The Beatles at the Star-Club, Hamburg 1962: Complete Residency Guide

Q: How many hours did The Beatles perform at the Star-Club?

Approximately 172 hours across 48 nights during the first residency alone.

Q: Did Stuart Sutcliffe die during the Star-Club residency?

Stuart Sutcliffe died on 10 April 1962, one day before The Beatles arrived. They learned of his death at the airport on 11 April.

The Beatles at the Star-Club, Hamburg: April–May 1962

From 13 April to 31 May 1962, The Beatles performed 48 consecutive nights at Hamburg's Star-Club — the city's newest and largest rock 'n' roll venue, located at Grosse Freiheit 39, just off the Reeperbahn. With only one night off (Good Friday, 20 April), they performed approximately 172 hours of live music over seven weeks.

It was their third Hamburg club residency in two years, following the Indra and Kaiserkeller in 1960 and the Top Ten Club in 1961. And it was the last time they would perform in Hamburg as an unsigned band. Within days of leaving, they were at Abbey Road.

Why this residency matters

The spring 1962 Star-Club residency sits at the exact hinge point of Beatles history. When it began on 13 April, they were a Liverpool band with a growing reputation but no record deal. When it ended on 31 May, they had a Parlophone contract, an Abbey Road session booked for 6 June, and a summer of change ahead: Pete Best would be replaced by Ringo Starr in August, and Love Me Do would be released in October.

The residency also took place in the shadow of grief. The Beatles had arrived in Hamburg on 11 April to learn that their former bandmate Stuart Sutcliffe had died the previous day — 10 April 1962 — from a brain haemorrhage, aged 21. They opened the Star-Club two days later.

About the Star-Club

The Star-Club opened on 13 April 1962 — the same night as The Beatles' first performance there. Owned by Manfred Weissleder, it had a capacity of approximately 2,000 and was the largest venue The Beatles had played in Hamburg. It quickly became the premier rock 'n' roll destination in northern Europe.

The building was demolished in 1987, but Grosse Freiheit remains a key landmark in Beatles history.

Residency at a glance

Venue: Star-Club, Grosse Freiheit 39, Hamburg, West Germany
Dates: 13 April – 31 May 1962
Total nights: 48
Only night off: Good Friday, 20 April 1962
Total hours on stage: approx. 172
Lineup: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best
Manager: Brian Epstein
EMI deal confirmed: early May 1962
Departure from Hamburg: 2 June 1962
First EMI session: 6 June 1962, Abbey Road Studios

All 48 nights: complete index

April 1962

May 1962

Key articles in this cluster

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nights did The Beatles play at the Star-Club in 1962?

48 nights from 13 April to 31 May 1962, with only Good Friday, 20 April, off.

How many hours did The Beatles perform at the Star-Club?

Approximately 172 hours across 48 nights. On weeknights they played 7pm–2am; on weekends 8pm–4am, with a 15-minute break per hour.

When did The Beatles first play the Star-Club?

13 April 1962 — the opening night of the Star-Club itself. The Beatles were the venue's first headline act.

Who was in The Beatles during the 1962 Star-Club residency?

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best. Best was replaced by Ringo Starr on 16 August 1962.

What happened after The Beatles left Hamburg in June 1962?

They recorded their first EMI session with George Martin at Abbey Road on 6 June 1962. Love Me Do was released on 5 October 1962.

Did Stuart Sutcliffe die during the Star-Club residency?

Stuart Sutcliffe died on 10 April 1962 — one day before The Beatles arrived in Hamburg. They learned of his death at the airport on 11 April and opened the Star-Club two days later.