s....Should we put on our own show?

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the quick response and the answer to the questions! I figured that I emailed the right place for the answer. I did see where Kingsize was going to be in Liverpool in May. Unfortunately, I won’t. I was hoping there might be some other Beat group gathering/show that he and other originals might attend during the week in August. I too am surprised how they are not featured at the fest. Having been over to Liverpool many times, I want to see the true beat groups. I seldom attend tribute band shows. Thanks for the info and I really like your website – glad I found it! Cheers,

Candy ( Beatles Forever)

From: Fergy

Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 6:27 AM

To: 'Candy Wright'

Subject: RE: Help...

Hi Candy

The band is called “the Roaring Fourties” led by Manfred Jung. They are really nice guys who under the name of Cologne Cats do great work for charities. They were also the last backing band for the late Ian Edwards ( Ian and the Zodiacs).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCQybE8KXAM

No, Kingsize along with all of the original bands have once again been ignored for the festival in favour of Tribute bands with silly wigs on. Great shame. He is over in May for two shows which are advertised on LB.

Best wishes

Fergy

The 2010 Mathew Street Festival Protest

The Epilogue

Well we didn’t get our stage, which for me was no great surprise once I had listened to and met the organisers of the festival. They had made their minds up and it was obvious from the outset that decisions were not malleable and there would be no accommodation for the heroes of the Merseybeat, no matter how justified.

The two phrases in all our discussions that stick in my mind were “I don’t see what the fuss is all about” and “These people don’t know what they are kicking off about”. This lack of understanding of the importance of native Liverpool music as part of a Liverpool festival is a sad indictment of the times in which we live. Future generations will look back at the decisions made in relation to preserving the heritage of Liverpool music and shake their heads in dismay.

In this the 50th anniversary year of the beginning of the Merseybeat, the heroes have been overlooked and should a stage be provided in the future, perhaps it will be too late for some. It must be said also that in providing a stage for these players, the decision would not have been a charitable act of nostalgia, as these boys and girls can still play to a world class standard as the videos throughout this site prove.

Our facebook site has been a tremendously uplifting experience and I would like to thank the many hundreds of people who have supported the protest from all over the world. Additionally Liverpool Beat has received hundreds of supportive emails from places as far away as Brazil and China. Many of the emails coming from people who plan to attend the festival and have presumed that Merseybeat music would be front and centre as part of the festival.

The good news is that there will be a few venues that as a result of your efforts will feature some of the bands. The shopkeepers of the Albert Dock have invited four bands to play on the floating stage in the dock for two hours and Ricky Tomlinson’s Green Room will feature four Merseybeat legends on Sunday afternoon. The Liverpool Bar in James Street will feature the Undertakers and Karl Terry & The Cruisers. But this is small beer compared the Tunnel Stage featuring the Lady Gaga Tribute band and other tribute acts. The M62 stage will of course feature amongst other acts, bands from Manchester, which of course is a suburb of Liverpool.

Our thanks go to all the musicians who banded together to produce the iconic “The Wall” CD/DVD which we will now offer as a limited edition collectors option of just 100 copies.The download singleis still available at 99c.

Our thanks also go to Billy Butler of Radio Merseyside who at least gave us an opportunity to talk about our side of things. Also to Allan Schroeder of Radio Waves the Wirral community Radio station for their support.

The cost of the festival which of course is free to the public, is huge. A Director from the Festival Company volunteered a figure of “Over a million pounds”, with approximately 2/3rds coming from Europe and the rest funded by Liverpool taxpayers via the council. So taxpayers of Liverpool, don’t you think you should have some say in how your money is spent. Its up to you now we have done all we can for the moment.

