The Beatles live: Star-Club, Hamburg – 30 May 1962
Wednesday 30 May 1962 | Live
Star-Club, Große Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany
On Wednesday 30 May 1962, The Beatles performed at the Star-Club in Hamburg — the 47th of 48 nights in their first residency at the city’s newest rock ‘n’ roll venue.
The First Star-Club Residency
The Beatles played three separate residencies at the Star-Club in 1962. This first stint began on Friday 13 April and came to a close on 31 May 1962, with The Beatles leaving Hamburg on Saturday 2 June. Their only night off during the entire seven-week run was Good Friday, 20 April.
Across the 48 nights of this first residency, The Beatles performed for a total of 172 hours on stage. It was their third Hamburg club residency within two years, following stints at the Indra, the Kaiserkeller, and the Top Ten Club.
By May 1962, The Beatles were a very different group from the one that had first arrived in Hamburg less than two years earlier. They had auditioned for Decca Records (January 1962), signed with Brian Epstein (January 1962), and were about to begin their relationship with EMI — their first session at Abbey Road with George Martin was scheduled for 6 June 1962, just days after this residency ended.
The Star-Club itself had opened on 13 April 1962 — the very night The Beatles began their first residency there. Located on the Große Freiheit in the St Pauli district, it was Hamburg’s most ambitious rock ‘n’ roll venue, capable of holding around 2,000 people.
Key Facts: 30 May 1962
- Venue: Star-Club, Große Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany
- Residency night: 47th of 48
- First residency dates: 13 April – 31 May 1962
- Total hours on stage: 172
- Only night off: Good Friday, 20 April 1962
- Left Hamburg: Saturday 2 June 1962
- Next major event: First Abbey Road session with George Martin, 6 June 1962
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nights did The Beatles play at the Star-Club in their first residency?
48 nights, from 13 April to 31 May 1962. The 30 May performance was the 47th night. Their only night off was Good Friday, 20 April.
How many hours did The Beatles perform during their first Star-Club residency?
172 hours across the 48-night run.
How many Hamburg residencies did The Beatles complete?
Five in total across three clubs: the Indra (1960), the Kaiserkeller (1960), the Top Ten Club (1961), and the Star-Club (three residencies in 1962).
When did The Beatles first play the Star-Club?
On 13 April 1962 — the opening night of the Star-Club itself. The Beatles were the headline act for the venue’s launch.
What happened immediately after The Beatles left Hamburg in June 1962?
They returned to Liverpool and then travelled to London for their first recording session at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios on 6 June 1962, working with producer George Martin for the first time.
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