Roag Best

An interesting account of how the Casbah coffee club was established in the late 50's, in the cellar of the home of Pete Best's mother, in Haymans Green, West Derby, Liverpool. The house was paid for in cash after Mona Best won the money on a horse called 'Never Say Die'. She had pawned her jewellery to put the bet on, and the horse won, netting her a fortune - enough to buy the massive family home. She decided to convert the cellar rooms into a coffee club for her sons Pete and Rory, so that they and their friends could relax and play their records and dance. The cellar rooms were painted by all the young teenagers and friends of the Bests, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, who as a 4 piece band with bassist Ken Browne, were the first group to play at the Casbah at the end of August 1958. So, as the book claims in the title - the true beginnings of at least three quarters of the Beatles. Some wonderful photographs of the club, which can still be seen today as the rooms have been preserved. If you want to know more of the history of the world's most popular pop group, then this is an excellent source of material.… (mais)