Back to John Cirillo's home page
This page started out as a Beatles fan's curiosity about one of the other Merseybeat groups, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, who played at the Cavern in the 1960s Merseybeat boom and for a time outshone the Beatles. As the page has progressed and more information has come it, I have made an attempt to document the group's history as best I can.
Rory and his group almost got lost in the shuffle, but thanks to many fans and industry people who have shared their knowledge and remembrances, we can hopefully paint a fairly accurate image of Rory and his group.
Born Alan Caldwell, Rory Storm formed his group around 1957. Various names were used, namely the Alan Caldwell Skiffle Group, then Rory Storm and the Raving Texans, and finally Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
At some point, I understand that Alan had his name legally changed to Rory Storm. In 1958 as a skiffle group called the Raving Texans, they won first prize at a talent contest at Butlin's in Rhyl.
By 1959, as rock and roll replaced skiffle, Rory's band changed their style to rock as well. the group were Liverpool's most popular group at that time. Rory himself was an athletic lad and during the course of his performances he would attempt to climb up on whatever equipment was available on the stage, even to the extent of crawling up into the
upper catacombs of the building. The fans went wild over this activity. An interesting note is that Storm had a stutter when talking, which completely vanished when he was singing.
It has been said that although Rory was the dynamic showman of the group, the strong singer was Lou Walters.
At one time, The Hurricanes had a bass player named Bobby Thomson. Some people have identified him as the bespectacled bass player in the photos. However, other information shows that Lou Walters was the bespectacled bass player. In Bill Harry's Merseybeat book, there is an article written in the July 18-August 1, 1963 issue by Lou Walters in which he indicates he was not a member in the Raving Texan days but was present at the Butlins performances and later in Germany. On the other hand, Merseybeat from April 19-May 3, 1962 shows a photo lineup and identifies the man with glasses as Bobby Thomson. On this same page it states that the group are spending their third season at Butlins, Skegness. So I am not quite sure which photos are of Lou or Bobby, except one, which is the publicity photo included farther down this page. I have been informed by Bill Harry that the man in glasses in that particular photo is Bobby Thomson. Apparently Lou and Bobby were both the bass player on and off at different times.
It was around 1959 that the Hurricanes had acquired their most recent drummer, Ringo Starr. His real name was Richard Starkey, but he had assumed the name of Ringo Starr out of admiration for his wild-west heroes (and perhaps because he wore so many rings). Actually, some sources state that it was Rory that got Ringo to change his name. During the shows, Ringo had his own spot called "Ringo Starrtime" where he was permitted the spotlight and performed such songs as Matchbox and Boys and others he liked. (Latest source: From Blackjacks to Beatles by Catherine Doyle, found at http://www.best.com/~abbeyrd/namec.htm )
After this, the Hurricanes played many dates in and around Liverpool, as well as the gigs at Butlin's and in Hamburg, Germany, during which time they became closer friends to the Beatles, and after Ringo
having stood-in for the Beatles' drummer Pete Best a few times (1962), the Beatles decided to
ask Ringo to join their group. Rory was naturally a bit distraught about this, but was sporting enough to let the inevitable happen, and released Mr. Starkey to the Beatles. This was August of 1962.
After Ringo left the group, there were numerous replacements. Known replacements were Gibson Kemp, Keef Hartley, Ian Broad, Trevor Morais, Aynsley Dunbar, and Jimmy Tushingham. As I get more names, I will add them. I don't know the order in which they were featured, though I have information that Jimmy was present in 1963.
Also, it is reported that when Lou Walters left the group in 1964, he was replaced by Vince Earl.
