The Beatles played their 17th show at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, Wallasey, on Friday 13 July 1962 — one of 27 appearances at the iconic Wirral venue capable of holding up to 5,000 fans.
| Date | Friday 13 July 1962 |
| Venue | Tower Ballroom, New Brighton Promenade, Wallasey, Wirral |
| Show number | 17th of 27 Beatles appearances at this venue |
| Capacity | Up to 5,000 |
| Era | Pre-fame / Pete Best era |
The Beatles at the Tower Ballroom, 13 July 1962
This was The Beatles' 17th performance at the Tower Ballroom — one of the largest venues they played during their pre-fame Merseyside years. With a capacity of up to 5,000, the Tower Ballroom dwarfed the Cavern Club's intimate 300-person cellar, and represented a significant step up in scale for the group.
At this point, The Beatles were still performing with Pete Best on drums. He would be replaced by Ringo Starr just five weeks later, on 18 August 1962. The group had signed with Parlophone on 9 May 1962, and had recorded their debut single 'Love Me Do' at EMI Studios on 6 June — just five weeks before this show. National fame was imminent, but for now the Tower Ballroom was one of their most important regular stages.
The New Brighton Tower and Tower Ballroom
The New Brighton Tower opened in 1900 on the New Brighton promenade, Wallasey, on the tip of the Wirral Peninsula. At 567 feet, it was taller than Blackpool Tower and was the tallest building in Britain when completed — a 1,000-tonne lattice-steel observation tower overlooking the Irish Sea and the Mersey estuary.
The tower was short-lived. Closed during the First World War, its structure began to decay and it was dismantled between 1919 and 1921. The ballroom beneath it fared considerably better, however, continuing to operate as one of the north-west's premier entertainment venues for nearly 50 years. It was destroyed by fire in 1969. The site was later redeveloped as River View Park.
During the early 1960s, the Tower Ballroom was one of the key venues on the Merseyside circuit, regularly hosting the biggest local acts alongside national touring names. The Beatles were among its most frequent performers.
All 27 Beatles appearances at the Tower Ballroom
The Beatles performed at the Tower Ballroom on 27 occasions between November 1961 and June 1963:
- 10 November 1961
- 24 November 1961
- 1 December 1961
- 8 December 1961
- 15 December 1961
- 26 December 1961
- 12 January 1962
- 19 January 1962
- 26 January 1962
- 15 February 1962
- 16 February 1962
- 23 February 1962
- 2 March 1962
- 6 April 1962
- 21 June 1962
- 29 June 1962
- 13 July 1962 (this show)
- 21 July 1962
- 27 July 1962
- 17 August 1962
- 14 September 1962
- 21 September 1962
- 12 October 1962
- 23 November 1962
- 1 December 1962
- 7 December 1962
- 14 June 1963
The Beatles in July 1962
In July 1962, The Beatles comprised John Lennon (vocals, rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (vocals, bass guitar), George Harrison (vocals, lead guitar), and Pete Best (drums). Brian Epstein had been their manager since December 1961, and had secured their Parlophone deal with producer George Martin earlier that year.
The group had made four trips to Hamburg between 1960 and 1962, honing their live performance skills across hundreds of hours on stage. Back on Merseyside, the Tower Ballroom and the Cavern Club were their two most important regular venues — the Cavern for intimacy and loyalty, the Tower Ballroom for scale and spectacle.
Pete Best would be replaced by Ringo Starr on 18 August 1962, just five weeks after this show. The reasons for his dismissal have been debated for decades; George Martin had expressed reservations about his drumming at the 6 June EMI session, and the other three Beatles had grown closer to Ringo through their shared Hamburg experiences.
New Brighton, Wallasey
Shop Beatles Merch
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many times did The Beatles play the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton?
- The Beatles performed at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton on 27 occasions between November 1961 and June 1963, making it one of their most frequently visited venues outside Liverpool city centre.
- What was the New Brighton Tower?
- The New Brighton Tower was a 567-foot lattice-steel observation tower that opened in 1900 on the New Brighton promenade, Wallasey. At the time of its completion it was the tallest building in Britain — taller than Blackpool Tower. It was closed during the First World War and dismantled between 1919 and 1921.
- What happened to the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton?
- The Tower Ballroom continued to operate as an entertainment venue for nearly 50 years after the tower above it was demolished. It was destroyed by fire in 1969. The site was later redeveloped as River View Park.
- Who was in The Beatles in July 1962?
- In July 1962, The Beatles were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best. Best was replaced by Ringo Starr on 18 August 1962, just five weeks after this Tower Ballroom show.
- When did Pete Best leave The Beatles?
- Pete Best was replaced as The Beatles' drummer by Ringo Starr on 18 August 1962. The decision was made by the other three Beatles and manager Brian Epstein; producer George Martin had also expressed reservations about Best's drumming at the group's first EMI session on 6 June 1962.
- Where is New Brighton?
- New Brighton is a seaside town at the northern tip of the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, across the River Mersey from Liverpool. It is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.
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