The Cavern After Hours Book

The Cavern after hours book is now available Order your copy today

To order with free post & packing click on the logo to the left of this page.

Nostalgia-filled account of life behind the scenes of Liverpool’s legendary Merseybeat venue through the eyes of one man and the many bands he played in, in pursuit of fame and fortune. Cavern After Hours Book Cover

The 1960s boasts a veritable cavalcade of great musicians who are as celebrated in the twenty-first century as they were in their mid-century hey-day. But for every super group who enjoyed international success, such as The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers who called The Cavern their home, there are countless bands who have been forgotten in the mists of time, but who had its audiences enraptured forty even fifty years ago.

Cavern After Hours is the story of one such young hopeful, the bands he played in, the songs they performed and it reveals why the most famous nightclub in the world really was so special; the heartbeat of a generation. The story of these “epic fails” as the author describes them is, without a doubt, worth telling too, and in this affectionate and amusing look-back at the lives and loves of a motley crew of working class boys on the make in Liverpool, they are finally rewarded with their moment in the spotlight once more.

Barry Cohen’s charming musical memoir is a wonderful read, especially for those who were equally inspired by all that the Merseybeat scene had to offer a post-war teenager. As well as evoking the unique sound of the era, Barry explores the social and cultural change that swept Britain at the time, along with delightful anecdotes and astute observations. Barry marvels at the fact that his Hebrew teacher was no stuffy old academic; he was lead guitarist with early 60’s Liverpool group The Tabs!

Cavern After Hours loaded with many rare pictures is an insightful and nostalgic read, Cavern After Hours is the quintessential sixties story of following your heart.

Other books based on 60's Music

THE ABSTRACTS - A 1960’s LIVERPOOL GROUP THAT TIME ALMOST FORGOT! (BLACK & WHITE EDITION)

Author: Complied by - Dave McClure. Contributors: Various VelocePress - Producer

USA Price: $9.95 Discount: 25% GB Price: 5.95 BP Discount: 25% AU Price: $9.95 AU$ Discount 25%

ISBN: 9781588501646. BID: 19945 PAPER: White. LSI PAGE COUNT: 148. WEIGHT: .797

DESCRIPTION: 148 pages, 162 black & white illustrations, size 8.5 x 11 inches. Originally published with numerous color images (ISBN 9781588501615) this documentary was well received as representative of a true to life snapshot of one of the many ‘other’ Merseybeat groups of the sixties. A number of requests for a less expensive version ultimately resulted in the publication of this black and white edition.

While the Beatles are by far the most famous Liverpool group of the era, they did not create the ‘Mersey Sound’, it created them. Unfortunately, it’s sad that a great era of musical history will only be documented for future generations by the multitude of books that have been written about them. Liverpool in the 60’s was a wondrous place, it was alive with music and the sheer number of local musicians and the depth of the talent pool was mind numbing.

Depending on your method of research, you will find that there were between 750 to 950 Liverpool based groups performing at any one time during the early to mid 1960’s. So here’s a story of one of the not-so-famous groups that’s part of that total. While their story will always be overshadowed by those that made the ‘big time’, it is an honest and down to earth tale and a fairly typical representation of the many hundreds of other groups that created the ‘Mersey Sound’ and the real Merseybeat era.

Other books DVD's and CD's to look out for

Lanky Beat Archived for Posterity. This book is a lasting dedication to all the many contributors and supporters of Lanky Beat website www.lankybeat.com and the Lankykats rock'n rollers who made it all happen.

Bill Hart December 2011

Lankykats have a brand new CD featuring 23 tracks from bands and performers who regularly appear at the two Thursday meetings each month in Standish in the heart of Lancashire.