As the Beatles improved and made a name for themselves, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes continued playing in and around Liverpool, plus the extended gigs at Butlins. But by then, the Beatles were doing
something else: In June of 1962 they were recording in an EMI studio with George Martin, their new producer. What happened next is unclear, but by the time the Beatles made a national name for themselves, every A&R man in London was up in Liverpool, scouting for
groups to sign up. Some reports say that Rory Storm and the Hurricanes missed their chance because they were gone on tour when this all happened, but in Philip Norman's "Shout!", he states that Rory Storm and the Hurricanes DID get signed to the Oriole
label sometime in 1963. I have a listing from the Goldmine British Invasion Record Price Guide which identifies the Oriole single as Dr. Feelgood/I Can Tell, Oriole CB 1858, 1963. (One reader confirms the existence of this single - he has it). Also listed is Take Six, an EP (Oriole EP 7800, 1964) which contains songs by Faron's Flamingoes, Ian and the Zodiacs, Mark Peters' Silhouettes, Earl Preston, Sonny Wade, and Rory Storm.
Further reports state that they made a few records at EMI under the production of Brian Epstein, in particular the song "America" from "West Side Story". This song was originally released as a single in the UK.
This one song has appeared in a few compilations over the years, and is supposed to feature Ringo Starr on backing vocals (not drumming).
The most recent compilation to contain the song "America" is a UK release on CD entitled "Liverpool 1963-1968, Volume One." This 1994 release is on See-For-Miles Records, Ltd. out of Maidenhead, England (SEECD 370). According to the liner notes, Rory's guitarist Johnny "Guitar" Byrne states that the song was recorded because Brian Epstein felt some guilt about stealing Ringo away from the Hurricanes. Because of this, Brian arranged an all-expenses-paid trip for the group to record in London. The songs were of Brian's choosing and were produced at Parlophone by Brian Epstein, presumably with help from George Martin. What the other songs were, is not stated. In Adam Clayson's 'Ringo Starr - Straight Man or Joker', he mentions that the EMI sessions contained Ubangi Stomp, I'll Be There (a Bobby Darin piece), and Since You Broke My Heart. The original release of "America" was on Parlophone R 5197, Nov 13, 1964. Johnny states "The single sold fairly well on Merseyside but elsewhere it plummeted to obscurity."
Regarding the song "America", as I mentioned, it is on this new release from See-For-Miles records. Should you be interested in this CD or others in their catalog, you may enquire by writing to:
PO Box 328
Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2NE
ENGLAND
Note that this CD can also be ordered from www.cdnow.com. The item number is SFM M54707
As to the other songs they might have done, one reader has stated that he remembers seeing Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at a Butlin's Holiday Camp and that Ringo sang on
a few songs such as "Boys" and "Matchbox." I do not know whether these songs were
recorded or not. Also in Adam Clayson's Ringo book, he mentions that on an old album (Decca?) entitled 'This is Merseybeat' there is a track by the Hurricanes, 'recorded (crudely) in a Rialto hallway'. The track name is not stated.
Just a side note about Butlin's: It is a holiday camp, something quite common in the UK but which has no parallel in the U.S. About the closest thing I can think of would be an amusement park which also supplies living quarters for the duration of your stay.
At any rate, the particular Butlin's where the Hurricanes played (there are several throughout the UK) is in Pwllheli, Gwynedd, Wales, which is on the Lleyn peninsula in Wales. The easiest way to find this is to find Caernarfon and go straight south till you hit the water, then slightly west.
In the book "Imagine-John Lennon" another Butlin's camp is also mentioned. On page 269 there is a reference to ringing up Ringo while he was working at Butlin's in Skegness with the Hurricanes.
Also, one of the more dreary jobs of the 'house' group (such as the Hurricanes) was to play backup to the amateur talent in the audience. There was a weekly talent contest. I guess a sort of forerunner to Karaoke.
Getting back to the story... Unfortunately, the records by the Hurricanes were only purchased by the loyal fans, and this was not sufficient to make the charts. A scan of the Guinness book of British hit singles reveals no
entries for the group. A recent item I found at www.pepperland.com shows a small list of songs by the group, namely Dr. Feel Good, I Can Tell, Beautiful Dreamer, America, Since You Broke My Heart.