In conclusion, has the effort been worthwhile? Yes, for if nothing else it’s brought the Merseybeat back into the news and has galvanised new found interest in the genre. Is it the end of the story? No. We’ve now got a whole year to galvanise our forces to make sure that one way or another there is a stage for Liverpool music in Liverpool, and I don’t just mean the Merseybeat. This city has exploded with musical talent for the last century from Ken Dodd, Lita Rosa, Frankie Vaughan, Billy Fury and The Beatles through to modern artists like The Coral and The Zutons. We have one of the most vibrant Country & Western scenes in the UK and a great Folk scene. Enough talent to fill all seven stages. Food for thought Mr Longwood, for you and your council. And to finish…..

"The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn't the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility."
— John Lennon

"There are places i'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends i still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all"
— John Lennon

A Final Comment on The Mathew Street Saga

The impact of the protest concerning the decision not to include Liverpool Bands of the sixties in this years festival has been significant and people from all over the world have joined us in voicing their opinion in no uncertain terms. From the early arrogant responses from the council to the later defensive ones, it is clear that this decision is indeed a huge own goal. There has been some uncertainty as to where the blame lies. the council says it passed over the decision to the company tasked with running the festival. The organisers now say the decision was nothing to do with Merseybeat bands being unpopular. Members of the organising committee are now saying there has never been a "Merseybeat" stage and that themes change from year to year. Despite a universal incredulity at this snub, the organising committee are now saying that the "Well publicised" Application procedure resulted in no applications from the bands of the sixties. Well come on you people; Did Elvis ask permission to be featured at Graceland, did Johnny Cash apply to be mentioned at Sun records, did Hank Williams apply to be included in the Grand Ol Opry...of course not. Even with the support of such legends as Hank Marvin, Bill Wyman and Horst Fascher is it pretty obvious in the latest letter from the council, that there will be no Merseybeat stage this year...and what make the decision even more heinous, is the fact that this year marks the 50th anniversary of beginning of Liverpool sound.

Thanks guys and girls of the council and the organising committee....you did us proud.

"Remember the Names Carved On The Mathew Street Wall"

 The Protest Page as it Happened

• The Wall
• The Story Of The Mathew Street Protest Song
• The Leader Of The Council

The Story Of The Protest Song

We’d decided to do a concert at the Hard Days Night Hotel to celebrate 50 years of the Liverpool Beat and Radio Merseyside called us in to give an interview on the Frankie Connor Show and I was sitting in the green room with Geoff Nugent of The Undertakers who was sharing the interview with me and Geoff said “ “Fergy you are not going believe this, they’ve dropped the Merseybeat Stage from this year’s stage”,

"What! I said that’s crazy they wouldn’t have a festival if it wasn’t for the music we created".......... Read On

Stop Press: Geoff Nugent of the Undertakers has joined the band

Brian Jones Explains Why He Started The Face Book Campaign

 BRING BACK THE MERSEYBEAT STAGE FOR THE lIVERPOOL MATHEW STREET FESTIVAL

Brian has recorded a beautiful album of songs from the 90s. Here's a taster. You can buy the album from Spotify track by track.

"Fields Of Gold" - Brian Jones     

Lee Curtis Talks About The Star Club Tapes At The Protest Song Sessions

During a break in the sessions, Lee Curtis who features on the Mathew Street Protest record spent some time with us talking about some never before revealed facts from the Star Club recordings and his "record of the week" on Radio Caroline. You can hear some of the early takes of the record in the background.

Lee has a new CD out "The Two Sides Of Lee Curtis" available from Spotify track by track.

Here's a little taste of Lee's great talent.

"Jezebel" Live At The Cavern 1968

 Dave Goldberg Of The Merseybeats Gets Angry

An interview recorded during the Protest song sessions with Dave Goldberg who has been the Merseybeats Keyboard player for many years. Dave is angry and he tells you why.

An Interview With The Producer of The Protest Song.

Keith Hubbard founder of pro band Shooter is the producer of the protest song which is due to be completed on Monday 14th June, talks about his experiences in the music business and about the trials and tribulations of making the protest song.

