#Beatles in Hamburg

[justlikedylansmrjones]

anyways heres this shitty little poem i wrote about the beatles in hamburg, theres no title because who cares. Enjoy=)

you are a drop of britain in that german sea

your english flesh still too raw, virgin

but the baltic wind will toughen it up.

the playing might give you callouses on your fingertips

but those streets will build callouses over your inhibitions

it will open your eyes

but close your mind

tighten your shoulders

but loosen your groin.

the Union Jack is your blanket

and the crumbling of the old empire

fuels your rabid youth.

the ink well in your mind

will make the world lucky for you.

[franklyimissparis]

also it would be a CRIME for them to not include the story of The Thing in george’s film i.e. the real fifth beatle

can george’s beatle biopic please be in the style of monty python pleaseeeeeeee

[ringosmistress]

[heltersk3lter]

they are so cute omgggg

[icriedforthemoon]

It's Them. It's Them against the rest of the world. It doesn't matter who's on the stage with Them, Paul will always search John's face and John will do the same to him. It's always been Them since they were 17, and it will always be Them even years after they broke up. They will write songs to themselves in hope to find each other again, and they will always be remembered as Lennon/McCartney.

[jellibabie]

george’s Thing in Hamburg watching the beatles practice from the corner

[thewalrusespublicist]

Hello! Love your blog and your takes, objective and sane and well researched chefs kiss! I had a blast scrolling through it like it was my feed yesterday lol can you elaborate on klaus and Paul if possible? People mostly talk about them like it’s already understood but I don’t understand 😭 I’m kinda lost on their (all of them, including stu) dynamic during the hamburg years specifically when it comes to Paul

Aww thank you anon! Tbh I was starting to feel a bit down about my blog and what I was putting out ( the eternal crisis on how to give full answers and opinions without being stupid, boring and annoying lol). So I really, really needed this. :)

Oh Paul vs/and the Exsis, it's quite a long one so buckle up.

Disclaimer: all of the people involved are essentially art kids/young adults who are famously the most exhausting people on the planet. Do not blame them for being dramatic, it's their natural state of being.

If we want to go into Paul and Klaus, we have to kind of start with the John, Paul and Stu. Now these three are a mess that's too big to go into here (though I have THOUGHTS about how Stu is utilised in the Beatles narrative that I'm more than happy to share if asked lmaooo). But in short(ish):

John and Paul had had an intense year and a bit of closeness. Then John meets Stu at art college.

John and Stu become c l o s e for many reasons (being peers, living together, similar artistic leanings + ego, Stu being a gentle guide to John, sharing art projects/poetry/long letters and feelings etc.) They became 'closer than two men' a friend had seen (remind us of anyone gang?). Most importantly, John could be open about his feelings with Stu in letters. If John had BPD which I subscribe too, I think Stu was his 'favourite person' and as Aunt Mimi said his 'special' and 'closest friend' from this period up until his death (though imho the transference back to Paul was starting prior to his death).

It's not clear what exactly happens as there's differing accounts but Stu uses his money to buy a new bass as John wants him to come to Scotland then Hamburg and play bass as he will 'look good'.

Paul doesen't like being relegated to the seat behind John and Stu when he used to sit next to John. He also isn't thrilled when he gets to Hamburg and not only does he get to sleep in the other room with just Pete but Stu cannot be arsed to play because he's hanging out with his hot new girlfriend Astrid (more on her in a sec). Our boy has spent a lot of money he doesen't have and given up on further education to be here and is jealous and annoyed.

Paul and Stu probably were friends and I think their mutual antipathy is overegged. HOWEVER, can't be denied that Paul is jealous of Stu and Stu is jealous of Paul (and getting flare-ups from increasing brain damage). John and Stu tease Paul and steal his money, Paul is mean to Stu (as are the others encouraged by John). Do I think John was playing games with both of them? Yup. They end up scuffling onstage because Paul said something about Astrid (not clear what, one account is that Paul said that Stu could borrow money off Astrid if he needed it which isn't really that bad a dig but who knows Yoko??).

Why is this dynamic important? Because it directly impacts the 'Exsis' (Klaus, Jurgen and Astrid's) group's relationship with Paul:

The Exsis were young artists living in Hamburg. They were artistic, cool, interesting and edgy. They were paramount in introducing the Beatles to cool new concepts, aesthetics and ideas. They also took themselves VERY seriously ie pretentious as all hell.

Astrid met Stu at Kaiserkeller and hit it off. They embarked on an all-consuming romance.

Letter from Stu to Astrid, c.1961

I've seen people say they were the proto-John and Yoko in terms of making their romance the whole world and influencing John years down the line and I can see that. With Astrid and Stu it's far more endearing though because they ARE young and the right age to have a relationship like that. Stu is popular with the Exsis in general and brings them into the Beatles group.

