This Day in Beatle History

February 9

1961 (Feb 9) - First Cavern Club Appearance as 'The Beatles'

The Beatles appeared at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, for the very first time (as The Beatles), they would go on to make a total of 292 other appearances at the Club. They were paid £5 for this luchtime appearance and George Harrison was nearly denied admission to play because he was wearing jeans.

1964 (Feb 9) - US Live TV Debut on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'

The Beatles made their US live debut on CBS-TV’s ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’; they performed five songs including their current No.1 ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’. Never before had so many viewers tuned-in to a live television program, which with 73 million viewers, was three-fourths of the total adult audience in the United States.The show had received over 50,000 applications for the 728 seats in the TV studio. During the day they record a segement for the Sullivan show that will air on February 23.

1967 (Feb 9) - Videos For 'Penny Lane' & 'Strawberry Fields Forever' First Shown

The film for the latest Beatles single ‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ was shown on BBC-TV’s Top Of The Pops.  It was the first Beatles single not to make No.1 in the UK since 1963, held off the top by Engelbert Humperdinck’s ‘Release Me.’

1972 (Feb 9) - Wings Plays First Gig of UK College Tour

Paul McCartney’s Wings played the first night of a UK College tour in Nottingham. The group arrived unannounced asking social secretaries if they would like them to perform that evening. The band’s intended first stop on the tour, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, refused to allow them to play so they drove on to Nottingham. Admission was 40p, British pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz was the opening act for the tour.

1976 (Feb 9) - 'Jet' Enters the Pop Charts

Paul McCartney and Wings ‘Jet’ enters the pop charts.

1982 (Feb 9) - George Presents UNICEF over 9 Million

George Harrison presented UNICEF with a cheque for $9 million (£5.3 million), ten years after the fundraising The Concert For Bangladesh.

1993 (Feb 9) - Bill Grundy Dies. First Presented 'The Beatles' on TV

British broadcaster Bill Grundy died of a heart attack aged 69. He conducted the famous Sex Pistols interview on Thames Television on December 1, 1976; when Grundy provoked the band into using obscenities on live TV. The broadcast wrecked Grundy’s television career. He was also the first television presenter to present The Beatles on Granada Television on October 17, 1962.

2009 (Feb 9) - Ringo Gets Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Ringo Starr became the 2,401st person to be added to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the attraction. The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998.

2014 (Feb 9) - 'The Beatles: The Night That Changed America" Airs

The Beatles: The Night That Changed America’ airs on CBS exactly 50 years afer the group first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. The show features performances by Paul and Ringo, and covers by Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl and Eurythmics.

February 10

1967 (Feb 10) - Orchestral Buildup For 'A Day In The Life' Recorded

The Beatles recorded the orchestral build-up for the middle and end of ‘A Day in the Life’. At the Beatles’ request, the orchestra members arrived in full evening dress along with novelty items. One violinist wore a red clown’s nose, while another, a fake gorilla’s paw on his bow hand. Others were wearing funny hats and other assorted novelties. The recording was filmed for a possible ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ television special which was ultimately abandoned. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mike Nesmith from The Monkees and Donovan also attended the session.

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