The Protest Page Updated

There is so much stuff coming in about the Mathew Street Festival Protest that it has slowed this page loading, so I have created a new section just for the protest. If you are new to Liverpool Beat its a good place to start to see what the fuss is all about. There are lots of emails and info yet to go up, so keep checking back for the latest news. The Protest Page...all the stories, emails etc.

Bill Harry Founder of MERSEY BEAT newspaper joins the Protest.

Bill Harry who published the world famous Mersey Beat newspaper during the 60s, and is now a successful author with over 20 titles published has agreed to write a dedication for the upcoming Protest single. Bill's email, which I reprint below, says it most eloquently and concisely what this protest is all about. Many thanks Bill, for your support, the anger from all over the world is growing by the day.

Bill's website is http://triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/

 Dear Dave,

I find it incredulous that no Stage for the presentation of original Merseyside bands from   Liverpool’s golden era is going to be available this year. It was Liverpool bands, not only the Beatles, who resulted in Liverpool being named as Capital of Music by the Guinness Book of Records and for Liverpool also to obtain the tag ‘Britain’s Number One Music City’ recently.

I receive literally thousands of e-mails from Iceland to Peru, Argentina to the Czech Republic, Japan, Germany, Australia - you name it and they are full of questions and are avid for information on the original groups of Liverpool without whom there would be no Beatles or a musical revolution which changed popular music irrevocably on an international level.

It is not only the duty of the Council to honour the pioneering musicians who have done so much to make Liverpool a worldwide attraction which has resulted in the city being the third most popular tour destination in Britain, but an actual insult not to include them in a festival which resulted from the development of their music and influence from those heady days of the Mersey Sound.

These groups are heroes and you don’t demean heroes or patronise them. Set the Stage up for those Mersey pioneers, because the thousands of music fans who will descend on Liverpool will want to see them and hear their music and stories.

Bill Harry, Founder of MerseyBeat.

Support the Facebook Campaign - Click the link now - Keep the Music Alive

BRING BACK THE MERSEYBEAT STAGE FOR THE LIVERPOOL MATHEW STREET FESTIVAL

Voice your Discontent by Email

Here's the email address for Susan Lees the Events Manager at Liverpool Council

susan.lees@liverpool.gov.uk

Join Brian Jones' Facebook Protest Page 

Sam Leach Joins the Protest

World famous Beatles promoter Sam Leach has joined the protest commenting:-

“To withdraw the Merseybeat Stage is the height of lunacy. Many years ago the Liverpool Council demolished the Cavern in showing they didn't know the right thing to do. Nothing changes. Even when I single-handedly organised the Tribute to John Lennon at St George's Hall Plateau, they did all they could to make it difficult for me. When that drew a crowd of 100,000 and much acclaim from all corners of the Globe, they then took credit for that. Again what's New?”Sam Leach Visit Sam's website by clicking the graphic.

And Still The Protests Keep On Coming

My daily email inbox continues to fill with people venting their frustration at the decision not to honour and acknowledge the heroes of the Merseybeat. This time we've received the following email from renown Film Director Gary Popper who has a passionate love for the music.

"I was very surprised to hear that original members of Merseybeat groups have been denied a stage to perform at the forthcoming music event season. I hope this is not so. It would be a deep insult to those who actually created the music revolution that rocked the world. It is the legacy they created that attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the city each year - more so than any other factor.

In contrast the psuedo-tribute bands proliferate; an irony considering their acts are nothing more than imitations of the original ordinary working class people who achieved extraordinary things. In my view, the decision makers have got it badly wrong, and I hope they reflect and reconsider. The original groups are not history. On the contrary, they made it. Where would the festivals and tribute events be without them?"