The Exsis didn't like or trust Paul. Astrid said later it was because Paul was 'too nice' which she herself admits is a ridiculous reason. The others also thought he was a bit of a show-off. It makes sense though if you're cool and edgy and want to stick it to the world to be sus about a guy being friendly show-off with seemingly no inner world. The other problem was a perfectly reasonable one imo, you're not going to like your friends frenemy who you don't connect with. Compound that with Paul not taking drugs as much as George or John and being in the other room and you begin to have a division.

Paul had been popular his whole life, like from what we know since-primary-school-popular. He had never been in this position before, let alone in a foreign country. I believe it became a bit of a brutal feedback loop. Paul's response to this type of behaviour consistently it to go more surface level, snide and passive aggressive. The natural response of any group with a designated 'ugh' person is to become more shady and exclusionary. The cycle continues and gets worse. Stu letters back home at this time says that in a shocking turn of events Paul is hated by everyone but Stu 'just feels sorry for him' (lmao OF COURSE you do Stu, its giving 'loathing' from Wicked lol). Klaus drew a lot of artwork of the early Hamburg Beatles that includes this highly unpleasant picture of Paul in 1961 which I think says a lot:

Klaus is also a musician and fancies himself a place on bass. When Stu leaves to pursue art, Klaus asks John if he could take over but John says that he thinks Paul is going to do it.

Klaus has later gone on to say that he thinks he was a better bass player for the Beatles' sound at the start and then Paul developed into being better for the group. It's one of those I cannot believe those words actually left your mouth and you are not deeply embarrased moments. But it's important to keep this desire and viewpoint in mind.

Klaus stays in touch with all of them and close to John and George, George especially. They visit Klaus on holiday in tenerife in early 60s and Klaus later draws the Revolver artwork.

This whole context of how they met and Hamburg is crucial and has to be taken into account when hearing Klaus' statements. Klaus and Paul started off with a lack of connection and with Paul on the outs, the Exsis got an incomplete view of Paul and an inaccurate snapshot of the Beatles dynamic overall. This is why when Klaus says 'Paul was always slightly apart from the others' and that 'divorce was inevitable' from early 60s we should remember that that is what Klaus is expecting to see as that's what he saw in Hamburg.

Klaus wanted to be the bass player (and was holding out hope to join a band with George and John in the 70s), was really close with George and suffers as many did with 'John Lennon aspiring boy bestie syndrome' (JABBS). Paul had what Klaus wanted and from the Hamburg experience, you could see why Klaus thought he might have an in and may have been jealous of this 'shallow' Paul of all people having the connection that he felt he should/could have with John and George. As with most sufferers of JABBS, he took John's side with everything, always refused to say any regrets about his involvement in How do you Sleep and thought Paul was fine with the song because 'he was even closer to John than [he] was. (Again Klaus to put yourself in that level of closeness with John that it's comparable to Paul is ???.) JABBS and its secondary condition PMIETGSH (Paul McCartney isn't even that good shut up) are virulent diseases that incapacitate sufferers objectivity and judgement, so it's fair to say that Klaus is a source you have to take with a pinch of salt on the early 70s period.

It seems that Klaus and Paul did get on a lot better the older they got (probably without the jealousy complication of George and John) and developed a sweet friendship. Here is Klaus' tribute to Paul for his 80th:

Here is the jam session he's talking about:

He now wants Paul to live in his house lmao so things have gotten warmer. But Klaus and Paul's dynamic is a great example of how and why natural bias, little jealousies and spats can consciously or subconsciously influence our internal narrative and why we need to be so careful about not taking one perspective as gospel.

[lenetaylor]

George and his "Asser"

A letter from George Harrison to Astrid Kircherr, August 1963, on stationery from the Palace Court, Bournemouth, where The Beatles had played The Gaumont, from Monday 19th August to Saturday 24th August 1963.

There is a LOT going on in this letter (George's obsession with photos?, George writing a book??, hate for Mrs. Sutcliffe???, George's aching balls????), but what endeared me was his nickname for Astrid: "Asser", which would be pronounced Assa or Azza. It's true, Hazza and the lads had loads of Northern nicknames for their mates!

My transcription under the cut.

DEAR ASTRID,

Do you remember me asking you in Tenerife to write to me as soon as you get back to Hamburg? You didn’t know how long you were going to stay at Klaus’ house, so you would write to me from Hamburg, then I would send you all the records and fun and games!

Betty (the great) comes to England all fat and sloppy saying, - “Vhy you no write to Astrid,” as if it was my fault, so just shut up. Anyway Asser, I bought you the records I told you about years ago, and they are still at home covered in dust, so if you have decided where about’s you are living lately, then let me know and I will send them to you with some other nice ones that you would like.

Fat Betty has seen all the Happy holiday Photos, hasn’t she? but I haven’t, oh-no. You won’t show them to me will you!

Actually if she had not come to England with King Size, then I would still be wondering which part of the world you where in!

I bought a Jaguar (car) last month, I think you would like it. I will send you a photograph of it, with the records as soon as I get back to Liverpool.

