BETWEEN March and July 1962, an unsigned band from Liverpool headlined on three nights at Southport’s Kingsway nightclub.
Only a year later its four young members were attracting such frenzied adulation a new term was coined – Beatlemania!
The support act on one of the Kingsway dates was Chris & The Quiet Ones, a local outfit who had been part of Southport’s burgeoning Merseybeat scene since 1960.
More than four decades on, their frontman, Chris Rimmer, said he is not surprised the four Liverpudlians he shared a bill with in 1962 went on to become a global cultural phenomenon.
“They were meant to be,” he said of The Beatles, who he remembered as being “very nice lads and very talented”.

Chris Rimmer today, one half of duo ‘Us 2’

The Kingsway concerts were held in the venue’s Marine Club, on the top floor.
Chris, 65, recalled: “Because a lot of the kids were under 18 they didn’t open the bar until afterwards.
“After the gig we sat and drank and jammed with them (The Beatles). We knew them quite well.”
“They were on the verge of going to Germany and there was talk of us going with them.”

The Beatles onstage at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, a venue once played by Chris and the Quiet Ones

Accompanying Chris as vocalist were the Quiet Ones – Barry Madden (drums), Ray O’Connell (rhythm guitar), George Eccles (lead guitar) and John White (bass).
All were from the Formby area and aged only in their mid or late teens, with Chris working as a farm labourer and Ray still a schoolboy.
Southport was a regular destination for Chris & The Quiet Ones, who took their inspiration from the Merseybeat scene, plus 1950s favourites such as Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard and The Shadows.
The group played at venues including the resort’s YMCA, an underground café which then graced Lord Street and the since-demolished Palace Hotel in Birkdale.

Chris and the Quiet Ones at Formby Gild Hall, probably in 1962. From left: Barry Madden, Ray O’Connell, Chris Rimmer, George Eccles and John White

Chris, who later worked as a lorry driver and builder, had starting singing with a local skiffle group in 1958.
Only months after the Kingsway gig with The Beatles he quit the Quiet Ones to marry Sandra and raise a family.
He said: “After I left and got married the group scene really burst open. Everybody seemed to be in a group. There was a lot of competition.”
Other bands that Chris, now a grandfather of four, remembers on the Southport scene were The Black Cats, The Undertakers, The Sandgrounders, The TeenBeats and Rory Storm & The Hurricanes.
Coincidentally, in August 1962, Hurricanes’ drummer Richard Starkey – better known as Ringo Starr – controversially replaced The Beatles’ sticksman Pete Best and the rest, as they say, is history.

Southport’s Kingsway Club in its heyday

Without Chris, the Quiet Ones morphed into Rhythm & Blues Incorporated and later became The Gems with Fender Ray.
Two years ago, Chris was re- united with ‘Fender’ Ray O’Connell and the duo play locally as Us 2, performing at pubs and bars and functions such as weddings.
“Music is my life,” said Chris.
“I was very fortunate to be born in an era when I saw rock ’n’ roll at the beginning.”
l Do you have any stories about The Beatles when they played Southport? Call LookBack reporter Robert Alcock on 01704-398287 or email robert.alcock@southportvisiter.co.uk
LEAVE your memories of Southport during the Merseybeat era below.

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