The Beatles Star Club Hamburg 1962

December 1962 Star Club, Hamburg, Germany
Nothing Shaking (But The Leaves On The Trees) - Lend Me Your Comb - Your Feet's Too Big

[@chrisjohnson3694]

This was the punk music of this time. Lots of energy, lots of noise, short songs...and they were still wearing leather...

[@ndogg20]

....and doin a ton of speed to stay awake gigging all day and all of the night.

[@mattexelby8818]

@@ndogg20 no they werent, its 1962

[@ndogg20]

A short search on the net will counter your reply. Here's just one of many from the Beatles Bible site..... 'It has been claimed that Tony Sheridan introduced them to the pills in 1961, telling them: “Here’s something to keep you awake.”... And this quote from Ringo Starr, Anthology.... ''This was the point of our lives when we found pills, uppers.....We never thought we were doing anything wrong, but we’d get really wired and go on for days."

[@derekec]

@@mattexelby8818 Hamburg......Speed. Synonymous. I think they did 3 shows a day.

[@waynej2608]

​@mattexelby8818 They functioned on 'prellies', which is amphetamines and lots of beer/ale. Oh, and plenty of cigarettes. Talk about your, 'breakfast of champions'. Lol. More importantly, their Hamburg gigs afforded them the opportunity to hone their craft. I'm thinking the local gals didn't hurt either. 😎👍

[@gardoarellano9601]

Imagine 61 years later this one of a kind genius band change the revolution of rock music no one but no one can compared the way they did kudos sir john paul george and ringgo

[@brucewotring3405]

Lennon's propulsive, grinding rhythm guitar steals the show!

[@potterwalker4823]

He famously said “i know how to drive a band.”maybe the very best rhythm guitar player ever and as Clapton said “they had three really good guitarists “.

[@sharpenflat6002]

BS.

[@jeanlou79]

Lennon was so groovy. Amazing!

[@andrea-mj9ce]

​@@potterwalker4823Source of Clapton's quotation?

[@davidbell2753]

This is not the refined recorded Beatles, it raw to the bone music. The way music should be. Love it!!!

[@-______-______-]

You say that like all their studio recorded output was pointless!

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

And this is how they wanted to stay. Of course they would never have gone anywhere. But I think Paul would have eventually moved on to bigger and better things because of his musical background. He would not have stayed playing in these dirty, grimy, smelly clubs for long.

[@RealmoftheBlackShadow]

Are you describing a parallel universe?

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

@@RealmoftheBlackShadow No. I'm describing how it was.

[@jonasrmb01]

because they had studio players playing on their albums and writing almost all of the songs pre 67 and even some after that

[@briteness]

The Hamburg residencies, where the Beatles were able to log several hours a night/several nights a week of live performance, were what really gave them the edge. They left Liverpool for the first stint in Hamburg as one of several popular groups in the scene; when they returned they were instantly the top act in town.

[@mikeymutual5489]

Four guys who were the best bar band around at the end of 1962, who became the top rock & roll group in the U.K. six months later and the top rock & roll group in the world 14 months later.

[@abortedcabbages]

and they still are the greatest of all time over 60 years later.

[@wungabunga]

@@abortedcabbages Damn straight.

[@mixaliskokkinos1496]

3 of 4!Pete Best kicked out because...

[@mikeymutual5489]

@@mixaliskokkinos1496 ...he wasn't good enough.

[@mixaliskokkinos1496]

@@mikeymutual5489 I am not there,maybe you...?Anyway history writen, so...Greetings from Greece

[@gabe_s_videos]

Nearly every rock band since The Beatles has wanted to be The Beatles. The problem is they want to be the Beatlemania Beatles, the Sgt. Peppers Beatles, the rooftop concert Beatles. They don't want to be the "work doggedly in a dive for three years before getting famous" Beatles. (And TBH, neither would I)

[@3replybiz]

As Lennon said 'Our best work was never recorded.'

[@andrea-mj9ce]

Source?

