The Beatles: Now and Then

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/11/2023 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The world has been abuzz with what has been dubbed the final song from The Beatles. Now and Then began as a demo by John Lennon recorded on cassette tape in 1977. It was considered for The Beatles’ Anthology project in 1995, but was passed over at that time for Free As a Bird and Real Love – two songs I really enjoyed.

I also like the haunting and nostalgic Now and Then. As a fan of The Beatles who was born at the tail end of Beatlemania, I never had the chance to see the Fab Four live. Fortunately, though, there are many places where one can take a step back in time into the magical mystery world of the band.

In September 2019, I travelled to Hamburg, Germany for the Reeperbahn Music Festival. On August 17, 1960, a five-piece band from Liverpool called The Beatles – with Pete Best on drums and Stuart Sutcliffe on bass – arrived in the German port city for a marathon 48-night run at the Indra Club. It’s said this is the place where they “cut their teeth” at live performance, by playing up to five hours a day, six days per week.

Today, the Indra Musikclub is still an active music venue and a magnet for tourists. I had some time on my hands one evening so set out to see if I could find it. I had no idea where it was, and brought no map to guide me. But, believe it or not, within 15 minutes, I was drawn right to it – even thought it was located on a random side street a few blocks off the Reeperbahn.

Right on the Reeperbahn is Beatles-Platz, another place I found accidentally. Designed as a circle to resemble a record, the plaza contains five life-sized, silhouette statues poised with instruments. Sitting there, taking in the scene, you can almost hear the sounds of music wafting through the air.

While The Beatles may have become seasoned musicians in Germany, their story began in England. The port city of Liverpool with its sprawling shipyards, massive warehouses, and dingy industrial zones is where all four members of The Beatles were born and raised.

On July 6, 1957, 15-year-old Paul McCartney first met 16-year-old John Lennon – a chance meeting that would change the course of rock and roll. The story goes that John was performing at a garden party at St. Peter’s Church with his skiffle band The Quarrymen, and Paul was invited to the show by a mutual pal. The rest is musical history.

While I’ve yet to travel to Liverpool, there are so many cool things to see and do there. Such as visiting the bus shelter on Penny Lane that inspired Paul’s song, and stopping by Strawberry Field, the children’s home that left a deep impression on John. Today you can take guided tours of the homes in which both John and Paul grew up, stroll by Ringo’s former family residence, or spend the night in George Harrison’s house, which has since been turned into an Airbnb property.

The Beatles Story is the world’s largest permanent museum dedicated to the band. Located on Liverpool’s historical Royal Albert Dock, it houses a replica of the original Cavern Club – the place where The Beatles played regular shows, and attracted their first super-fans. It’s also where they were ‘discovered’ in 1961 by Brian Epstein, the manager who guided them to international stardom.

MORE TO COME: My next Travelations column will reveal other destinations of interest to fans of The Beatles, including another magnificent place that I again found ‘accidentally’…