10/05/1960 (Wyvern Social Club, 108 Seel Street, Liverpool)

This was an audition in search of a backing band for an upcoming Billy Fury tour. The Silver Beatles didn't win the audition. However, Larry Parnes liked what he heard and hired the bacnd to back Johnny Gentle on a tour of Scotland at the end of May.

Tommy Moore, The Silver Beatles' drummer at this time, arrived late after a couple of songs. Johnny Hutchinson from Cass And The Cassanovas (seen in the first photo) gratiously filled in on drums with a routine drum beat.

These photos illustrate perfectly Stuart's tendancy to play with his back to the audience. At one point during the audition, Parnes requested to hear the band without Stuart. John would have no part of it. "We're a group, all or none. That's the way it is."

This is the first photograph (frame 14 of the roll) of the band using Beatles in their name.






Cliff Roberts, Billy Fury and Larry Parnes watch the performance.










John gets an autograph from Billy.