[@theechickengamerz]

@@andrea-mj9ce Rolling stone interview, do ur research sir

[@crapple009]

There was a brief time in history when the Beatles were the only band of its kind in existence on this planet-this was it, in Hamburg.

[@ellenbeckmann4293]

Habe eine alte Cassette..da sind diese Lieder auch drauf..Beatles Platz auch besucht letztes Jahr..here,there and everywhere, my fav Band. Lg von Ellen ✌❤

[@duffbaker9554]

Proof that their playing really tightened by going to Hamburg. Firing on all cylinders here!

[@joeyday1252]

Young Savage Beatles! Love it. My fave Beatles era.

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

I agree...it's a classic time. The raw, energy of the Hamburg show is fantastic. I have a good copy of it on CD that was released after it got a bit more cleaned up. Love how the waiter sings "Be-Bop-A-Lula" on it.

[@morrisowen2205]

I'm 76 now and well remember watching and hearing groups ( not called bands ) in the early 1960's. The vast majority were very rudimentary, everyone seemed to struggle with playing lead guitar, rhythm guitar consisted of 3 or 4 chords but it was still exciting because the sound was new and related to the younger generation, everyone was still learning. Listening to this recording of early beatles I'd say that although it sounds crude with todays ears it was top of the tree stuff back then.

[@jimihendrix3143]

Thanks. First hand stuff like your recollections are worth their weight in gold.

[@meisterlymanu5214]

anyone with talent who learned their craft live went onto do v well. Not stuck in studios. Elton John was a prime example. And almost all Motown artists.

[@calfolk7381]

The Beatles ruined my life. I’m still chasing them

[@riverraisin1]

They gave your life a purpose! 😊😊

[@calfolk7381]

For sure, thanks !

[@prisonersforprofit]

really honing that sound of theirs, with the language barrier they never got too cute with anything outside of the music, they knew that's what they were there for, paul already belting out those high notes, he could practically do anything vocally.

[@richtintera5524]

That's what Klaus would have heard wandering in.

[@amandas.6745]

That was two years before. They were (on their own account) not nearly as good then. This was rather what Brian Epstein heard when he walked into the Cavern

[@oskarmac14]

Paul’s voice was distinctive even then. Ringo had only been on board a short time. Their meter was spot on, even then.

[@mikeymutual5489]

He had already been in the band for 3 1/2 months already, so I don't know what your point is.

[@bumblebeemoi]

That’s George on vocals. He led that same song on the BBC recordings.

[@bumblebeemoi]

@Syd McCreath Sorry to not mention which “Nothing Shaking but the Leaves on the Trees”.

[@mikeymutual5489]

@Syd McCreath Hmm, I'm not sure I have to explain anything to you pal, so stuff it.

[@1blastman]

These are classic gems.

[@nicolarotondi3974]

Grandissima energia!

[@colinsmith6444]

Why did the Beatles have the official release withdrawn? This is a fabulous recording, rough but incredible, and you can hear why people loved them in this pre-fame era. I had the double vinyl at the time. Loved it.

[@hejla4524]

They should re-release it with the quality enhanced through all the new technology they have now.

[@goodo5691]

i still have it

[@guruuDev]

I agree. I bought it when it first came out. I thought it was scruffy and bad sound quality. But then I quickly got used to it and tuned in to what is going on. Then it is just amazing -- so great! It's like a whole other phase of their music -- a rough and raucous way of playing that's different than what they did later

[@hejla4524]

@@guruuDev What I don't understand is why it is so raucous and like their previous Hamburg days as they were now with Epstein, had released 'Love me do' and presenting themselves in a different way. Luckily we get an idea how the band was, but in reality they had already moved on from that 'scruffy, raucous and rough' way of playing.

[@guruuDev]

@@hejla4524 I think it was their last chance to be back in a seedy bar in a red light district where they could play drunk and foaming at the mouth with preladins -- and play marathon sessions long into the night -- to an adult audience likewise drunk and crazed on pills. They didn't want to go back to Hamburg but they were contracted and so had to. I love how the Beatles play on their albums. But I think the setting, complete with booze and pills etc., would explain how they could shift back into that earlier mode of playing -- where they are thrashing and crashing forward on the edge of chaos. That crazed attitude and style of playing woudn't really make sense when you are playing to young fresh faced teens in a family PG rated venue. They just adjusted their tone and approach till it was perfect and just right for that setting.