There is no information on the page other than this list, however a kind reader mentioned that he had the CD, and it is on Street Records, Chicago Illinois. The CD number is RS01. These songs can sometimes be found on mp3 download sites.
Among other titles allegedly recorded are Lend Me Your Comb and Green Onions. As far as I know, these latter two have never been released.
History becomes unclear as to the fortunes and demise of groups such as the Hurricanes.
Many of the Liverpool groups never expected anything more than to play a few gigs, make a few bob, and that's that. No-one ever dreamed that a group from Liverpool could ever reach the worldwide fame that awaited the Beatles, and many of them didn't even try for that elusive prize.
One can only speculate that the Hurricanes felt this way as well, though it's hard to imagine after seeing their friendly rival group The Beatles actually make it.
Trying to find more information is difficult; The books that mention the Hurricanes only mention them in passing, since their main coverage is on the Beatles. It is my hope that someone will write a book detailing the history of the Hurricanes. The problem is that there's not many people left who can do it!
But we DO know that the Hurricanes were signed to a label and did record some songs. We also know that the group never had any success as a recording group, not even one song in the charts. By the mid-sixties, the group had broken up, and Rory worked variously as a
disk jockey and (according to some sources) a ski instructor throughout the sixties.
The end of the story came in 1972 when, on September 27, shortly after the death of his father, Rory and his mother were both found dead of an overdose of sleeping pills. The deaths were ruled as a double suicide,
however according to some who were close to Rory, there is a difference of opinion. Rory would never do something like commit suicide, they would say. He was too flamboyant for that. More likely, Rory accidentally ingested too much medication for pain he was having, and when his mother found him dead she couldn't bear the thought of losing her husband and son at the same time, and it was she who committed suicide.
The above suggestion was obtained from the Adam Clayson book 'Ringo Starr - Straight Man or Joker'.
After the deaths, Rory's sister Iris burned his huge collection of memorabilia in a bonfire at the family home "Stormsville."
Bill Harry, Merseybeat chronicler, writes about Rory's death:
Dear John,
Thank you for the e-mail. Yes, I have all the press clippings that
reported Rory's death.
The actual clippings are inconclusive and Roy Barter, the coroner, said
"I am far from happy at this situation where two people can die of
barbiturate poisoning and there is no trace of where the tablets came from.
"I cannot complete this inquest until I am satisfied about these
tablets. Drug squad detectives will make inquiries at the chemist from where
they came." The inquest was adjourned.
The funeral service took place at Oakvale Congregational Church in
Broadgreen prior to the cremation of Rory and his mother at Anfield
crematorium. Pallbearers were former members of his group, Jimmy Tushingham,
Vince Earl and Johnny Guitar. The mourners sang his favourite song 'You'll
Never Walk Alone'.
Rory had taken 11 Tuinal tablets and his mother 20.
Rory's father had died suddenly in January, which devastated his mother.
As a result Rory returned to Liverpool from the continent to console her.
Rory's sister Iris, talking about her mother immediately after the
deaths, said, "When my dad died she changed completely and became practically
a zombie, and she even lost interest in children. My first child was my
mother's whole life. But she lost interest when my father died. Before, she
used to be round at my house all the time."
I tend to accept Shane Fenton's theory about what happened, although it
will always really remain a mystery. However, I don't accept what Sam Leach
says and I think it denigrates Rory's memory. Rory wouldn't commit suicide
over a girl friend - the guy had more women in a few years than people had in
a lifetime, he played the field.
Rory had such a lust for life that I can't believe he would commit
suicide, which makes Shane's theory seem the most logical.
Best wishes,
Bill.
Bill made reference to Sam Leach's theory which is in Sam's book 'The Rocking City' published in 1999 by Pharaoh Press in the UK. Thanks to John Kennedy from the publisher for allowing us to reprint this information.
John writes:
"I am currently working with Sam Leach, one of Liverpool's top promoters
of beat music in the early sixties, on a book entitled 'The Rocking
City'. It is scheduled for publication in the UK in September (Pharaoh
Press).
