Author seeks Exeter Beatles fans

A Manchester author is trying to track down fans of The Beatles who saw any of the Fab Four's appearances at the ABC cinema in Exeter.

The shows - in March and October 1963 and again in October 1964 - took place as Beatlemania was gripping the world.

Richard Houghton is hoping to trace members of the audience from any of those nights in 1963 and 1964 to share their memories of seeing John, Paul, George and Ringo for what he is terming a 'people's history' of the group.

Richard said: 'There have been lots of books about The Beatles but I'm trying to tell the story of their shows from the point of view of the audience.  Britain was a very different place then to what it is now and I'm hoping to capture the memories of the people who were probably teenagers then and who are probably grandparents now so that their recollections can be captured for all time.’

Richard is the author of You Had To Be There:  The Rolling Stones Live 1962 - 69, which tells the story of the Stones early concerts in the words of their fans.  Now he is looking to repeat the exercise with his book about The Beatles.

Richard said:  'The Beatles and the Stones between them defined what it was like to be a teenager in 1960s Britain and I'm really keen to hear people's memories of seeing The Beatles.  I don't want to hear just about what John and Paul wore that night and the songs they played but how old people were, who they went with, what their parents thought about it and whether they had to go to school or to work the next day.  I’m also interested to know what the audience reaction was like, as this show took place just as the world was going Beatle mad.'

The Beatles went on to top the UK charts 17 times in the 1960s. 

Richard said:  ‘I am hoping some readers will have been there on one of those nights and can help me paint a picture of what the Fab Four were like as a live act at the height of their fame.’

Richard, who is 55, saw The Beatles in 1965 when his mum took him to see their Christmas Show at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.  He was four years old and only remembers going to see a department store Santa immediately beforehand.

Richard said:  ‘I hope there are some memories of those Exeter shows that are clearer than my Beatle memories.’

You can share your Beatle memories with Richard at thebeatlesinthe60s@gmail.com or by writing to him at 7 Hartley Road, Manchester, M21 9NG.

You Had To Be There:  The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69 is available from Amazon or via www.gottahavebooks.co.uk