[@barroncrist5779]

The Fab Four worked on the Repperbahn in Hamburg playong seven hours six days a week. This is why they were so good. This Star Club highlights the band at it's best.

[@maddogmccoy3203]

THIS is how a good Garage / Bar band should sound!...Slightly out of tune, not TOO terribly loud , banter between verses , ....you know...ALL the good stuff!...Love it!...Just sayin!

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

Garage bands play in garages, not Hamburg clubs, hence the name.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Hoodlums. I like it.

[@d.arnoldmarshall2100]

George Harrison often commented that this was when they were at their best

[@bbb8997]

@sydmccreath4554 nope George is quoted on the polydor lp

[@wungabunga]

@@bbb8997 I can imagine George saying that because he didn't practice playing the guitar. They had no choice back then - constantly gigging!

[@marcfoster6685]

Greatest Of All Time!❤

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

Damn, they were gelling into what became the best band in the world. Such energy!

[@joseluisburgueno3054]

Lovely and dear brothers. From: Joe Burgueño (Guadalajara, México).

[@josealbertogarcia7434]

Incredible, the sound is no perfect, but you can feel the energy, the tremendous power of their music, " lend me your comb ", even when they didn't have good instruments, the magic is there , awesome, the Beatles, the legend Will never die

[@ivandafoe5451]

They had very good instruments and good amps. Their quality was not the problem. Sound systems for vocals were relatively under-powered and dedicated sound crews weren't a thing for bands back then. The main problem was the small venues that were never designed to accommodate the sound levels generated by electrified rock and roll.

[@josealbertogarcia7434]

@@ivandafoe5451, míster Ivan Dafoe , firts of all , I would like to thank you for answer me , I'm from Argentina, as you know, English is my second language, I'm , absolutelly, Beatles's fan , I was in Liverpool last June, in 2022, Of course, I visited the Cavern Club an many "issues" related with the Beatles, A Long time ago, more than 30 years ,I bougth the Beatles, LIVE AT THE STAR CLUB , in Hamburg and I was so impressed of the magic, energy and "power" of the music , that made conclude, why the Beatles was a Phenomeno, maybe the Greatest one in Music's History, I realmente Appreciate your point of view, Very precise, eloquent and accurate, thanks for everything, for taking time in respond my comment , Best wishes

[@josealbertogarcia7434]

And your are rigth Sir, the guitar that John played al the Star Club, is the same guitar thal will stay with him., for a long time

[@neverforget6523]

They were still kids far away from home. Lucky people who had the chance to see them in that days.

[@olaclaesson8074]

Hi Jose! Weirdly, they didn´t want to go back to Germany again. Love Me Do had been a hit by then and they could make more money at home. Brian Epstein had to tell them to honour the contract they had signed. Still sounds pretty good to me. So glad these December recordings exists. Hope they will be remastered and released with better sound at some point. The technology is available and Apple owns the recordings, so who knows!

[@gregdray8199]

I love listening to these pre fame songs. So.much different than their studio songs. The wild sound of young kids full of life. Makes me tired just thinking about it!

[@_monkrian3744]

Pure Great Balls of Energy & Passion！

[@benzell4]

I believe these are all covers here, of 1950’s rock and roll, especially Chuck Berry! Great pics! Thanks for posting!

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

the Chuck Berry songs are pretty blistering from this performance...

[@andrea-mj9ce]

​@sydmccreath4554Who wrote those songs?

[@stephencopps1561]

You can easily get the influence of the Every Brothers in their harmony singing 👍

[@lucytupper69]

Everly

[@kjeldpedersen666]

Who are these guys? They surely could have made it big...

