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Post by mrmustard on Aug 15, 2010 18:51:33 GMT
Do any forum members (old enough that is!) remember the Cavern Mecca (Beatles Museum) in Mathew street? It use to be on the first floor of what is now Flanagan's Apple. It started in the 1970's. I used to go there as a young lad in the late seventies/early eighties. It was for the real die-hard fan when there was absolutely nothing in Liverpool for Beatles fans (hard to believe now that there was such a time!).
I remember it be in the most basic of places. You walked up the stairs which is still there but now enters the 1st floor bar in Flanagan's. To the right, as you entered, was a counter were you paid to get in, could become a member of the fan club and buy stuff. To the left was a small snack bar with a few chairs and tables (no alcohol was served). Straight ahead were walls of, what seemed to be, paper cuttings of pictures of The Beatles pasted to hardboard walls. Through a set up of these hardboard walls to the back section which had more walls of posters and press cuttings. There was also a glass cabinet which housed some original merchandise. This carried on to a small replica of the Cavern stage with some seats in front of the stage. I did actually see a great band at the time called Mojo Filter (not the band that currently play now under this name) on this stage. All this time Beatles music reverberated around the place. That's how I remember it anyway!
I suppose I paint a rather dour picture of the place but thinking back it felt magical (although I was very young when I used to go!) I would love to hear from anyone who use to go and hear their memories of the place. There is very little on the internet about it but if anyone knows of any obscure websites about it please let me know also.
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Post by The End on Aug 15, 2010 19:26:38 GMT
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 15, 2010 20:19:36 GMT
Thanks for that Al. It's really brought back some memories. Looking at the photos I would say I described it quite well! I Think! Thanks again.
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 15, 2010 20:31:27 GMT
Just had a thought! As part of the forum meet up we could go upstairs at Flanagans after The Grapes (it's directly opposite) and I could point out where everything was in The Cavern Mecca. That's if anyones interested! Or does that just sound like a really sad idea!
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Post by The End on Aug 15, 2010 21:33:34 GMT
Sounds like a great idea mate!
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Aug 16, 2010 11:15:41 GMT
i'm too young to remember cavern mecca but somewhere at my parents house (most of my stuff is still in boxes after the flood there 3 years ago) i do have the museum booklet (it's 12" sqaure). not sure when i'll be there next but i'll see if i can find it and scan the pages from it for you.
It must have been great seeing Rick Allen, Phil Melia, Paul Cooper & the other guy playing there.
in honour of you seeing mojo filter
listen to these with Al's pics on the screen and really trip back down memory lane
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Post by The End on Aug 16, 2010 16:59:49 GMT
Ah, nice one Alix
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 16, 2010 18:55:24 GMT
Thanks for that Alix. This is great footage. The sound quality doesn't do them justice. I once saw them in the Adelphi doing the medley off Abbey Road with just the four of them and no keyboards! Just 2 guitars, bass and drums. It was pretty amazing although I was young at the time!
The drummers name was Andy Hudson. Don't know what he's going now. You can still catch Phil Melia doing solo stuff around Liverpool and very rarely Paul Cooper. Of course Rick does lots of stuff.
I would love to see the museum booklet if you find it!
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Aug 18, 2010 23:09:22 GMT
Mojo Filter are one of the band's i wish i'd got the chance to see - but alas didn't do my first BW til 1997 - it's that whole being born in the wrong decade thing again!
Phil seems to be with the Shakers too - he's always great for the REALLY obscure stuff.
Hoping to get home some time sept/oct for a sculpture exhibition so i'll have a rummage in a few boxes and see what shows up.
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 19, 2010 8:32:56 GMT
I didn't realise phil played with The shakers. You are right, he is good for obscure stuff. Although a few years back I did freak him out. I saw him playing a solo gig in a place called the Hanover in Liverpool. I hadn't seen him play for absolutely years. He asked for any requests so I shouted red sails in the sunset. He laughed to himself and said he hadn't played it for years but did it no problem. I then shouted out a song called 'all of the time'. This was a mojo filter original that they released back in the early eighties. It did nothing in the uk but was a hit in japan were they were very big at the time. Now this did freak him out. He hadn't played it since the band split but made a good attempt at it. For the rest of the gig he kept looking at me oddly as if to say ' do I know you? I must do but can't remember you'. We had a chat after the gig and I explained I had been a big fan when I was a young lad. Great fella as well as a very talented guitarist and singer.
