This was The Beatles’ only performance at this leisure centre on the High Street in Leyton, east London.
This show is commonly listed in Beatles reference books as having taken place on Friday 5 April 1963, but it actually took place three days later.
In the early months of 1963, I was working as a disc jockey at Leyton Baths in East London, an indoor swimming pool that had been converted into a dance hall. Every Friday night well-known groups of the time would play there live.By now the Beatles had already established themselves with ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘Please Please Me’ and also completed successful tours appearing with Helen Shapiro, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. Plans were also underway for the group to tour with Roy Orbison and Gerry and the Pacemakers. However despite this, Brian Epstein had insisted that the Beatles would still appear at the remaining outstanding dance hall dates that had been previously made.
So it was that in April 1963 the Beatles appeared at Leyton Baths (also on the bill was Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers). In front of a packed crowd of dancing, screaming fans, the Beatles wore maroon mohair suites with velvet collars and played most of the tracks featured on the Please Please Me album and gave a preview of their forthcoming single, ‘From Me To You’. After the show I went backstage, complete with camera to congratulate the boys.
I introduced myself and offered to buy them all beers, they accepted and over a few drinks we had a good chat, talking mostly about music and their favorite artists, the Beatles going out of their way to be jovial, obliging and friendly. I asked if I could take a photo of them “of course” they replied. “Just a minute” said Paul “I must clean my teeth first.” After a while Paul was ready and John positioned the group for their photo.
“Right” John said to me, “When I say three, we’ll all smile and you take the picture.” John commenced to count “one, two, THREE” John literally yelled THREE making the other Beatles and myself nearly jump out of skins. I wasn’t able to take the picture, but Paul was the worst “casualty,” he had still been holding the open tube of toothpaste and when John had shouted, Paul had squeezed the tube and a long length of toothpaste had shot down Paul’s trouser leg. After much laughter I finally got my photo with Paul keeping his hand over the embarrassing stain on his trousers.
Beatles Now, 1982
John Charles Julian Lennon, son to John and Cynthia Lennon, was born early on this day at Liverpool’s Sefton General Hospital. As The Beatles were on tour at the time, John didn’t get to see Julian until 11 April.
Also on this day...
- 1974: US single release: Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings
- 1967: Paul McCartney and Mal Evans holiday in Denver
- 1966: Recording: Got To Get You Into My Life
- 1965: Filming: Help!
- 1963: Julian Lennon is born
- 1962: The Beatles live: Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
On reading the review I’ve noticed you’ve place the Beatles at Leyton Baths on the 5th April 1963, sorry, you’ve got the wrong date, I know I was there, it was the Monday – 8th April, still got my entrance ticket somewhere.
That’s interesting. All reference books have the show on the fifth – I’d never heard otherwise before, but I did find an advert listing it as 8 April. I’ve amended the article.
If you’re able to scan the ticket in I’d love to put it on the site. You can send it to joe at beatlesbible dot com.
Do you know who the support bands were?
I was also there that night, I often tell the kids I saw the Beatles for 5 bob.
Leyton baths was an indoor pool that was boarded over for winter to have dances, etc. There was no security we could all get right up the front right in front of the groups.
Neighbouring suburb, Walthamstow was the last stronghold of the Teddy Boys who would rurn up to the baths in their Edwardian jackets and greased back hair, they were oddities even then
Used to go to the baths every week with my friends to dance and to see live bands. We were there for the Beatles, The Stones and most of the popular 60s bands. Great times!!
Part of the year the baths was just for swimming, floor boards were put across the pool for other events.
correct I have a poster for that show
Monday 8th April
Leyton Baths was a great venue in the early 60’s.Saw the Beatles,Stones,Hollies and many more.
Played here in the 60,s as support band to the Kinks , we were called either The Orbits or The Beat System at the time .
I was a member of The Orbits and we were one of the support bands on several occasions, with Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers and with The Checkmates (Emil Ford’s band).
As part of The Beat Syndicate we supported many acts at the Baths including The Animals, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders Tony Jackson & The Vibrations and The Rebounds, to name a few. The Baths was a great venue.
All the big names appeared at Leyton Baths,including Lord Sutch and his Savages and Johnny Kidd & the Pirates,Ah Great Days
Great days remember so well ….seeing some of the group’s in pub that was apposite for get name
King William IV
I wonder where you bought them a beer from, don’t think they sold it at the venue?
I played there in 1963 with my group Dave Curtiss and the Tremors. We were given top billing above the Hollies, probably because we’d just had a record out that was doing well called “You don’t love me anymore” their was also another support group there, I don’t remember their name, but they asked me if it was OK if they played our song.
I said, no problem we never play it. From what I remember, they did a good job.