Mersey Murder Mysteries Collection

Chapter 6

The Cavern Club in the spring of 1961 was, to use the idiom of the day, "really rocking". A raucous crowd of teenagers was dancing, screaming and in some cases, eating a typical Cavern lunch of sandwiches, soft drinks, (the club had no liquor licence), or maybe tea or coffee. Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a popular local group of the day, completed their set and the crowded club, built in a converted, disused warehouse, filled with the sound of the clapping and cheering of happy and almost delirious youth. The drummer of the band, one Ringo Starr, would later rise to worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, but their days of taking the music world by storm still lay a little way in the future. For now, he grinned at the applause, as did the other members of the group, who reveled in the ovation they received from the appreciative young audience. Like the Beatles, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes would later be signed by the iconic musical entrepreneur, Brian Epstein, without, sadly, achieving the fame of Liverpool"s most marketable asset of the sixties, but for now, they were content to be one of the most popular groups on the ever growing local music scene. At the time, "beat" music and rock "n roll was only allowed in The Cavern Club during their lunchtime sessions, the club being a "Skiffle Club" where only a smattering of jazz would be allowed to deviate from the norm. That would all change very soon thanks to the burgeoning sound of the sixties that would emanate from the streets of the great seaport.

Holding both arms out to his sides and lowering his palms in a request for quiet from the gathered throng of teenagers, Rory Storm smiled and spoke in a voice loud enough to be heard over the general hubbub of the club.

“Thanks, everyone. It"s great to be appreciated. It"s time for us to take a break, but I know you"re gonna love the next group who"re about to step up here for you. It"s their first time here at the Cavern, so let"s all give a real big Cavern welcome to Brendan Kane and the Planets!”

Brendan Kane and the Planets!The audience cheered and clapped and as the sound rose until it seemed to bounce back from the brick walls of the club, Rory turned to his left and beckoned to the waiting group, positioned off stage, waiting for the moment to make their debut.

“Come on, Brendan, fellas,” Rory shouted and the debutantes virtually ran onto the stage to yet more cheers from the throng of eager youth, always happy to hear and appreciate the latest groups to hit the local music scene. Comprising Brendan himself, the group"s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, he was followed onto the compact Cavern stage by lead guitarist Mickey Doyle, drummer Phil Oxley and Mickey"s younger brother Ronnie on bass. Without preamble the group launched into the first of the two numbers they would perform that day, their own arrangement of Chuck Berry"s classic hit, Roll Over Beethoven. Within seconds of them beginning the club was rocking to the sound of the new group on the scene and Brendan Kane"s voice, powerful and resonant, had the audience enraptured.

Roll Over Beethoven.“Wow, that boy can sing!” “Fab” and other superlatives were soon being exchanged by the young listeners whose discerning ears were fast becoming attuned to recognition of those groups or singers who had the right musical sound and most importantly, voices that could make them stand out from the crowd in a rapidly expanding local music scene. As the last strains of the music died away at the end of their performance, the watching audience spontaneously burst into a rousing chorus of applause, whistles, and cheers, and Brendan looked hopefully towards the side of the stage, where the club"s resident D.J, knowing a good thing when he saw, (and heard) it, held one finger up, signaling that the group could perform one more song, that being double what they"d expected to play that day.

Brendan quickly mouthed “Coming home” to the group members and Mickey Doyle"s fingers began to pick out the opening melody of a song he and Brendan had written together. With a resonating beat and a "catchy" guitar melody running through the song, any risk the group had taken in performing their own composition rather than one of the standards of the day soon evaporated as the audience foot-tapped and jigged their way through the new song, which the group was performing in public for the first time.

“That was great,” said the club"s D.J as the group left the stage to yet more rapturous applause. “You lads have a really good sound. I want you to come back again, and soon.”

“That"ll be terrific,” Brendan replied, a beaming smile on his face. “How soon?”

“How"re you fixed for next week?”

“Well, we"re at The Iron Door on Tuesday.”

“What about Thursday lunchtime?”

Brendan quickly looked questioningly at the other members of the group. He knew they"d have to arrange time off work or simply absent themselves from their jobs if they were to fulfill the engagement, but each one unhesitatingly nodded their agreement.

“Okay, we"ll be here,” he replied.

After staying at the club long enough to smoke a couple of cigarettes each and drink a coffee or a Coca-Cola, Brendan and the Planets made their way through the smoke-laden atmosphere and the happy crowd, towards the exit, accompanied by much back slapping and complimentary comments from a number of the youngsters who"d obviously enjoyed their performance. Perhaps, thought Brendan as the group loaded their gear into the old Bedford van they regularly borrowed from Phil Oxley"s father, we might just have a decent shot of making something of the music business. Phil drove carefully, not wanting to damage his precious drum kit or the others" guitars and equipment and one by one, dropped the group members off at their homes, or, in Brendan"s case, outside the bookshop where he worked. Mr. Mason, the shop owner, didn"t mind giving Brendan time off to attend his gigs, as, being forward-thinking, he realized that many of the younger crowd who knew Brendan were already visiting his shop regularly and he"d cleverly begun to stock a wide range of products, magazines and American comics that ensured a steady turnover from the new branch of his clientele. Maybe, he thought, I ought to start stocking a few records, just in case.

Perhapswe might just have a decent shot of making something of the music business.MaybeI ought to start stocking a few records, just in case.Mr. Mason cheerfully welcomed Brendan back to work, where the young man soon managed to lose himself in daydreams of future stardom as he went about the rest of his day"s work.