Adrian Barber
Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:33 am
I’ve been digging into Adrian Barber. This is what I've been able to put together …
Born: Ilkley, Yorkshire on 13th November 1938 (so if he is still alive then is next birthday will be his 75th)
Last known living on the island of Hawaii
As I understand it the reason why he happened to be in Liverpool at time was he was undergoing some sort land-based apprentice-style training course that was intended to equip him for a working life on the high seas with the merchant navy. After ‘jumping ship’ so to speak he rented a flat for a while in Falkner Square in the Canning district of Liverpool which from time-to-time he would share with an assortment of fellow occupants.
He was eventually to meet up with one Brian Casser that led to the formation of ‘Cass and the Cassanovas’. The two were quickly joined by the two Johnnies - Hutchinson (on drums), Gustafson (on bass). The then four-piece group began to play regularly at the subterranean Corinthian Club just off Seel Street. With the departure of Brian Casser to the apparent greener fields of London, the remaining three members of the group become known to one-and-all on the Liverpool club circuit of the time as the BIG THREE.
With the aid of Google I’ve tracked down an image of Cass and the Cassanovas on stage at god only knows where …
From left to right … Adrian Barber, Brian Casser, Johnny Hutchinson and Johnny Gustafson
While I’m no guitar buff, I’m led to believe the instrument Johnny Gustafson can be seen holding is a Hoyer Acoustic that Adrian Barber adapted as an electric four string bass. Such was Adrian Barber’s apparent prowess with anything electrical that there is a story within the pages of “How I Didn’t Become A Beatle” by Brian J Hudson, who for a time was Adrian Barber’s Falkner Square flatmate. He remembers the inside of the flat resembling an electrical workshop at times with wires, speakers, cabinets and other such paraphernalia littered everywhere.
This image is of the Big Three taken following the exit of Brian Casser …
From left to right … Adrian Barber, Johnny Hutchinson and Johnny Gustafson
The story goes that those creamy coloured suits that the group can be seen wearing were prone to get absolutely filthy and scruffy looking. So much so, that when they signed up with Brian Epstein he immediately outfitted them in smarter Beno Dorn suits, white shirts and ties.
It’s well documented that Adrian Barber got out-voted 2-to-1 when the Big Three gave up their independence and signed with the Epstein organisation. The final straw coming with the introduction of Brian Griffiths (at the insistence of Epstein) to supposedly fulfil the Star Club’s minimum contractual requirement for a quartet. Following the group’s Hamburg stint Adrian Barber stayed on at the Star Club and became closely involved with the operation of the then newly formed Star Club Record Label.
While playing at the Star Club it was Joey Dee of Joey Dee and the Starliters fame who recognised Adrian Barber’s talents as a budding sound engineer. So next stop was the Peppermint Lounge on New York’s West 45th Street, spiritual home of Joey Dee and the Starliters, where he was given the task of beefing up the sound system.
Enter Chris Huston, former member of the Undertakers, who was making a name for himself Stateside as a recording engineer / producer. Both he and Adrian Barber worked together with the Rascals – who by the way were very closely associated with Joey Dee and the Starliters – on Atlantic Records. The Rascals even went as far to compose an instrumental in celebration of Adrian Barber’s birthday that appeared on their 1969 Freedom Suite album under the not too surprising title of ‘Adrian’s Birthday’.
1973 saw Adrian Barber working with Aerosmith, he was especially involved with the recording of ‘Dream On’. This is an audio only YouTube clip of Adrian Barber talking about making of that recording …
It is my information Adrian Barber is currently living out his years on the island of Hawaii. This photograph of him [on the left] and Chris Huston was taken in 1998 …
Born: Ilkley, Yorkshire on 13th November 1938 (so if he is still alive then is next birthday will be his 75th)
Last known living on the island of Hawaii
As I understand it the reason why he happened to be in Liverpool at time was he was undergoing some sort land-based apprentice-style training course that was intended to equip him for a working life on the high seas with the merchant navy. After ‘jumping ship’ so to speak he rented a flat for a while in Falkner Square in the Canning district of Liverpool which from time-to-time he would share with an assortment of fellow occupants.
He was eventually to meet up with one Brian Casser that led to the formation of ‘Cass and the Cassanovas’. The two were quickly joined by the two Johnnies - Hutchinson (on drums), Gustafson (on bass). The then four-piece group began to play regularly at the subterranean Corinthian Club just off Seel Street. With the departure of Brian Casser to the apparent greener fields of London, the remaining three members of the group become known to one-and-all on the Liverpool club circuit of the time as the BIG THREE.
With the aid of Google I’ve tracked down an image of Cass and the Cassanovas on stage at god only knows where …
From left to right … Adrian Barber, Brian Casser, Johnny Hutchinson and Johnny Gustafson
While I’m no guitar buff, I’m led to believe the instrument Johnny Gustafson can be seen holding is a Hoyer Acoustic that Adrian Barber adapted as an electric four string bass. Such was Adrian Barber’s apparent prowess with anything electrical that there is a story within the pages of “How I Didn’t Become A Beatle” by Brian J Hudson, who for a time was Adrian Barber’s Falkner Square flatmate. He remembers the inside of the flat resembling an electrical workshop at times with wires, speakers, cabinets and other such paraphernalia littered everywhere.
This image is of the Big Three taken following the exit of Brian Casser …
From left to right … Adrian Barber, Johnny Hutchinson and Johnny Gustafson
The story goes that those creamy coloured suits that the group can be seen wearing were prone to get absolutely filthy and scruffy looking. So much so, that when they signed up with Brian Epstein he immediately outfitted them in smarter Beno Dorn suits, white shirts and ties.
It’s well documented that Adrian Barber got out-voted 2-to-1 when the Big Three gave up their independence and signed with the Epstein organisation. The final straw coming with the introduction of Brian Griffiths (at the insistence of Epstein) to supposedly fulfil the Star Club’s minimum contractual requirement for a quartet. Following the group’s Hamburg stint Adrian Barber stayed on at the Star Club and became closely involved with the operation of the then newly formed Star Club Record Label.
While playing at the Star Club it was Joey Dee of Joey Dee and the Starliters fame who recognised Adrian Barber’s talents as a budding sound engineer. So next stop was the Peppermint Lounge on New York’s West 45th Street, spiritual home of Joey Dee and the Starliters, where he was given the task of beefing up the sound system.
Enter Chris Huston, former member of the Undertakers, who was making a name for himself Stateside as a recording engineer / producer. Both he and Adrian Barber worked together with the Rascals – who by the way were very closely associated with Joey Dee and the Starliters – on Atlantic Records. The Rascals even went as far to compose an instrumental in celebration of Adrian Barber’s birthday that appeared on their 1969 Freedom Suite album under the not too surprising title of ‘Adrian’s Birthday’.
1973 saw Adrian Barber working with Aerosmith, he was especially involved with the recording of ‘Dream On’. This is an audio only YouTube clip of Adrian Barber talking about making of that recording …
It is my information Adrian Barber is currently living out his years on the island of Hawaii. This photograph of him [on the left] and Chris Huston was taken in 1998 …