Casbah Coffee Club facts for kids
The Casbah Coffee Club, often just called the Casbah Club, was a cool music spot in Liverpool, England. It was open from 1959 to 1962. Mona Best, who was the mother of Pete Best (an early drummer for The Beatles), started the club. It was in the cellar of her family home!
Mona wanted a special club just for her sons, Pete and Rory, and their friends. They could meet there and listen to the popular music of the time. She got the idea after seeing a TV show about another coffee bar in London where new singers were found.
The Quarrymen—which included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ken Brown—came to the club to book their first show. Mona said yes, but first, they all had to help her finish painting the club! The four boys helped paint spiders, dragons, rainbows, and stars on the walls. Cynthia Powell, who later married John Lennon, even painted a picture of John on the wall. You can still see it today!
The Quarrymen often played at the Casbah. Other places, like The Cavern Club, only allowed jazz music back then. The cellar, with its original decorations, is still there today.
In 2006, the Casbah Club was given a special "Grade II listed building" status. This means it's an important historical place. It also got a blue plaque, which is a sign that marks famous buildings. Now, it's a tourist attraction in Liverpool, just like the old homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
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The Casbah Club Story
Mona Best and her family moved back to Liverpool in 1945. In 1954, they found a big Victorian house at 8 Hayman's Green. This house was different from others in Liverpool. It had 15 bedrooms and a large garden. The cellar, which was used for storing coal, would soon become a famous music club.
Starting the Club
Mona decided to open the Casbah Club on 29 August 1959. It was in her cellar and was a place for young people to enjoy popular music. Unlike other clubs, like The Cavern Club, the Casbah played rock and roll. Mona charged a small yearly fee (about two shillings and sixpence) for membership. This was to keep out any troublemakers.
She served soft drinks, snacks, cakes, and coffee from a special machine. No other club had one like it! Music was played on a small record player.
Mona had planned for a band called the Les Stewart Quartet to play on opening night. But they canceled because two members had a fight. George Harrison said he knew two friends in a band called The Quarrymen who could play instead.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison went to the club to arrange the show. Mona agreed, but she needed help finishing the painting. All four boys grabbed brushes and helped paint the walls with spiders, dragons, rainbows, and stars. John Lennon was a bit short-sighted and accidentally used the wrong type of paint, which took a long time to dry! Cynthia Powell, who later married John, painted a picture of him on the wall. It's still there!
Early Performances and Growth
The Quarrymen played seven Saturday night shows at the Casbah. Their first show was on 29 August 1959. Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Ken Brown played, but they didn't have a drummer. They only had one microphone connected to the club's small sound system.
About 300 teenagers came to the opening night. It got very hot because there was no air conditioning and everyone was dancing! After the first night's success, Mona gave The Quarrymen a regular spot. She paid the group £3 a night. Every Saturday, long lines formed outside the club. Mona also charged one shilling (a small fee) for admission on top of the yearly membership.
Later, Lennon convinced Mona to let a young guitar player named Harry play a short set before The Quarrymen. This was mostly so they could use Harry's powerful 40-Watt amplifier!
New Bands and Changes
Pete Best, Mona's son, wanted to be in a band too. So, Mona bought him a drum kit. Pete then started his own band called The Black Jacks. They also played at the Casbah. Chas Newby and Ken Brown joined The Black Jacks after Ken left The Quarrymen.
Ken Brown left The Quarrymen after a big argument. One Saturday, Ken had the flu, so Mona told him to rest upstairs. When Mona went to pay the band, the other Quarrymen wanted Ken's money to be split among them since he hadn't played. Mona refused, so The Quarrymen got angry and stopped playing there.
Other famous artists and groups played at the Casbah too. These included Cilla Black, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, The Searchers, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. The Black Jacks became the main band at the Casbah, but The Quarrymen still visited and sometimes played there.
It was at the Casbah Club that John Lennon and Paul McCartney convinced Stuart Sutcliffe to buy a special bass guitar. He bought it with money he won from an art show. Even though the club had over a thousand members, Mona closed it on 24 June 1962. The Beatles were the last group to perform there.
Heritage Status
In 2006, the Casbah Club's cellar was given a special "Grade II listed building" status. This means it's protected because of its history. It also received a blue plaque. This happened after English Heritage suggested it.
Today, the Casbah Club is a tourist attraction in Liverpool. You can visit it along with Paul McCartney's and John Lennon's old homes. The club is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the center of Liverpool. Only groups who book ahead are allowed to visit.
Paul McCartney once said, "I think it's a good idea to let people know about the Casbah. They know about The Cavern, but the Casbah was the place where all that started. We helped paint it and stuff. We looked upon it as our personal club."
Bob Hawkins from English Heritage said, "The Casbah Club rooms are very important because they show how The Beatles formed and became popular. The club is still in amazing condition since it closed in 1962. You can still see the wall and ceiling paintings by the original band members, along with old musical equipment and chairs. We don't know of any other place like it in Liverpool or anywhere else!"
See also
In Spanish: The Casbah Coffee Club para niños