[@RandyR]

Kick ass rock and roll. Bet they never would have guessed that they would soon take over the world and become one of the best bands ever. Had the double album several years ago

[@MundaSquire]

Sounds like a rollicking good time banging it out as a bar band. A bit of garage punk to boot. I could see how'd they get the crowd a rockin'.

[@annaboyle2738]

They were awesome!!!

[@frankmartinez4856]

Gave my German, recording album to my niece 😅very rare 😮

[@johngore7744]

Lend me your comb. By Carl Perkins.

[@IvesMarcelin]

C'était très country rock ❤ [ punk signifie fou ...et cette musique est issue du rock américain. Directement venu des titres Rock de lepoque de l'année 53...d'un style folk mélangé rythmé

[@occamsrazor458]

They got potential 😀

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

Dick Rowe of Decca didn't think so........

[@walterhoenig6569]

Amazing that their parents/ guardians let them go.

[@lazurm]

John was 21 or 22 and the others 19 or 20. Parents let them? Ha!

[@Jolgeable]

It's weird to see John on the left, Paul in the middle, George on the right of the stage. XD

[@ismaelsalvinoandradesalvin9705]

The Beatles espetacular, sensacional. The Beatles para sempre!

[@carlosavalosprado1017]

¡¡¡👍 que excelente trabajo de las guitarras con el primer tema que se llama "NO HAY NADA QUE SACUDA TANTO COMO LAS HOJAS DE LOS ARBOLES" y tambien los subsiguientes temas!!👍👍😎💥😎💫💥💫

[@stormytempest6521]

Hi, NOTHING SHAKING is the name of the song.

[@carlosavalosprado1017]

Thankyou dear friend. The " fab four" l like very much.

[@glass2467]

This is amazing!

[@euanthorburn8135]

♡

[@user-bu7jb4tj5s]

Я не слышал этих вещей ранее. А так... обыкновенная рок-группа, с гитарами и простеньким звучанием, ритм и весёлая танцевальная музыка, чтобы "оторваться"! Вообщем ничего, что могло послужить пониманию - это будущие идолы классики рок-энд- ролла! Отличная запись! Интересная история! События полувековой давности! Заря целого поколения поклонников великолепной "четвёрки"!

[@paulallen3557]

All well said, sir. Greetings from Kentucky!

[@user-bu7jb4tj5s]

​@@paulallen3557i am glad we are both fans of such music

[@armandgallanosa]

Early fab four with jenki presence and simple amplifiers setting the stage to change the music and pop world 🌎

[@Garry-vd1dg]

Most of these songs are on The Beatles live at the BBC volume one.

[@VideoByPatrick]

John, the front man for the Beatles.

[@user-bn5qo2gk5x]

4ever and ever . From 1963 .

[@lunarmodule6419]

Nice thx

[@daviddansereau1793]

Sweet ❤🎸

[@Sandyg1961]

With a little refinement, here and there, I could hear them on the AM.

[@2011littlejohn1]

They sound very authentic here also it must be Paul McCartney on bass and I think Ringo on drums. So I think we're hearing the beginnings of the roller coaster.

[@lars-fenin]

i think i read in lennons bio that the hamburg days were without ringo, but pete best on drums..

[@2011littlejohn1]

@@lars-fenin They did this recording at the Star club with Ringo after they had charted as it was part of an earlier contractual obligation.

[@lars-fenin]

@@2011littlejohn1 youre right.. ringo joined them in later 1962 in hamburg.. thought he was first choosen for their early decca recording/audition..

[@lucytupper69]

@@lars-fenin …and look how that turned out! 😂

[@rayhowe59]

no ringo did,nt join till they started recording,with george martin

[@joet840]

Good place to learn how to play in the pubs of the time. Can only get better as they played so much ,nearly every night. .They sound so amateurish here ,really early recording ,they were all still so young. You do anything long enough you get good at it.

[@neil2550]

Lend me your comb

[@Joe-bx4wn]

These guys have NO future

[@Garry-vd1dg]

Ringo was in the yellow submarine Beatles band by now when they were playing here in Germany.

[@riverraisin1]

They probably walked right thru the front door to perform at this club.