Garry Popper . Documentary Producer. "GET BACK"

Musos Voice their Anger

We find it very disheartening that the ancestry of the Merseybeat sound founded by your city, has been pushed to one side, on this year's Mathew street festival, while we acknowledge the need to use musicians from all over the world, both young and old, to enhance the festivities, we do feel very strongly that the powers to be, have done us a great disservice, both of us are members of "MerseyCats" the rock and roll children's charity, formed by the original groups of the sixties and along with our other rock and roll charities, such as "MerseyRats" and "Cheshire cats" who play for nothing each week and also pay a door fee to perform, all of us do it to help sick and underprivileged children throughout Merseyside, we have had the honour to play through "MerseyCats" at the pier-head stage, and exchange street east stage on two separate occasions and have never accepted any payment, and to my knowledge neither have any of the other charities mentioned, if we can help sick children in our city through donations that is more than payment enough.

Colin Woodruff & Gordon Loughlin, ex members of Merseybeat bands of the sixties.

WEBSITE PULLED

We apologise for any convenience to our loyal users as the website was switched off by our Internet Service Provider following receipt of a solicitors letter alleging that the facsimile of the wall used in the Mathew Street Charity CD/DVD is owned by a certain company. We have removed the images and have passed on the news to the members of Mathew Street Banned.

It must be the first time in the history of the web that a charity item has had to be removed in these circumstances. SAD WORLD ISNT IT.

How It All Started

Yet Another Own Goal By Liverpool Council.

First they knocked the Cavern down, then they said the reason Tourists visited Liverpool was because of the Slave Trade....and now we hear that the Mathew Street Festival for the first time ever will not feature a stage devoted to the bands who started it all. This is outrageous....

I remember seeing a comment some years ago where a councillor said the last thing Liverpool needed to be associated with was a bunch of drug taking musicians. Well wake up you lot, Liverpool wouldn't have a tourist industry if it wasn't for the Beatles and the music scene of the sixties. I reprint below an email received from Chiz Thompson from Stonehaven in Scotland, who wrote to the council asking why there are no Liverpool beat bands from the 60s on this year, with the reply received from the council which looks to me like total bull dust.

 These people need to understand that they wouldn't have a festival, if it wasn't for the scene the bands created. If you care about our musical heritage its time to act. If you feel the same way about it as Chiz does and undoubtedly many of the visitors who come especially to see the bands of the sixties, write or phone the council and voice your opinion. I've reprinted the reply in full so you too can voice your opinion of the exclusion of the heritage bands who wont be around for too much longer.....and then they will miss us.

From: charles thomson [mailto:charlesgthomson@hotmail.com]
Sent: 26 April 2010 13:36

Hi there Sean has just informed me of a rumour going around at this years liverpool festival that there isnt going to be a stage for the original merseybeat bands. Well what an insult if this is true. it was them that did it. It is the original bands that inspired and still inspire the musicians of today. if no originals no music im afraid thats it in an nutshell.
can you confirm this rumour would like to hear.
You guys are living legends and we are only copying what you guys have served your time at and passed on to so many bands. them all!
i hope its not because they have to pay the bands because they are worth every penny and the work these guys do for charity is brilliant.
we'll write to the council about this one i can assure you if this is true.
 
chis thomson

Tue 27/04/2010 10:57

hi fergy chiz here. i've just written to liverpool council concerning this and complained bitterly . i've taken the tourism route as well as saying that you guys are the best in the world and started it all.
 
they must be thick headed b**tards indeed!
 
you know take it from me you guys have taken a lot of kids off the streets and given them inspiration . my son is just one of them.
 
things like this seem to escape them.
 
hope all goes well. chiz

Reply from the council

Dear Mr Thomson,  

 Thank you for your email regarding Mathew Street Music Festival.  Currently the actual line up for Mathew Street Music Festival 2010 is yet to be announced. We are in the process of finalising the line up and contracting bands.   

