Birmingham's Beatles connection: The Five Fab facts that link Birmingham to The Beatles

The Beatles created more chart history just before Christmas with their 'last' song Now and Then becoming the country's top single.

The song came a record-breaking 54 years after their last UK number one, which was The Ballad of John and Yoko in 1969. The new track was initially recorded by John Lennon in 1977 as a solo home demo but left unfinished. After Lennon's death in 1980, the song was considered as a potential third Beatles reunion single.

Now and Then was completed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, using overdubs and guitar tracks by George Harrison and with the help of AI technology. Reaching Number One again is certainly an incredible achievement for The Fab Four - the band which many consider to be the most influential of all time, with Lennon and McCartney's songwriting partnership considered the most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold.

What links the Liverpool-born musicians to Birmingham?

Well, there are actually Five Fab facts that link McCartney and co to the city.

1. Paul McCartney and Wings

After The Beatles went their seperate ways in 1970, each of the four embarked on successful solo careers, especially John and Paul. McCartney formed Wings with his wife Linda and the Let it Be singer also recruited Birmingham's Denny Laine.

Laine was born in Tyseley and was known for founding The Moody Blues before joining Wings. Laine was a constant member of Wings for their entire run from 1971 to 1981, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, singing backing and lead vocals, and co-writing songs with McCartney including the 1977 hit Mull of Kintyre.

2. When The Beatles came to town

The Merseyside rockers first came to Birmingham in 1963, at the height of Beatlemania. The group performed at the Ritz Ballroom in Kings Heath in February and also later on they played at the Hippodrome twice in March 1963 and November the same year.

In July 1963 the Beatles returned again to play a second hurriedly re-arranged gig when Ritz owners Ma & Pa Regan switched them at the last moment from playing an early evening gig at one of their other clubs - the Handsworth Plaza - to the Ritz. Later that same evening they played the Old Hill Plaza. They also played in the city in October 1964 and December 1965 at the Odeon Cinema.

3. McCartney’s fun 1960s remark about a Birmingham fire officer

A rare set of The Beatles autographs obtained by one dad who infamously told the band ‘I don’t know what my daughter sees in you’ were sold for more than £7,000 at an auction in October 2023.

The complete set of signatures were signed at Buckingham Palace on the day the Fab Four received their MBEs from The Queen on October 26, 1965. John, Paul George and Ringo penned their autographs for Birmingham fire officer George Goodman who requested them for his 12-year-old daughter Joy when he received his MBE on the same day as The Beatles.

While Joy was a huge fan, her matter-of-fact dad’s blunt and hilariously honest exchange was discussed at a Beatles press conference following the ceremony. After leaving the palace, John Lennon told reporters the band signed autographs ‘for all the people who were waiting to get their MBEs’. Paul McCartney then added: “They were all nice, you know. But one fellow said: “I want it for my daughter but I don’t know what she sees in you!”

The autographs were sold to a Beatles fan in Lichfield back in October.

4. Beatlemania returns to Kings Heath

To mark 60 years since The Beatles played at the Ritz Ballroom next to the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, a tribute concert was held at The Station pub on the High Street by the brilliant tribute band: the Let it Beatles.

Included in their set was a special medley featuring many of the songs the Beatles played at the 1963 Ritz shows, including Please, Please, Me, I Want To Hold Your Hand and Twist & Shout!

5. McCartney's plectrum sold by Sutton GP

A broken plectrum used by Paul McCartney along with a set of The Beatles autographs also went under the hammer earlier this month. The Fab Four collection, gathered by a 15-year-old schoolgirl in 1964, was sold by Richard Winterton Auctioneers at its Fradley Park, Lichfield base. 

The autograph book, which belonged to fan Louisa Walne, also includes a message from Beatles roadie Mal Evans. He wrote: “To Louisa, with love and best wishes Malcolm Evans (Beatles Road Manager).” The collection was expected to realise around £5,000. The autograph book and McCartney's plectrum was sold by Dr Julian Dennis, a retired GP from Sutton Coldfield, who has looked after it for the past half a century.