[@myearsloveit]

💃🤸‍♀️🕺🤸‍♂️💃

[@antoniopassos895]

It's hard to believe that 4 years later they would be recording Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby and other sophisticated music. It is clear to me that the Beatles phenomenon is the construction of "various people", especially George Martin.

[@joeyday1252]

Well, Martin was certainly important to the band but no other band he produced came close to the creative heights of the Beatles.

[@terryshatter833]

It's hard to believe bc it's not true. It's the official narrative that your spoon fed to believe

[@johnp515]

@@terryshatter833 Yawn

[@terryshatter833]

@@johnp515 Fart

[@MurarichSiberian]

Никто не трясся так, как Лиза на дереве 😂🎉🎉🎉

[@rmp7400]

John and Paul were primarily creative artists...eirking class boys living within post war ohase of a historically impressive English stage performace heritage They haplened to learn how to play music....but were never exclusively musicians

[@reliablebow]

The Frontline…..

[@MrLordwoodbine]

Mach schau!

[@TeleCaster66]

No way did these guys play those clean, precise tracks on the records.

[@michaelwills1926]

Exactly

[@TeleCaster66]

@@michaelwills1926 I've been playing for 42 years and while not studio quality, I'm no hack. I understand how this didn't happen.

[@petehealy9819]

Huh? Are you saying this isn't the Beatles? 🙄

[@TeleCaster66]

@@petehealy9819 No, this *is the Beatles. I'm talking about thier records produced by George Martin.

[@johnsummerhill8323]

​@@TeleCaster66 Studio recordings are always cleaner and more precise than live recordings.

[@petejones879]

Not heard this before

[@walshydpo]

Never heard them do that Ink Spots number. Your feet's too big.

[@georgewhitfield6154]

After this recording they greatly improved in a short period of time.

[@peternewman3487]

And George was underage and he was deported from Germany. Bad boy.

[@slouhend]

But it happened in 1960. This was recorded in Dec 1962.

[@vitom4170]

👍

[@stflaw]

"MACH SHAU!"

[@user-vm7wo6xn2d]

映像があればいいのになぁ

[@robertchew8167]

Ringo not yet in the band

[@vladimir5182]

Jonas Hreinsson is a liar showing photos of ringo

[@warren52nz]

The most common problem with band mixes... *_Don't drown out the vocals!!!_* George Martin fixed that. Absolutely LOVE the history though.

[@TheDivayenta]

Still a problem today at most concerts. Even on shows like The Voice!

[@warren52nz]

@@TheDivayenta Yes I agree. The sound guy needs to understand that *_everything_* in a song is about the vocals. Everything else is there to support them. Drowning them out with an egomaniac guitarist or drummer should disqualify them from mixing sound.

[@TheDivayenta]

@@warren52nz amen!

[@chrisst8922]

I think John said he thought they were at their best in 1960. I only like them up to about 1965.

[@AmpasaurusWrecks]

I understand the appeal of their early club sound, but you have to change, you can’t play the same forever.

[@bbb8997]

@@AmpasaurusWrecks Jerry Lee Lewis never really changed & Lennon kissed his feet & said no one, be it Beatles, rolling stones, or Dylan ever bested whole lotta shakin' going on !!!! I rest my case

[@coldlakealta4043]

I agree. I loved their music up until the time of the Maharishi and acid. Then they moved on with their genius, and I found more music that connected to my feet, not my brain. Guys like the Nashville Teens.

[@chrisst8922]

@@coldlakealta4043 The Hollies & Creedance Clearwater Revival

[@hw2508]

@@bbb8997 That's why Jerry Lee Lewis (God bless his soul, if he ever had one) had no relevant hits after the first couple of years. Yes, he was a force of nature on stage. I think it is good to evolve. doesn't mean the older stuff is bad, it is just different. I would not take John's statement too serious. He probably said it half as a joke and half serious. They were probably best as a live band in the early years, without thousands of screaming teens in the audience. But as song writers and as musicians with all the abilities they became better with time. The problem was, as individuals they evolved away from the Beatles.