Sam was a close friend of Rory's right up to the time he took his own
life in 1972 and he writes extensively about The Hurricanes. Most of
what you have written on your website is broadly true. One exception is
Rory's suicide. His mother (Violet - although everyone called her Mrs
Storm) did not kill herself as a consequence of Rory's suicide. Rory's
dad, Ernie, had died earlier in the year and Mrs Storm was unable to
live without him. Both she and Rory went into deep depressions in the
months that followed.
Rory's state of mind was also affected by the breaking-off of his
engagement. Rory had returned from Holland (where he worked as a DJ and
had been cured of his stutter) to find his fiancee, Kathy, was seeing an
older man. This, along with his father's death, proved to be too much
for Rory.
He once mentioned suicide as an option to Sam and then, as they were
playing golf together one day, he suddenly declared 'Tell them not to
blame Kathy.' Sam, obviously concerned, could not get him to elaborate
but a few days later he was dead.
The full story is known only to Rory and Violet, but from a note left by
Violet it would seem that Violet told Rory she was taking her life
because of Ernie's death and Rory, on top of everything else, could not
contemplate life without her.
They left behind a sister, Iris, who was married to Shane Fenton, better
known in the seventies as Alvin Stardust.
This is just a taste of the stuff that is contained in Sam's book - a
rare insight into life with The Beatles, The Hurricanes and other groups
of Merseybeat scene from 1960 to 1964.
It should be in the UK shops in time for the Beatlefest in Liverpool at
the end of August. A US deal is being negotiated."
John Kennedy
(Aintree, Liverpool)
Note: Regarding John Kennedy's statement that Rory's mum was known to everyone as Mrs. Storm, this might be a misnomer. According to Jimmy Tushingham's daughter Lisa, her father reiterated that Rory's mum was known as Ma Storm.
I have received (in 2000) two other interesting Rory Storm-related notes from Bill Harry, the longtime Mersey Beat editor and author of the Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia.
Bill has graciously agreed to let me reprint them for the benefit of everyone:
"I was writing a book about Rory with Johnny Byrne who unfortunately died last year. Read the entry I've written about him in my revised Beatles encyclopedia published on April 14 2000 by Virgin Books. I have amassed a great deal of details about rory from my researchers and Rory's sister Iris phoned to say she'd help me write the book.
Best wishes,
Bill Harry"
And another, more detailed one:
"Bobby Thompson appeared in a special tribute to Johnny Guitar in March, which took place at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool. He travelled up from the Midlands where he lives. I remember the photo of Bobby with the Hurricanes as it was used in Mersey Beat for an advert for Duncan's the tailors, who made them their stage outfits. Lu Walters did leave the group for a time, as did Ringo. There was a relaxed attitude to this and they returned. Rory even had a group called Rory Storm & the Wild Ones. They appeared at lunchtime sessions at the Iron Door club. This is a warehouse cellar club similar to the Cavern and only a short distance away. Most groups couldn't play lunchtime sessions as various members were either at college, working or training as apprentices - which is one of the reasons why the Beatles took up the lunchtime sessions at the Cavern, not of them had jobs and all had left school. As some of the Hurricanes weren't available for lunchtime sessions, Rory created the Wild Ones. I was researching information about this period with Johnny, but he died before I got the information on the personnel. The Iron Door was a very interesting club with some great stories, the Beatles and lots of other groups appeared there on a mammoth all night session. It's not as famous as the Cavern, but more of its interesting history should have been revealed. Bobby Thompson joined Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes, one of the greatest of the Mersey Beat bands. Later on he joined Birmingham group The Rocking Berries and has lived in the Midlands ever since. Kingsize Taylor was the best singer in the entire Mersey Scene, I just wish I had his version of Never In A Hundred Years and Stupidity. If any other group apart from the Beatles should have made it from Liverpool, the Dominoes deserved it. Unfortunately, when it was all happening, they were in Germany and stayed there for a few years.