I hope you don’t think I am being funny but…..Could you look through your photographs and find some – or all of the photo’s that have the Beatles, either all together or separately, or that any of us with other people on them, in fact any photographs at all that may be of interest and then if you felt in a HAPPY ASTRID MOOD, do you think that you could either GIVE or LEND them to me. It does not matter if they photographs are terrible, as I won’t tell anybody that you made them, if you want me to.

You know that Paul and John are going to be very rich soon, when they collect the money they have made by writing all those songs, and I don’t think that you would like to see me poor and hungry, so I have decided to make a book. It won’t be a DA SADE type book, but a daft story about the BEATLES, with some photographs in it, and then I hope to sell it to all the nice people and then I can buy food with the money…Can’t I?

I would like to have some pictures that the people haven’t already seen in all the other books, so that is why I am asking you. It would be very nice of you, even if the pictures were old at the Indra and KaiserKeller and Top Ten. I know you are very particular about what you do with all the lovely photos, but if you are nice and send me some with the negatives, then I will kill Mrs. Sutcliffe for you! But if you don’t, then I will pay for Mrs. S. To go to Hamburg and see you for a Holiday!!!

What happened to Jürgen? Do you know his address? Where is Klaus now, as I still haven’t said ‘Thank you’ for letting us live in his house.

How are you Asser? Are you well, because I have been ill all week, feeling tired all the time. The doctor gave me a tonic which is like liquid preludin. My balls have been aching too, and banging around on stage!

We will be in Paris for 3 weeks in January. I will write again with the records cheerio and love from Georgie (your friend who wants the photos)

This was published in the July 2015 issue of Record Collector.

[beatle-stories333]

just a baby

[strwbryfeels]

[evrythingisabeatlesreferance]

Hamburg days Beatle passport photos

[philcollinsenjoyer]

uncarley mclennon video was a mistake for her bc beatles fans get an almost sexual pleasure out of correcting people about details and she refuses to even read a single book when she does research

[kaiserkeller]

A lesser shared photo of Jürgen Vollmer.

[rockytheraccoon]

‘63 Lennon-McCartney

[lick-me-lennon22]

Drunk!Hamburg!Beatles X Reader Headcanons

(thank you to @lfrom-thestars for this adorable request!! I hope this lives up to your expectations 💞 enjoy!)

The Beatles collectively become a chaotic force of energy when intoxicated, bouncing off of each other with endless jokes and antics

the liveliness of the Hamburg nightlife only fuels their escapades, their raucous laughter cutting through the conversations of other patrons and earning them glares that go unnoticed in their drunken haze

when you receive the call that they've been kicked out of their fourth bar of the night, you spring into action and come to lead your boys home, cutting them off since they're clearly too far gone to make that call on their own

almost immediately, impromptu performances erupt on streetcorners, drawing crowds of curious onlookers who are captivated by The Beatles' drunken melodies

you somehow manage to shoo them away and steer the boys toward a less populated route

as the night progresses, they become more unpredictable and you soon find yourself herding them like four mischievous puppies, ensuring they stick together and don't wander off into the chaos of the city streets

Ringo is the first to stray from the group, becoming distracted by some spray painted street art on the wall of a nearby building

you gently redirect him, taking him by the hand and pointing to something shiny up ahead, his short attention span already shifting focus to the new object

next to wander is Paul, stumbling over to a bronze statue and beginning to chat it up

he uses his best flirting tactics but the statue, being... well... a statue, is unaffected by his charms

you grab his arm and sling it over your shoulder to steady him as you walk him back over to the other three boys, Paul leaving sloppy kisses all over your face in the meanwhile

when you finally shrug him off, confident he can keep up on his own, he redirects his affection to John

John, all the more rowdy and brash when he's had a few too many, takes issue with this and becomes fired up, shoving away Paul (though he only returns for more)

just as John is winding his arm back, preparing to slug his clingy mate, you place yourself between the two men and act as a mediator

you suggest Paul go and pay a visit to Ringo, who is more than happy to accept his attention, and instruct John to take a few deep breaths

when the dust settles on this little spat, things are seemingly going according to plan and you're quickly approaching the hotel

that is until George, who has become increasingly more talkative in his drunken state, decides the silence isn't cutting it and decides to fill it with philosophical musings

you passify him as best you can, nodding and feigning interest in his nonsensical ramblings until the hotel is finally in sight

George makes it all of ten yards from the entrance when he stops suddenly, doubling over and heaving as you hold his hair back for him

thankfully he's too preoccupied to notice John's laughter at his plight and, after a few pats on the back, you make it safely inside and up to the room with a few sympathetic looks from the staff

the next morning as they nurse their hangovers, you dole out aspirins and glasses of water to the boys and order a hearty breakfast to get them back to their old selves as fast as possible

as difficult as it is to keep it to yourself, you refrain from reminding them of the silly antics they pulled last night, letting them recover with their dignity (for now)

as shitty as they feel now, they're still exhilarated by the unforgettable night you all shared together on the vibrant streets of Hamburg, and are forever grateful for your care