[@stormytempest6521]

The Boys learning there Trade.

[@Paisly17]

This is how you become tight.

[@mixaliskokkinos1496]

Remember Pete Best!

[@slouhend]

Ringo on drums here. Best was sacked in Aug 1962, this is Dec 1962.

[@theseeingeye454]

" Your Feets Too Big "By Fats Waller.

[@wilmersnyder2502]

Didn't Pete Best play drums when they were in Germany?

[@paulallen3557]

Yes, all but the last gig in Hamburg, is my understanding.

[@ZelbeQahi]

Is this what they call Skiffle? Sounds more like rockabilly with trend lyrics?

[@TheWang33]

Is Pete Best on the drums?

[@jeffbosch1697]

No. It was recorded in Dec1962, Ringo joined in Aug 1962.

[@stormytempest6521]

​@@jeffbosch1697 Hi, nobody knows, ringo used to stand in for Mr Best Sometimes.

[@jeffbosch1697]

@@stormytempest6521 Hi In this case Pete would have had to stand in for Ringo, which never happened.

[@randalclarke5487]

@@stormytempest6521 the album I had said just that- that Ringo was standing in for Best, but apparently that's not correct 🤷‍♂️

[@bbb8997]

@@lazurm thank you, Mr Helper 🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@youiti2nz]

ベッキィさん頭被ってナイフ投げる映像はないんかあ？

[@ernestconnell8087]

George Martin said they weren’t particularly great performers, but they were witty.

[@johnp515]

He didn’t say that. He said they weren’t great songwriters yet

[@toddsmith6798]

Skiffel

[@vladimir5182]

It was not Ringo Starr on crew of Beatles in 1962.Drammer was Pete Best. Author, you are either deliberately deceiving or do not know the history of the Beatles. Jonas Hreinsson you're a liar showing photos of Ringo.

[@marciogiovanerosaaraujo1788]

Raiz.

[@malikabru]

The photos in costume date from this period? Astrid ?

[@tp3176]

1:12 who is this guy standing up playing the piano ?

[@tp3176]

also on 0:38 Rory Storm ?

[@adammarkowitz7944]

But they got better...much better

[@niguel4438]

Surely it was Pete Best in Germany not Ringo?

[@briteness]

This recording, from December, 1962, has Ringo.

[@niguel4438]

@@briteness was he in Hamburg though?

[@briteness]

@@niguel4438 In Mark Lewisohn's deeply-researched book Tune In, on page 796, he says all three sets recorded at the Star Club in December, 1962, had Ringo on drums.

[@TheDivayenta]

@@niguel4438 - from The Beatles’ Bible : “ Ringo met The Beatles in Hamburg in October 1960. At the time he was performing with Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, but stepped in on a number of occasions when Pete Best was unavailable. At the time there was a sense of solidarity among the British groups in Hamburg, and The Beatles got to know Starr well.”

[@johnsummerhill8323]

Ringo joined in August 1962 . Anything recorded after then would be him. I do recall him sitting in with them before that the odd time but for the most part, it was Pete Best up to that time

[@randyjordan5521]

If that's George on lead guitar, he would have been 18 or 19.

[@randyjordan5521]

@sydmccreath4554 I was just pointing out how talented George was by that young age.

[@user-mm2vq5vw2u]

Is this with Ringo or Pete Best?

[@rayhowe59]

pete best was in hamburg with the beatles all the time they were there, tony sheridon recorded my bonney, backed by the beatles , he worked with most of the british bands working in hamburg.

[@slouhend]

You still repeat the same. But this was recorded in Dec 1962 with Ringo on drums.

[@cirimaxg651]

Bad punk....!

[@newtonmccarthy9027]

Totally Punk

[@PlanetRockJesus]

Was that Pete Best, the inferior drummer?

[@olaclaesson8074]

This is Ringo playing. He joined August '62.

[@Rachels123]

You can tell thats not ringo on the drums

[@johnp515]

It is Ringo.

[@paulcasino1]

is that pete best-too loose on the rythm

[@slouhend]

Ringo here.