"Sam Leach was the pulse of the Merseybeat movement...What he did, everybody else copied."
(John Lennon)
On 18 February 2007, The Merseybeat Story announced the innaguration of the 'Merseybeat Hall of Fame'. The first inductee was Mr. Sam Leach, in recognition of his life-time work and services to Beatles and Merseybeat history. Sam has a rich history from his early promotions at the Tower Ballroom, his legendary club promotions at the Cassanova Club, the Iron Door Club and the Peppermint Lounge, to his John Lennon memorial concert at St. Georges Plateau, Liverpool.
Here's where it all began!
January 25, 1961
It was a damp and foggy night as I nervously approached Hambleton Hall, a miserable little dance hall on the ouskirts of Liverpool. I was tense because of 'Teddy Boys' were following me to the same little dive. They were putting the boot into cars, lamp-posts and the occasional cat. We were all going to see a new group called The Beatles, who had just returned from Hamburg. The hooligans were looking for someone to fight whilst I was looking for new bands to appear at the Cassanova Club which I'd just opened in Liverpool's city centre.
Inside the smelly, dank hovel, I stumbled around blindly trying to adjust my eyes which were burning with the pungent aroma of cigarette smoke and stale sweat, broken coke bottles crunching underfoot, barely able to breath. A fight between rival gangs broke out at the back of the hall. A drunken lout bumped into me and asked "Do you wanna fight lar?" The question was rhetorical but I managed to direct him to where the fighting was taking place. By this time I was pretty fed up and quite frankly absolutely terrified. I was about to leave when the sound of the "William Tell Overture" almost burst my eardrums.
Wondering why classical music was being wasted on this lot, I hesitated and turned towards the puny little stage. Bob Wooler's immaculate voice announced excitedly "It's The Beatles" and the curtains fell apart. Well, to be truthful, they were decomposing anyway! Amazed, I watched spellbound as five black leather clad dervishes bounced into my life. John, looking like a big Ted himself, kicked off with 'Slow Down'. Then Paul bounced up to the mic and tore into 'Rip It Up', a rather appropriate choice as by now some of the gangs were ripping up anything they could lay their hands on. Then George shuffled shyly to the fore and did a comic version of 'I'm Henry The Eighth I Am'. Stuart, back half turned to the audience, mumbled 'Wooden Heart'. Without ever looking at the screaming girls, Pete pulled the mic towards him and did a creditable version of 'Matchbox'.
By this time I was totally hooked...a prisoner of The Beatles. Their rich, wild sound seemed to pulse right through my body, reverberating around the room. By now everyone was watching in total awe. Even the gangs had declared a truce and stood mesmerized. Immediately after the show finished, I followed them into their dressing room, which in reality was a ladies toilet converted for the night. Excitedly waving my bookings diary, I told John and Paul "One day lads, you're going to be as big as Elvis." John looked at me as though I was insane and muttered to Paul "We've got a right nutter here Paul". Paul, knowing who I was, smiled and said "Yes...but he's got a club and work for us."
I gave them twelve bookings there and then and, for me, this began a two year roller coaster ride through Rock 'n' Roll history. They made their debut for me at the Cassavona Club on February 9, 1961. Three years later, February 9, 1964, they were on The Ed Sullivan Show. Pretty damn quick rise to fame I would say...right??
Since then, a lot of water has gone under the proverbial bridge and many of my old friends have shuffled off this mortal coil. But they, and those who have survived, left a rich legacy of music that will still be sung by youthful voices underneath hotel staircases at Beatlefest's for 1,000 years.