The process for the selection of bands is a very thorough one- taking into account several factors. The actual band selection is not carried out by Liverpool City Council alone, but in conjunction with the Cavern Club. We recognise that having Liverpool bands on the stage is a key factor and is an important element of the festival. I can confirm that 40% of the bands this year are actually from Liverpool. We try to get the balance between selecting bands that are popular, whilst introducing new music to the festival, and ensuring the line up is not repetitive The line up for the festival will be announced in July. If you have any comments after you have seen the schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me as we value all feedback we receive 

Once again thank you for your email 

Kind regards  Susan Lees Senior Events Manager 

Culture Liverpool - Liverpool City Council 

PO Box 2008 Municipal Buildings Dale Street Liverpool L2 2DH 

   susan.lees@liverpool.gov.uk

Tel: 0151-233-6831 Fax: 0151-22502151

 The Merseybeat Song

Ive written a song for the BRING BACK THE MERSEYBEAT STAGE FOR THE LIVERPOOL MATHEW STREET FESTIVAL

Here's the verse

Bring Back the Merseybeat Stage to Liverpool

Let’s not forget the Beat that changed it all

The Council think that we should be forgotten

But remember the names on the Mathew Street Wall

Im asking all the original bands to join with me and record it. Will keep you informed.

 Fergy

Here is Susan Lees latest response copied to me following an email from Maja Dodd, a member of Merseycats and wife of Keith Dodd one of the Star Club originals with Ricky Gleason & The Topspots.

From:  Lees, Susan  

To:  Maja Dodd  

Sent:  Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:42 PM 

Subject:  RE: matthew street 

Dear Maja,

Thank you for your email regarding Mathew Street Music Festival.

We value all feedback regarding the artistic line up, both positive and negative.

We appreciate your disappointment that there is not a dedicated ‘Merseybeat’ stage for the 2010 event. However, the stage line up has now been confirmed for this years Mathew Street. We are not releasing the actual programme until nearer the event, but I can assure you that the programme has been developed to encompass a wide variety and genres of music and not just focusing at young people. The actual line up is not selected by Liverpool City Council or the Culture Company, but a music panel which includes the Cavern Club itself.

We realise that there is a demand for the Merseybeat music, we have never questioned that fact. Although there is not a dedicated Merseybeat stage, we have not ignored local talent and the music of that genre and have included it in the line up. Indeed the festival acknowledges its Liverpool heritage with over 40% of the line up being from the City.

We will take on board your comments for the theming of the stages for the 2011 event.

Once again thank you for your email

Kind regards Sue

Susan Lees 

Senior Events Manager 

Culture Liverpool - Liverpool City Council 

PO Box 2008 

Municipal Buildings 

Dale Street 

Liverpool 

L2 2DH 

Tel: 0151-233-6831 

Fax: 0151-22502151 

Email: susan.lees@liverpool.gov.uk 

 Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Thank you 2010:Liverpool's Year of Innovation, Health & Well Being

  www.ourcityourplanet.org.uk

Here's Maja's email

Hi Susan 

Yet again Liverpool Council is cutting its own throat by not putting a stage up for Merseyside 60s band, don’t you realies that visitors at Liverpool August Mathew Street Festival are coming to hear NOT the head banging, heavy rock, jazz etc etc but the 60s Merseybeat sound that’s the heart & soul of this City and the reason this weekend is known as ‘MATHEW STREET FESTIVAL’ think about it – Cavern Club, Beatles, 60s music – Merseybeat need I still spell it out even more to you, because I get the impression that everyone working for the highly paid ‘Culture Company’ must be all youngish people otherwise you would know the 60s music history of Liverpool.  Maybe you believe all the visitors traveling from foreign lands, come just to see the ‘beauty’ of Liverpool – NOT – it’s the Cavern Club, Mathew Street and familiar music of the 60s played by original musicians from the 60s and that’s what’s made Liverpool famous around the world – the TRUE culture of this City is 60s music and nothing else because its still here and still alive and loved by young and old, its music you can dance to (without being high on something), sing to and music you still remember years later, can you say that about modern music?  Everything else about Liverpool like slave trade or the dock yards or the so called ‘beautiful’ buildings are very insignificant in comparison to the sound of the Merseybeat.  You take away the Merseybeat stage and the only thing which will be unpopular all over the world is the Liverpool City Council in particular the ‘CULTURE COMPANY’.   

