Tuesday 12 June 1962 | Live Performance | Cavern Club, Mathew Street, Liverpool, England
On the evening of Tuesday 12 June 1962, The Beatles performed their 70th evening show at the Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool — their 173rd known appearance overall at the venue. They appeared second on a two-act bill headlined by The Blue Genes. It was also the 27th occasion on which they performed both a lunchtime and an evening show at the Cavern on the same day — having already played a lunchtime set earlier that afternoon.
That The Beatles were second on the bill to The Blue Genes on this occasion is a reminder of how fluid the Liverpool live music hierarchy still was in mid-1962. Within months, no act in Britain would be able to claim a higher billing than The Beatles. But in June 1962, the Cavern's evening programme still operated on a rotating basis, and support slots were a regular part of the group's schedule even at their home venue.
The Blue Genes
The Blue Genes were a Liverpool beat group active during the Merseybeat era. Like many of the groups who shared bills with The Beatles at the Cavern during this period, they were part of the extraordinarily fertile local music scene that produced dozens of acts in the early 1960s. The Blue Genes were a credible enough draw to headline the evening bill on 12 June 1962 — a measure of the competitive quality of the Liverpool scene at its peak.
A Double-Show Day
12 June 1962 was one of the 27 occasions on which The Beatles performed both a lunchtime and an evening show at the Cavern on the same day. The lunchtime show — their 103rd lunchtime appearance and 172nd overall — had taken place earlier that afternoon. The evening show brought their overall Cavern tally to 173 known appearances.
The physical demands of a double-show day at the Cavern were considerable. The venue's low-ceilinged cellar, with its condensation-soaked walls and packed audiences, was an intense environment even for a single set. Performing twice in the same day — often with only a few hours between shows — required the kind of stamina that the Hamburg residencies had helped to build.
The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club at 10 Mathew Street in Liverpool city centre had opened in January 1957 as a jazz venue. By the early 1960s it had become the epicentre of the Merseybeat scene, hosting multiple acts each day across lunchtime and evening sessions. The Beatles first performed there on 9 February 1961 and went on to play at least 280 known performances at the venue before their final appearance on 3 August 1963.
June 1962: A Pivotal Month
June 1962 was one of the most consequential months in The Beatles' history. On 6 June 1962 — just six days before this evening show — the group had attended their first recording session at EMI Studios in Abbey Road, London, auditioning for producer George Martin. Martin had been sufficiently impressed to offer them a recording contract, though he had reservations about Pete Best's drumming — reservations that would lead to Best's dismissal and Ringo Starr's arrival in August 1962.
Brian Epstein had taken over the group's management in January 1962 and had spent months pursuing a record deal. The EMI audition on 6 June was the breakthrough he had been working towards. By the time The Beatles took to the Cavern stage for their evening show on 12 June, they were a group on the cusp of a recording career that would change popular music forever.
The Beatles in June 1962
- John Lennon — vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
- Paul McCartney — vocals, bass guitar
- George Harrison — lead guitar, vocals
- Pete Best — drums
The Beatles' Cavern Setlist
A typical Beatles evening set at the Cavern in 1962 drew on American rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues, alongside an increasing number of Lennon-McCartney originals:
- 'Some Other Guy'
- 'Money (That's What I Want)'
- 'Memphis, Tennessee'
- 'Roll Over Beethoven'
- 'Please Please Me' (in development)
- 'Love Me Do' (in development)
- 'Twist and Shout'
- 'I Saw Her Standing There'
Key Facts: 12 June 1962 (Evening)
- Date: Tuesday 12 June 1962
- Venue: Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, Liverpool, England
- Session: Evening
- Bill position: Second, headlined by The Blue Genes
- Evening appearance number: 70th
- Overall Cavern appearance number: 173rd known
- Double-show days: 27th occasion of lunchtime + evening at the Cavern
- Drummer: Pete Best (replaced by Ringo Starr, August 1962)
- Context: Six days after the EMI Abbey Road audition with George Martin (6 June 1962)
- Total known Cavern appearances: At least 280 (155 lunchtime, 125 evening), 9 February 1961 – 3 August 1963
Frequently Asked Questions
Who headlined the Cavern Club on 12 June 1962?
The Blue Genes headlined the evening bill at the Cavern Club on 12 June 1962. The Beatles appeared second on the two-act bill — a reminder of how fluid the Liverpool live music hierarchy still was in mid-1962, just months before Beatlemania transformed the group's status entirely.
How many evening shows did The Beatles play at the Cavern Club?
The Beatles played at least 125 evening shows at the Cavern Club between 9 February 1961 and 3 August 1963. The 12 June 1962 evening performance was their 70th evening show at the venue.
Did The Beatles ever play two shows in one day at the Cavern?
Yes — The Beatles performed both lunchtime and evening shows at the Cavern Club on at least 27 occasions. 12 June 1962 was one of those double-show days, with a lunchtime set (their 103rd) followed by an evening set (their 70th) on the same day.
What was happening with The Beatles in June 1962?
On 6 June 1962 — six days before this evening show — The Beatles attended their first EMI recording session at Abbey Road, auditioning for producer George Martin. Martin offered them a contract but had reservations about Pete Best's drumming. Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr in August 1962, just weeks before the release of 'Love Me Do'.
How many times did The Beatles play the Cavern Club in total?
The Beatles played at least 280 known performances at the Cavern Club between 9 February 1961 and 3 August 1963, comprising at least 155 lunchtime and 125 evening shows. The precise total is not known with certainty as early records are incomplete.
Who were The Blue Genes?
The Blue Genes were a Liverpool beat group active during the Merseybeat era who shared bills with The Beatles at the Cavern Club. They headlined the evening show on 12 June 1962, with The Beatles appearing second on the bill.
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