1981 NME Awards

Thirty years ago NME published its annual music awards

1981

Best Group: The Jam
Best New Act: Altered Images
Most Missed Person: John Lennon
Best Songwriter: Paul Weller
Best Female Singer: Siouxsie Sioux
Best Male Singer: David Bowie
Best Single: The Specials - 'Ghost Town'
Best LP: Echo & The Bunnymen - 'Heaven Up Here'
Best Dressed Sleeve: Echo & The Bunnymen - 'Heaven Up Here'
Best Guitarist: Paul Weller
Best Bassist: Bruce Foxton
Best Drummer: Rick Buckler
Best Keyboardist: Dave Greenfield
Best TV Programme: 'Coronation Street'
Best Radio Show: John Peel
Best Film: 'Gregory's Girl'
Most Wonderful Human Being: Paul Weller
Best Dressed Person: Michael Foot
Creep Of The Year: Adam Andy

The Beatles at St John's Hall, Tuebrook

After the Beatles returned from their first Tour of Duty in Hamburg, they were looking for gigs to play in and around Liverpool. Mona Best (Pete's mum) let them play in her Casbah Coffee Club but also created "Casbah Promotions" together with her son.

On Friday 17 February, 1961 The Beatles were paid £20 for their concert at St. John's Hall on Snaefell Avenue in Tuebrook (Liverpool). Appearing together with the "Fabulous Beatles Rock Combo" were Gene Day and the Jango Beats.

The Beatles knew Gene Day & the Jango Beats (later they were called Earl Preston and the Tempest Tornadoes), because when they arrived back from Hamburg they didn't have their equipment with them and had to borrow Gene Day's stuff for a gig in the Casbah.

Remember that The Beatles had been deported from Hamburg (George underaged,


Copyright info for the poster:

1. It's a low resolution copy of an advertising poster.
2. It doesn't limit the copyright owner's rights to sell the poster in any way.
3. Because of the low resolution, copies could not be used to make illegal copies of the poster.
4. The image is itself a subject of discussion in the article or used in the infobox.
5. The image is significant because it was used to promote a performance that has not been well documented.

Valentine with the Beatles at the Cassanova Club

Happy Valentine! 50 years ago, on Tuesday 14 February 1961, the "sensational" Beatles played at the Cassanova Club in London Road, Liverpool. Other bands that play that night are Rory Storm & the Hurricanes (with Ringo Starr) and Mark Peters & the Cyclones.

In the mid 90's an 8mm film was discovered in a drawer in Liverpool. It contains a 30-second segment of the Beatles (John, Paul & George - Pete Best is obscured by John) who play at the ballroom. In the first segment George is singing and in the second one Paul does the vocals. The Beatles are wearing leather jackets, which would have been their standard attire from their Hamburg days.

The movie is in colour but silent, and could well be the oldest known film of the Beatles. Eventually the film sold for 15,000 pounds in 1996.

Copyright info for the poster:

1. It's a low resolution copy of an advertising poster.
2. It doesn't limit the copyright owner's rights to sell the poster in any way.
3. Because of the low resolution, copies could not be used to make illegal copies of the poster.
4. The image is itself a subject of discussion in the article or used in the infobox.
5. The image is significant because it was used to promote a performance that has not been well documented.

2000 NME Awards

Ten years ago, at the end of 2000, NME published its annual music Awards

2000

Philip Hall On Award: Terris
Live Act Of The Year: Mogwai
Best Live Act: Super Furry Animals
On The Decks Awards For Dance Act Of The Year: Death In Vegas
Carling Premier Best New Artist: Muse
Breezeblack Mix Of 1999: Junior Carter
Best Solo Artist: Beck
Best Album Ever: The Stone Roses - 'The Stone Roses'
Best Single Ever: Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
Total Genius Of The Year: Ali G
Greatest Musical Event Ever: Woodstock
Best Radio Show: Radio 1 Evening Session
Carling Premier Best LP: The Flaming Lips - 'The Soft Bulletin'
NME Album Of The Year: The Flaming Lips - 'The Soft Bulletin'
NME Single Of The Year: Aphex Twin - 'Windowlicker'
Best TV Show: 'The Royle Family'
Musical Event Of The Year: Glastonbury
Best Venue: London Brixton Academy
Dickhead Of The Year: Robbie Williams
Best Website: NME.COM
Worst Record Of The Year: The Vengaboys - 'We're Going To Ibiza'
Best Film: 'The Blair Witch Project'
Best DJ: Fatboy Slim
NME.COM Award For Best NME Premier Show Performance: Ooberman
Best Dance Act: The Chemical Brothers
Best Music Video: Blur - 'Coffee + TV'
Best Band: Blur
Best Single: Blur - 'Tender'
Best Band Ever: The Beatles
Godlike Genius Award For Services To Music: Shaun Ryder
Radio 1 Evening Session Session Of The Year: Supergrass
Artist Of The Year: Travis

Alfred Lennon marries Julia Stanley

On 3 December 1938 Alfred Lennon married Julia Stanley at the Mount Pleasant Registry Office (the same place where John Lennon & Cynthia Powell got married 24 years later).

They had not informed their family, only Alf's brother Sydney was invited as a witness. A cinema usherette was Julia's witness.

After the ceremony they all went to Reece's, a restaurant in Clayton Square. The restaurant was demolished when they built the Clayton Shopping Centre.Funnily, this is the same place where John took Cynthia after they got married.

1970 NME Awards - The Beatles win twice

At the end of 1970 New Musical Express (NME) published its annual awards - It was 40 years ago today

1970

World Male Singer: Elvis Presley
World Female Singer: Diana Ross
1970's Best British Single: Mungo Jerry - 'In The Summertime'
World Musical Personality: Elvis Presley
Best TV/ Radio Show: 'Top Of The Pops'
World Vocal Group: Creedence Clearwater Revival
British Vocal Personality: Cliff Richard
British Female Singer: Cilla Black
New Disc Singer: Elton John
Best New Group: McGuiness Flint
Top British Group: The Beatles
Brit. Instrumental Unit: The Shadows
Top Disc Jockey: Jimmy Savile
British Male Singer: Cliff Richard
1970's Best British LP: The Beatles - 'Let It Be'

Beatles Manager Brian Epstein

On 19 September 1934 Brian Epstein was born in Rodney Street, Liverpool to Harry and Malka Epstein, a wealthy Jewish family with roots in Russia.

Brian Epstein will always be remembered as the manager of The Beatles, although he also managed Cilla Black, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Cyrkle.

In 1961 Brian was the owner of NEMS (North End Music Stores) and he allegedly first heard about the Beatles when customers were asking for "My Bonnie" with The Beatles as backing group. He decided to check out a lunch performance of the Beatles in the Cavern Club on 9 November 1961 and Brian was immediately struck by their "sense of humour on stage" and later by their "personal charm.

Brian Epstein initially invited them at NEMS to discuss a possible management contract on 3 December 1961 but they didn't sign until 24 January 1962.

Brian Epstein is often credited for bringing routine and common sense into The Beatles chaotic life-style. He made them wear suits, stop eating and drinking on stage, and respect agreements.

On 27 August 1967 Brian Epstein died of an overdosis, and, - according to an interview with John - "that marked the beginning of the end for the Beatles"