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wilf
What Goes On In Your Heart
Posts: 59
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Post by wilf on Aug 20, 2010 8:42:19 GMT
Sorry to correct, but Phil Melia doesn't play with The Shakers. He has been a member of the Pete Best Band for years now (and still is). From what I've heard, he's also involved in the Eleanor Rigby Hotel on Stanley Street and the Lennon Bar on Mathew St.
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 20, 2010 10:20:59 GMT
Thanks for that wilf. I couldn't imagine him playing with the shakers anyway!
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Aug 20, 2010 22:46:54 GMT
www.myspace.com/shakersbeatthe profile pic shows Phil with his custom Liverpool guitar and the member list has a guy called phil on guitar so i put two and two together... It's good that he's still with the Pete Best band
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 21, 2010 9:08:29 GMT
Looks nothing like him mind you the profile picture is blurry. If you go into the photos there is a section of band photos. He's definitely not in those
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Post by mrmustard on Aug 22, 2010 8:24:18 GMT
Hi Alix, You where right! I happened to be in the Cavern yesterday and The Shakers where on stage. It was Phil Melia on lead guitar. I hadn't seen the band for a few years with a completely different line up and they where a bit naff then. However The Shakers I saw yesterday where excellent and I am really looking forward to seeing them again.
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Aug 22, 2010 11:57:27 GMT
i'm good at recognising people in bad photos (trust me i've taken loads) so is he in both bands now (shakers & pet best band)?
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Post by The End on Aug 22, 2010 12:07:28 GMT
Blimey - it's been fascinating watching this story unfold! i found this on the Pete Best Band MySpace page: " Phil Melia... Mojo : Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals and HarmonicaI was born in Liverpool; My Grandfather was a jazz drummer, which I guess is where I got my first rhythms' from outside of the womb! My Dad is pitch perfect Elvis, and my Aunt Flo, Doris Day, that's where I learned about singing.
I used to sneak into a bar at the end of my street when I was 11 to watch 'Farons' Flamingo's', an original Mersey Beat star and after playing guitar under my bed sheets for three years, at the age of 14, got on stage with Faron and performed three songs; 'Johnny Be Good', 'Gloria' and 'What I'd Say', two of which I still play with 'The Pete Best Band' now!
My first proper band, apart from small ones I'd formed with school friends, was 'Mojo Filter': four young lads dedicated to unknown or lost Beatle songs, 'The Kinks', 'The Rolling Stones' and 'The Monkees'. With 'Mojo Filter' I toured Japan, Holland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the UK. We acquired a deal with 'Chiswick Records', and released "All of the Time".
Soon after, the band split, and since then I have done many thousands of gigs, sessions and projects with various bands including 'The Ruthless Rap Assassins' (EMI), 'Mind, Body and Soul' (Polydor) and 'Jimmy Cauty' (The KLF). Jamming is my passion and I had the chance to jam with Les Paul in New York City.
I have played and toured with 'The Pete Best Band' for 10 years now and hope for 10 more. Being part of this band and recording this album is one of the best experiences of them all."www.myspace.com/thepetebestband
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Post by Mr Kite on Aug 29, 2010 12:32:55 GMT
I was a member of the Cavern Mecca from the begining to the very sad end when it had to closed down due to money problems . I still have all my news letters and some pictures I took inside the Mecca and I will post them as soon as I can find them . Here is a part of one of the news letters
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Post by Mr Kite on Sept 10, 2010 17:20:15 GMT
Here`s the pic`s as promised . The Cavern Mecca in colour ! And a cover of a Fanzine
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Post by The End on Sept 10, 2010 23:23:38 GMT
Wow, who's that young go-getter in the first pic? LOL
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