Yours a very disappointed 60s fan 

 Maja Dodd

A Message From Horst Fascher Manager of the Star Club

I hope you all agree with my statement. Please support that group.
What´s this all about??! A Mathew Street Festival without a Merseybeat-Stage? What kind of Mathew Street Festival is this going to be? It´s not the Beatles who created the Sound of Liverpool - even if they are it´s most famous export. The Sound of Liverpool was created ...by all the bands and musicians who played there and here, in Hamburg at the Star-Club. And they are still alive - and rockin´& rollin! I always knew this - and it was proven to me when i came to Liverpool last January. The Merceybeat is much more than "still alive" - it´s the heart of your city and should have it´s own stage - like all the past years. Please don´t make Liverpool´s Mathew Street Festival a Beatles Disneyland - keep on believing in the heart and soul of the cities rock´n´roll-roots.

Sincerly Yours - Horst Fascher, Manager of the Star-Club in Hamburg (and one of the "by the heart" fans of the Merseybeat)  

 P.S. Horst's new book is now released and if you want to support him as he supports us click the image or this link.

British Beatles fan Club Joins the Protest

From Donna Jackson

I've forwarded this email to the British Beatles Fan Club yahoo group, and already there have been reactions of outrage that there is no Merseybeat stage.  I'm asking all our members there to join the facebook protest and email the MSF organisers. 

Hope this is OK. 

Donna   

(BBFC news editor and yahoo group co-ordinator) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am Racing for Life on May 16 in memory of my sister-in-law, Paris, and out of love for my niece, Georgia:
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/donnaj25 

"Whisper words of wisdom" - Paul McCartney
"From the other half of the sky" - John Lennon 

 Liverpool Star Bobby Sox joins Protest Band

Well known Liverpool Star, Bobby Sox has joined the protest and will be laying down some additional vocals on Thursday. This will delay the release of the track, but having heard him sing, I'm sure it will be worthwhile. Bobby was the Radio Merseyside roving correspondent for the Mathew Street festival, until last year, when they replaced him with a Rolling Stones day......I'm beginning to think its a conspiracy!!!!!!.

Dave Goldberg from The Merseybeats joins the Protest Band

Unfortunately Sam Hardie from The Dominoes can't make it for the recording, but the great news is, we have secured Dave Goldberg from The Merseybeats to stand in. In the words of Lee Curtis....What a Band.

Protest Band to Appear on Radio Merseyside

Billy Butler has invited the band to appear on his show on Radio Merseyside where he will feature the record. Thanks a million Billy.

Name The Protest Band and Win a Free Copy of the Record

We haven't got a name for the band for the Protest Song. Let us have your suggestions and we will send you a free copy of the record. Every (Legal) suggestion will get a free copy via email.

An Open Letter To Billy Butler Of Radio Merseyside

I emailed Billy with following response to the Bill Heckle interview yesterday. I don't know at this stage whether its been picked up. ( Update: We have since received a supportive reply from Billy, we will keep you informed )

Dear Billy

I listened to your programme yesterday and your interview with Bill Heckle and as one of the people who has been “kickin off” concerning the decision of the committee not to have a Merseybeat stage at this year’s festival and I would like to put the record straight.

Firstly, let me say we have no quarrel with Bill who has done a Fab job of building a successful festival over the years, and it was good of him to clarify that a MerseyBeat stage has only been included just a total of five times in seventeen years. Although in doing so he merely amplified the error in their thinking.

Secondly, with regard to Bill’s comment about “not knowing about what they are kickin off about”. It’s true, we couldn’t find out any useful information, other than the news trickling out in May that there wouldn’t be a Merseybeat stage this year. The secrecy that surrounds the festival is most unusual, unlike Glastonbury, which declares its programme months in advance. Indeed on your programme yesterday ,Bill was still being evasive about the mystery Merseybeat star who would actually appear, this is despite Billy J Kramer announcing on a world wide web cast from the Beatles Fest in New York USA two months ago that he would be appearing.

