Beatles City

Linda McCartney discovered photography almost by accident, accompanying a friend to a class in Arizona that would inspire a lifelong passion.

She met her husband, who we all know is the Beatle Paul McCartney, while on a photographic assignment and spent their relationship capturing their lives together.

An exhibition of her work opened at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool this weekend so we’re launching this new series of the podcast from the show.

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Liverpool radio presenter and comedian Pete Price can fondly remember the rise of The Beatles in the city and was even responsible for a protest outside the Cavern when Pete Best was sacked from the band.


He also remembers the anger felt by music fans in the Cavern when The Beatles became international stars. Fans wanted to keep them the Cavern’s little secret.


Presenters: Ellen Kirwin & Laura Davis For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Helen Anderson studied at Liverpool College of Art at the same time as John Lennon and his future wife Cynthia Powell - and counted them both as friends for the rest of their lives.


She was lucky enough to watch John, Paul and George rehearse in a room at the art school.


And when Lennon wanted some new clothes, he would often sketch them for her and ask her to make them.


Presenters: Ellen Kirwin & Laura Davis For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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July 6, 1967 is etched in musical history as the day John Lennon was introduced to Paul McCartney by their mutual friend Ivan Vaughan.
The moment of their meeting would have gone unremembered had it not been the beginning of one of the world’s greatest musical partnerships.


This week we go to St Peter’s Church Hall to meet two women who were both there that day - Pam Cottrell and Jennie Lovegrove.


Presenters: Laura Davis and Ellen Kirwin. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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From Eleanor Rigby to Hamburg-era John Lennon, there are many statues here in Liverpool that are inspired by The Beatles and their songs - including quite a few that even most Scousers may not know.
This week, we take a walk along Mathew Street and the Cavern Quarter with tour guide Charlotte Martin to discover the fascinating stories behind them.
Presenters: Ellen Kirwin and Laura Davis For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Our guest this week has forgotten more encounters with fame than most people have ever had.
Anton Mullan was a rising star of Liverpool’s music scene in the 1960s with his band The Trilogy - and even signed a contract with EMI - but his heavy drinking got in the way of his success.
Now recovered, he has had a fascinating career in television and the music industry - all helped along by a wise piece of advice given to him by John Lennon.
Presenters: Ellen Kirwin and Laura Davis For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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We’re journeying out of Liverpool for this week’s episode - to Abbey Road Studios - to speak to the son of legendary Beatles producer George Martin.


As well as being a hugely successful music producer in his own right, Giles Martin worked with his dad on the Love album for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name and has since remastered a number of Beatles albums, including the pioneering 1967 record Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.


A new Dolby Atmos version of the music is being launched here in Liverpool later this week - giving fans an immersive experience that aims to sound as though the band is playing live in the space.


Presenter: Laura Davis


With thanks to Tate Liverpool, Apple and Abbey Road for arranging the interview. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Liverpool is famous all around the world as the birthplace of The Beatles - but it’s something the city hasn’t always taken advantage of.


While there are plenty of places where fans can indulge their passion for the band, there is plenty more the city could be doing to benefit from the Beatles connection.


Our guests this week have strong opinions on what Liverpool should be doing to attract tourists and give them an experience they will never forget.


They are Liverpool native, Kevin McManus, head of UNESCO City of Music, who is tasked with drawing up a music strategy for the city, and Kenneth Womack, who was in Liverpool to give advice based on his own involvement in the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music in New Jersey.


Presenter: Laura Davis For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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When John Lennon met this week’s guests backstage at The Cavern he had a message for them: “Girls don’t play guitars.”


But that only made The Liver Birds even more determined to become the world’s first all-girl rock 'n' roll group.


The band’s two remaining members, Mary McGlory and Sylvia Wiggins (nee Saunders), share their memories of becoming one of the top attractions at the famous Star Club in Hamburg.


With thanks to Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre for setting up the interview. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Julia Baird is one of John Lennon’s younger sisters. She was there when he learned to play music with their mother, and she had to try to cope with his death in private as the whole world mourned.


She speaks to us in the offices of The Cavern, where she is one of the directors. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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