BIRMINGHAM: Walk of Fame

Sunday 16th February, 2014

1:00am

Event information

You may not believe it but it's true! On 15 Feb.1963 The Beatles appeared at the Ritz Ballroom on York Road (now sadly burnt down) shortly after releasing their second single "Please Please Me".

Come and listen to a great line-up of top local musicians play their
favourite Beatles songs following last year's sold out anniversary celebration.

The Ritz Ballroom was one of four venues run in the 1950's and 60's by Ma and Pa Regan.

Originally scheduled to appear at The Ritz on 11 January, The Beatles had been prevented by blizzard like conditions from making the 11 mile journey to King's Heath from one of the Regans other venues - the Plaza in Old Hill. When they did eventually make it on 15 February, Beatlemania had really started to take off and they were only able to enter the Ritz by climbing up a ladder from Milford Place. In fact, the Fab Four almost had to appear as the Fab Three after George Harrison arrived late by taxi and was mobbed by screaming fans.
"Tell them to turn that racket down" is what Pa Regan is rumoured to have shouted while they were practising! But he was a very happy man really. He had persuaded Brian Epstein to agree to them performing for their previously agreed fee even though they were
now No. 1 in the charts!

King's Heath Walk of Fame is a small charity that aims to celebrate King's Heath's amazing musical, cultural and sporting heritage and encourage young people to become the stars of the future!

www.kingsheathwalkoffame.org.uk Twitter: @KHWalk of Fame