The point however was totally missed, this music belongs to the city and it is what sets us apart from any other festival in the world with the possible exception of New Orleans.

The question is not whether a Merseybeat stage should be included this year , next year, whenever but how can the music that started the worldwide beat revolution ever be excluded particularly by someone who by his own admission has a vested interest in Merseybeat.

So next year there might be a MerseyBeat stage, well next year some of the guys who made the sound might not be around to celebrate it.

The 60s music scene still thrives in the city, and having seen bands from all over the world the quality of music these guys play is still world class. Their time for the grand stage may have passed for as you know the entertainment business is a fickle one, but the fact remains and you know this only too well, the music being played today in Pubs, Clubs and Charities like MerseyCats, Merseyrats and Cheshire Cats is still valid and most importantly our own. How many other cities in the world can say that?

Looks like we will have to find another way to celebrate in this our 50th anniversary of Merseybeat.

Kind regards

Fergy

First Response to The Bill Heckle Interview

(Lynn here). In response to the comments on BBC this afternoon. 

There are 100s of music festivals each year in the world, but Liverpool's is unique and it's because of the following assets:

Mathew Street - The Cavern Club - Merseybeat - The Beatles

That's the reason why people travel from all over the world to the city in August - because Liverpool's music heritage is unique. Let me repeat ....

Mathew Street - The Cavern Club - Merseybeat - The Beatles

Liverpool's contribution to the music of our country came from the BEAT that transformed the sounds of america to a form just as revolutionary as delta blues - it was the liverpool beat. That's what put the city on the musical map. Not for country music, or hip hop, or jazz, or garage and certainly not for lady gaga.

So when you forget the FOUR CORNERSTONES that are unique to your Liverpool heritage,  you simply miss the whole point of why your festival is there in the first place. Merseybeat's NOT just another genre to be fitted in at your convenience or to the whim of fashion - it's Liverpool's very own sound and it's about time the musicians and their music was given the respect it/they so justly deserve.

Via email

Bill Heckle of Cavern Tours On Radio Merseyside

I've just listened to Bill on Radio Merseyside and it was a shame that neither Brian nor myself didn't get a chance to voice the opinions of many thousands of disappointed 60s fans. Bill talked about some of the tribute bands that have been booked including a Lady Gaga tribute. Two classic albums stages including a London Calling Clash Tribute. Two Beatles tribute stages. The Cocobelles who appeared last year have been invited back. Their is also a Modfest with a giant of Mod history to be announced shortly. When Billy Butler asked him about the exclusion of Country and Merseybeat stages, Bill focused on the country stage. Bill said that there will be Merseybeat acts on the festival "spotted about the stages" but the only name he confirmed was Beryl Marsden. He did make reference to a "Mystery" Liverpool star appearing which we understand is Billy J Kramer. He confirmed that in the seventeen years of the festival there had been a Merseybeat stage on five occasions. He also said that he had tried to get Gerry & the Pacemakers, but Gerry was unable to commit at the time. He made a reference to the protest movement in passing, basically suggesting they are ill informed. He says he is considering a Merseybeat stage for next years festival and that he wants all the big bands like The Searchers, The Merseybeats, The Swingin Blue Jeans and the Fourmost to appear. Bill said he was on the side of the Merseybeat bands and was annoyed that people had been saying things that weren't true. Bill finished off his talk by saying

"I still get passionate and upset when people kick off. This one kicked off without them knowing what they are kickin off about."

