Frank McCormick was a young teen when The Quarry Men performed near where he lived at the Woolton Parish Church on July 6, 1957. This amateur performance, where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met, would mark the beginning of a relationship of what was to become The Beatles. Frank recalls

"In 1957 I was still a three years away from leaving De la Salle Grammar School in neighbouring Gillmoss, a ten minute walk from where I lived. I left in June 1960 aged 15, one of the two youngest in my year."

Frank grew up in Norris Green, a community only few miles from central Liverpool and within a short bus ride of many Liverpool clubs where music history was made. As a young man of 16 he would have seen a street scape resembling that in the photo above which reminds us of the activity and the look of these times. While he would later move to Warwickshire in 1976, fortunately for us, the Merseybeat seed had been sown allowing for the fascinating story that he has penned for this Iron Door Club site.

The community of Norris Green was nearly 50 years younger when Frank first entered the cellar clubs and as such was faced with different challenges that it faces today. The passage of time has changed the infra-structure and social conditions as with any community. The photographs offered here are done so with a view to enriching the readers' understanding of the context in which Frank's story took place.

Once the stage had been set for the Merseybeat boom, music enthusiasts were on the hunt for the new sound. With a "pub on every corner" and many a basement warehouse available there were a growing number of venues to wet the insatiable appetite of many a young teen looking for "the beat." Frank McCormick can certainly attest to this time of discovery as he offers us memories of his own personal journey in his pursuit of the music of the 1960s. He writes,

"Late in 1961, aged 17, I first saw the Beatles at the Civil Service Club in Lower Castle Street (a narrow street off Water Street and parallel to Castle Street). In those days we referred to it colloquially as 'Back Castle Street.' In this below ground venue there was a bar room, a cardschool room, snooker room, and the main function room which had tables and chairs surrounding a dance area, and small dais in one corner for "the groups." In passing, the term 'band' wasn't used then, except maybe for jazz bands which were on the way out more or less. That's how I met my wife. I borrowed her 'Civvy Club' membership card - as I wasn't a Civil servant, but worked for the City Council in the offices at Liverpool Airport."

One of many interesting observations made by Frank in his story is that the Beatles in the early days could be seen in a number of venues in Liverpool. In addition to giving The Beatles considerable exposure I am sure that the owners of the clubs welcomed the business. We are certainly aware that many groups played multiple venues in the same evening. McCormick comments,

"I don't think there was a strong pecking order for billing in those early days. That came in as they each got more established with early recordings etc."

With the growth of the Beatles' popularity club owners began to firm up arrangements with groups that had a large following for obvious financial reasons. The Cavern would become a high profile club as a result of its arrangements with The Beatles and would offer lunchtime performances to capitalize on popularity. These noon gigs would completely change the fabric movements in the City and interrupted some businesses more than they cared to know. In thinking of the Cavern sessions Frank recalls,

"Then the Beatles moved on to settle in The Cavern, lunchtimes and evenings. I went with the lads regularly to see them (and others) there on a Wednesday night. The girlfriends, who worked in the Tax Office in the Liver Buildings, sneaked out early to see them there at lunchtimes and crept back into work late."

McCormick encountered the Beatles in these clubs frequently in the early days but would also have occasion to meet them through his employment at work. He kindly offered the following comment and we would definitely like to take him up on his offer.

"Working at Liverpool Airport, I chatted to the Beatles quite a few times after that on their early trips in and out. But that's for another occasion..."

"Gluttons for punishment we went back the next night - Monday, March 13 as the Beatles were playing again. After our usual under-age visit to the pub beforehand, we paid our money and went inside the Iron Door again."

Frank, whilst waxing wonderfully about the Clubs, offers additional insight into the life and times of all Liverpudlians as he reminds us of the important role played by public transport and the manner in which businesses and the transit system worked together.

"As you probably know, because everyone at that time relied heavily on public transport, performances at most places started early evening - 7:30pm onwards and finished by 10:30-11:00pm at latest. The exception was an all-nighter or where special late buses were laid on - say for Tower Ballroom at New Brighton shows with big names like Jerry Lee Lewis. I will always remember that silver 14 bus. The handful of them used by Liverpool City Transport stood out because the main fleet was painted what we called "Corporation Green".

McCormick offers us a snapshot of the life of a musician in his observations about The Beatles at the Iron Door. He opens a window into the world of the everyday events of the group that would rock cellars all around the world. He addresses the ordinary, the pride and the showmanship that in sipte of their fame would typify so much of their future.

"Being a Monday, at 8:30 pm the Iron Door was practically deserted, the complete opposite to our previous visit 48 hours before. You couldn't even while away the time there by buying a pint, as those clubs never sold alcohol, only soft drinks and tea/coffee usually.

Anyway, eventually the Beatles set up their gear on the small 'stage' raised only a few inches off the floor. There were still no more than a dozen or so paying customers and a handful of club staff milling about aimlessly. The performers, still in their leathers, obviously waiting for the place to fill up a bit, sat on their amps facing each other and chatted, tuned up, practised little bits, retuned, smoked a few ciggies and so on. This went on for ages and the place was still empty.

As we leaned against a brick pillar, bored stiff and by now fed up with the waiting, I remarked quietly to one of my mates that we hadn't each paid "two bob to watch them sitting on their arses". Obviously McCartney overheard this because he looked over at us rather sheepishly, then after a short pause he stood up and told the others that they had better make a start. And they did. All credit to them, they then delivered a belting session, for what must have been one of their smallest ever audiences."

Frank reflects upon the slowness with regard to the proceedings on Monday March 13, 1961 and offers the following by way of explanation.

"As you know, a group might play two or three different venues on the same night, so scoot off to be somewhere else later on. That might explain my memory of the Beatles setting up and performing first - I can't actually remember any other acts lined up on the night although your timeline lists a couple of well-known ones. If they shot off somewhere else to earn a bit more dosh then they obviously wouldn't have "topped the bill" at the Iron door on a Monday night, but be the late act somewhere else maybe."

A review of the Beatles' schedule on March 12 and 13, 1961 offers an explanation for the observations made by McCormick on the evening of March 13th. After playing the all-nighter on March 11th, the Beatles played the Casbah Coffee Club and then the Cassanova Club on the 12th while Frank was resting up. On Monday the 13th the Beatles played at the Cavern for a lunchtime session before playing at the Iron Door before Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes.

Frank's comments are well taken and insightful. That The Beatles were able to play at all speaks to their work ethic, their enthusiasm and professionalism. It isn't any wonder that they would be the "toppermost of the poppermost."