When someone said to me recently that he really couldn’t see what
all the fuss was about, it made me realise that the fog between what really happened in Liverpool in the
sixties and today is now almost impenetrable. For, in addition to over three hundred bands playing a new kind
of music, there was an explosion of culture, that spanned many disciplines from art, to poetry and avante
garde concepts, that would put Yoko in the shade. At the forefront of this expanded cultural revolution were
people like Adrian Henri, Roger McGough and of course Paul’s Brother
Mike McGear. As the sixties moved towards flower power, a group formed that was a melding of
poetry, literature and music called the Liverpool Scene. This band, more than any other,
epitomised the magnificence of our culture of the time. Probably too far ahead of their time,
Liverpool Scene was not a commercial success, but did they want to be? Probably not; it was
the beginning of the awakening that all was not well in this world and perhaps there was another way. Sadly
that other way was extinguished with the death of John Lennon. But imagine if today’s kids
could carry on where we left off, then perhaps people could really see what the fuss was all about.
The Liverpool Scene recorded four albums from 1967 onwards. It was founded by poet
Adrian Henri and musicians Mike Evans, Percy Jones, Mike Hart, Andy Roberts
and Brian Dodson, The band broke all the rules with their mix of readings ,art and rock ‘n’
Roll. John Peel that most famous Scouse impostor, took to the band and played their records
extensively on the infamous pirate radio station Radio London. Probably Peel’s support was the kiss of death
for the band as their tour of the USA was a flop. They did however continue to be popular on the Uni and club
circuit. Allen Ginsberg, John Lennon and Paul McCartney
were big fans of the band. The group eventually disbanded in 1970. Adrian Henri continued to
write poetry, as well as paint, until his death in 2000.
When someone said to me recently that he really couldn’t see what
all the fuss was about, it made me realise that the fog between what really happened in Liverpool in the
sixties and today is now almost impenetrable. For, in addition to over three hundred bands playing a new kind
of music, there was an explosion of culture, that spanned many disciplines from art, to poetry and avante
garde concepts, that would put Yoko in the shade. At the forefront of this expanded cultural revolution were
people like Adrian Henri, Roger McGough and of course Paul’s Brother
Mike McGear. As the sixties moved towards flower power, a group formed that was a melding of
poetry, literature and music called the Liverpool Scene. This band, more than any other,
epitomised the magnificence of our culture of the time. Probably too far ahead of their time,
Liverpool Scene was not a commercial success, but did they want to be? Probably not; it was
the beginning of the awakening that all was not well in this world and perhaps there was another way. Sadly
that other way was extinguished with the death of John Lennon. But imagine if today’s kids
could carry on where we left off, then perhaps people could really see what the fuss was all about.
The Liverpool Scene recorded four albums from 1967 onwards. It was founded by poet
Adrian Henri and musicians Mike Evans, Percy Jones, Mike Hart, Andy Roberts
and Brian Dodson, The band broke all the rules with their mix of readings ,art and rock ‘n’
Roll. John Peel that most famous Scouse impostor, took to the band and played their records
extensively on the infamous pirate radio station Radio London. Probably Peel’s support was the kiss of death
for the band as their tour of the USA was a flop. They did however continue to be popular on the Uni and club
circuit. Allen Ginsberg, John Lennon and Paul McCartney
were big fans of the band. The group eventually disbanded in 1970. Adrian Henri continued to
write poetry, as well as paint, until his death in 2000.