This was The Beatles’ 37th and final performance at the Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool’s Hayman Green. The venue was owned by drummer Pete Best’s mother Mona.
The Casbah also closed on this night. The decision followed the death of Mona Best’s mother Mary, who had been suffering from cancer. Mona was also eight months pregnant with Roag Best, her son with The Beatles’ roadie Neil Aspinall; Roag was born on 21 July 1962.
The Beatles played at the Casbah Coffee Club more than any other place apart from the Cavern Club and the Hamburg venues. The other dates were: 17 and 31 December 1960; 15 and 29 January; 12, 19 and 26 February; 5, 12, 19 and 26 March; 6, 13 and 27 August; 10 and 24 September; 22 October; 19 and 24 November; 3 and 17 December 1961; 7, 14, 21 and 28 January; 4, 11, 18 and 25 February; 4, 11, 18 and 25 March; 1, 7 and 8 April 1962.
The Quarrymen also performed at the Casbah on seven occasions: 29 August; 5, 12, 19 and 26 September; and 3 and 10 October 1959.
I just visited Liverpool and got a private one-hour tour of the Casbah by Pete Best’s nephew. I was spellbound by the place and the stories he told me. The club was left exactly the way it was when the Quarrymen played there. The teenage decor, designed and created by Paul, John, Cynthia (soon-to-be-Lennon), George, and Pete was so interesting. I felt beyond privileged to be the only visitor in the entire lair. Seeing John’s name engraved by his pocketknife was a small highlight. The Casbah was a highlight of the trip, along with going inside John’s and Paul’s childhood homes.