Cavern stars are still setting the pace
The sounds of Liverpool are sure to take the north and north-east by storm when Back to the Cavern, a night of rock ’n’ roll nostalgia, rolls into town, writes Susan Welsh
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ABERDEEN’S Music Hall and Eden Court Theatre in Inverness will be swinging to the sounds of the Merseybeat as several stars from that era, along with a fab four tribute band, turn the clock back to the 1960s and 70s.
Back to the Cavern – the name refers to Liverpool’s world-famous Cavern Club – stars Gerry and The Pacemakers, Chip Hawkes, of The Tremeloes, and The Complete Beatles, a band who look and sound very much like the original Beatles.
For those looking for a feel-good night out, this ticks all the boxes as it’s packed with timeless tracks that have the audience dancing in the aisles from the start.
For Gerry Marsden, the chance to revisit this memorable period in time was too hard to resist as, for a while, he and the Pacemakers were the Beatles’ nearest competitors in the UK.
The band had a string of memorable hits including, How Do You Do It, I Like It, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Ferry Cross the Mersey and, like the Beatles, were managed by Brian Epstein.
Over the years, the group went their separate ways before re-forming in 1974.
“I love being on stage performing for people all over the world,” said Gerry, flashing his trademark cheeky grin.
“I’m looking forward to playing in Inverness as we’ve been there so often I feel like I own the place.”
Speaking about the show, he said: “Chip and I both appeared at the Cavern, so it’s great for us to sing songs from that era.
“It’s a cracking show and the audiences have been great, singing and dancing along all the way through.
“What’s interesting is it’s not just people who remember us from first time round, but youngsters who are into 60s music, know the records and want to see the real people who recorded them, which is a real buzz.
“When we first played the Cavern and had our first record, I gave myself five years as a pop star before I got a proper job.
“I saved all my money because I wanted to open a fish and chip shop in Toxteth.
“But here I am, 40,000 years later, still singing the songs and still having a ball.”
Joining Gerry are The Complete Beatles and Chip Hawkes, who is perhaps best known to younger readers as the dad of singer Chesney Hawkes.
“The Complete Beatles are the best Beatles band around, which is why we booked them on the show. They’re all talented musicians with great harmonies and they go down a bomb.
“As for the Pacemakers, we try to get as many of the hits in as possible – the great thing is I know all the words,” joked Gerry.
“I have tried to diversify and introduce more-recent material, but the audience won’t have any of it; they enjoy hearing the old hits.”
Chip Hawkes – the nickname comes from the days when he worked as a carpenter – added: “There’s not one bad song in this show; they’re all hits.
“Although The Tremeloes weren’t from Liverpool, we did play the Cavern.
“My impression of it was that it was smelly and smokey, but it had a good atmosphere, and there were lots of girls at the front of the stage throwing their knickers at us.
“Nowadays, they just rattle their zimmer frames.”
And, like Gerry, Chip didn’t visualise himself enjoying life as a pop star 50 years later.
“I set out wanting to join the Merchant Navy, but I got into a fight at the docks, so that was the end of that.
“However, I’ve never lost my interest in a life at sea as my hobby is buying up old boats and using my joinery skills to do them up and sell them on.
“It’s not lucrative, but it’s fun – but not as much fun as being on stage singing the old hits in front of a live audience.”
Back to the Cavern is at Aberdeen’s Music Hall tonight, 7.30pm (call 01224 641122 for details and tickets), and at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, tomorrow, at 8pm. For further details and tickets, call the box office on 01463 234234.
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