Editors Comments

I've never met Bill Heckle but I do admire what he has achieved with the Cavern and I also understand that it must extremely stressful to organise a festival of the size of the Mathew Street Festival. He says he, more than anyone has a vested interest in Merseybeat which may be true, but if he was really interested in Merseybeat and the bands who are still playing, the first stage to be pencilled in would have to be the "Home Stage". He say he needs to bring variations in every year and we agree that he must appeal to a wide range of musical tastes, but as a once a year event, the people who visit the festival we believe would never regard the MerseyBeat stage as a element to be omitted. He has said that next year, there will be a Merseybeat stage and we hope he will keep his word, but what is really sad in this, the 50th anniversary year of the music is there will be no platform for the excellent bands from the 60s who are still playing on Merseyside mainly for Charity with MerseyCats, MerseyRats and Cheshire Cats, organisations who play for nothing and raise significant amounts of money for deserving charities, particularly disadvantaged children. Sorry Bill, for kickin off, but we too are still passionate about what we, do despite the imminent arrival of the zimmer frames.

Fergy

Poem Received From Ken Shalliker

MERSEYBEAT FOREVER by Ken Shalliker

There is a street in Liverpool ,with bricks upon the wall
In recognition for the guys and galls , the ones who did it all.
The world wide magic of the Beat , that famous Mersey Sound
It echo’s all around the world , and makes us more than proud
Played from the heart, that Mersey Thunder scene,
The greatest asset to Liverpool ,that there’s ever been.
We are not proud of the slave trade, that our elders proclaimed
Would make the city great , instead, we feel ashamed
Now the council at it trying once again,
To ignore the ones, who gave this city fame
Go now before you are pushed, cause we won’t go away
Merseybeat and the Mersey Sound.
Will live forever, and a day.

Liverpool Echo About To Join the Campaign?

I have spoken with the Liverpool Echo this morning who are checking out our information in regard to The Mathew Street Debacle and hopefully they will be joining in. Check back for updates. Here's a photo taken by Mave Atherton, Geoff Nugent's partner at the show last year.

Mathew Street Festival - Diversity...What Diversity

The favourite phrase of local government is diversity and right now it would seem to apply to everything except 60s music. A large proportion of visitors to the festival remember the 60s and many lived through it. The official reason for not including a Merseybeat stage this year was that "It proved to be unpopular". Well excuse me.... the picture shown below was taken from the stage last year by Brian Jones of the Undertakers. What part of unpopular does this represent. Brian has started a facebook campaign and please join in to voice your protest by phone, fax, email and any other means you can think of.

Here's just a few comments posted to date

 Glenn Mitchell a disgrace it should be a focal point of the whole day!!, we have been booked for the Cavern during the weekend and we will be bringing Merseybeat to the masses rest assured, but the original guys can rock like no other we owe it all to them and they should no question about it have their own stage.

Steve Pude The 60's Merseybeat was probably the best era in commercial music as far as I'm concerned and though, not quite old enough to be part of it, I look back with great respect and admiration towards the living legends that are Merseybeat and think that generations of local musicians to come should be allowed to. If this stage goes it will be another step towards ruining the memory of our great musical heritage.

Karl Terry & The Cruisers at Mathew Street 2008

Yet another example of the Merseybeat bands at the festival. This time Karl and the boys captivate the audience witha mix of Rock 'n' Roll and Swing. The quality of the video isn't great but you can taste the atmosphere.

Which Dumbo worked that one out !!!!

Keith Hubbard from Shooter one of the bands who played last year has this to say about the Mathew Street Debacle.

Hi Dave,

Saw the proposed cancellation of the Mersey Beat Stage on your web site; UNBELIEVABLE!
The buzz that came from the stage area last year was fantastic and very supportive, which dumbo worked out that it was seen to be unpopular. There will be other stages feature ABBA and such tribute acts around the town using support backing tracks and the like, what has that got to do with the music culture of Merseyside and what the Mathew Street festival is supposed to represent; the true live music of Mersey Beat?
Please pass mine and my band Shooter's support to Brian Jones and any other person trying to correct this outrage.
As I said; UNBELIEVABLE!
Regards

Keith
SHOOTER
"Keeping Music Live"
www.shooter60sband.co.uk