Also appearing at the Philharmonic tribute were Howie Casey and Vince Earl. Vince used to lead a group called Vince Earl & the Talismen. Then he joined Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. For the last few decades he's been one of the stars of the television soap Brookside, set in Liverpool, playing Ron Dixon. The soap got together members of original Mersey groups such as Gerry & the pacemakers and the swinging Bluejeans, along with Pete Best, in a fictitious group called The Scottie Dogs.
I had dinner with Jim Turner a few months ago. Jim was a good friend of Rory and was in an athletic team with him. Jim also joined Rory's first group. I've been trying to get Jim's story but he hasn't been replying to letters or phone calls lately.
Best wishes,
Bill"
Occasionally I receive a note from a reader who was there during the glory days of Rory Storm. I've just received a good one, and the sender has graciously agreed to let me print his remembrance:
I recall Rory Storm and the Hurricanes very clearly. They played every night at the "Viennese Room" at Butlins Camp in Pwllweli in North Wales. I was about 17 at the time, so it must have been around 1962. Rory Storm often wore a rather "Liberace" sparkley jacket at that time, and had blonde hair that made the girls wet their knickers. I particularly recall Rory, because as he pushed his way to the stage he spilled my glass of beer. This pissed me off rather badly , so a small fracas took place and I, along with a couple of my pals got thrown out (I was a ornery teenager at that time, ready to fight anyone). The next day we saw Rory and his group down at the pool and I was keen to show him I didn't take shit from anyone. We were all set for a blood bath, but somehow, the hard words and threats didn't seem the same in the morning sun, so as it turned out we ended up having a couple of beers with the guys . The Butlins Chalet security were all set to throw us out of the camp for being trouble makers but Rory told them to chill out and let us stay. That night we went again to the Viennese Room & saw the group play for the first time. The number that brought the house down was "Boys" and it really got the place jumping. That night I lost my virginity to an "Old" 25 yr old woman who worked at the Viennese Room, so I guess Rory's music really made its impact !.
At that time the Beatles and the "Liverpool Beat" was not really heard by the rest of UK, (mainly confined to the "Cavern" area) but those Holiday Camps drew kids from all over the country, and for the first time we began to feel that a British group had found a new sound that we could call "ours" and not imported from USA . Prior to that time Elvis, and Bill Haley were the only new vibes for the kids to identify with as being their kinda music. The Rory Storm group had something very special .. a rich blend of rock and blues and I rekon that if Brian Epstein (Beatles manager) had seen Rory first .. the Beatles may have been left as a buncha guys playin in a Cellar.
Keep Rockin'
Rod Fountain
Thanks Rod, for helping us to see what it might have been like in those days!
Here's another one...
Just read your page on Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Excellent! They were a fabulous band and certainly the best showband on the Mersey scene. I used to play with a Wallasey band called the Vibrators,(well they weren't invented then) and played opening group before them when they played 'over the water' i.e. Birkenhead or Wallasey. The line up when they played with us was always Rory, Lou. Ty , Johnny G and various drummers. I always thought of Ty as the lead guitar while JG played great chunky rhythm. Some of the numbers they featured where. I can tell.Johhny B Good. Reelin & Rockin. Fortune Teller. Heartbeat. Say Mama. Hallelujah I love her so. I recall they all had different coloured suits (pink,blue,yellow, etc.) when we played a gig with them at the open air swimming pool at New Brighton, to finish his act Rory dived off the TOP diving board into the pool! We used to get about £12 per night for opening (for the whole band) and Rory's average fee was about £30.00. Big Money! I also depped a few times for Vince Earl's band The Talisman, when my late school friend (Keith Ellis of the Koobas) was unavailable. I am still strumming in the Bristol area where I now live and play in a Rock duo called the Polecats regards Dave Wells
And yet another one...
Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. Further information from Eric Hunter, Halifax, Yorkshire. Thank you for a most informative site. Here are some more pieces of information, which as far as I know are FACTS, though after so many years the memory plays tricks. Your page 1. Rory may have been 'sporting enough to let the inevitable happen'. (Lose Ringo to the Beatles.) However he was unprepared for it, and had not lined up a replacement drummer. For the first night at least Rory's drummer was simply a Butlin's redcoats (a member of the entertainment staff). I recall this clearly as I was selling hotdogs outside the Rock 'n Calypso Ballroom, Rory's nightly venue at Butlins, Skegness. The news from Chris (a redcoat) was that Ringo had left to join another group. He wasn't sure of their name, but thought it started with 'B'. P2 Rory and The Hurricanes played at Butlins Pwllheli in 1960 and 1961 (summer season, probably May through to end of August). They were at Butlins Skegness in 1962. So Rod Fountain (page four) must have lost his virginity earlier than he thought. (No kiss and tell stories from me!) P4 I think Brain Epstein was much more astute than Rod allows. I'm sure he's on record as saying that the group were a live attraction.. Indeed they were. The highlight of Rory and The Hurricanes week was the weekly rock show in 'Europe's First Air-conditioned Theatre' (in big letters over the proscenium arch in the Butlin's Theatre). In the first part of the show had a group played jazz/standards. After half an hour their music faded, the lights flashed, the music stepped up a gear, and the stage revolved to reveal Ringo raised above and behind the rest of the Hurricanes, his head shaking wildly as he pounded his regulation drum-kit, to the group's opening anthem. (Quite like a simple version of the opening bars of 'River Deep'). And then HE swept onto the stage and like his name, took the theatre by storm. On the concert stage he was a giant. Others emulated Rory in the 1970's and later, but they had the benefit of more sophisticated amplification equipment. He was, on stage, a charismatic showman. A glam rocker before the glam rockers. Elton John before Elton John. He used his stage clothes and props to shock, but it was his skill in 'working the audience' that was most remarkable, made more-so because he did not have a great singing voice. (I know that is subjective, and it didn't stop lesser talents succeeding.) I worked at Butlins for six weeks in summer 1962, and saw the rock show each week. Incidentally, the group (we didn't call them bands in those days) had a member called Bobby Thomson or Thompson, that summer. I think the missing member from your list is Lou Walters, but I can't be sure. Alan Caldwell I did not know Rory as Alan Caldwell, being only on nodding terms with him. However, I can state that he was unlike many people's image of a rock singer. I most often saw him on the sports ground at Butlins, either practising his soccer skills or loping around the field in shorts and tee-shirt. Great News For those who would like to see Rory Storm perform: it is possible. Ask your local television station to run the documentary 'Beat City'. (From 'Picture Music International' on my copy taped in 1985) You'll see Rory sing I Can Tell" and hear a 'Rory story' from one of his fans. You'll also discover Faron and his Flamingoes, Chick Graham, The Spinners, The Original Chants, Earl Preston and The T.T.s, and Gerry and The Pacemakers. And you'll see what Liverpool was really like in 1963, even if some of the editing takes some believing. John: Finally, a real treat for any Rory Storm or Mersey fan would be to go to Liverpool Central Library and thumb through back copies of Mersey Beat" first published in July 1961. Eric Hunter (Admin@greatuswriters.demon.co.uk)
I have some sketchy info on what happened to each of the group members. Here is all I have:
Rory Storm: died 1972 as explained above.
Johnny (guitar) Byrne: was an ambulance technician for many years. Died 18 August 1999 after a long illness.
Lou Walters (variously spelled): leads a private life.
Ty Brien: died in the sixties of peritonitis, an infection of the abdominal cavity, after undergoing an appendix removal.
Ringo Starr: Became a Beatle and the rest is history.
Bobby Thomson: No info at present.
Band member lineup and names:
Format: Stage name, Real name, instrument
Rory Storm, Alan Caldwell, lead singer
Lou Walters (variously spelled), Walter Eymond, bass and vocals
Ty Brien, Charles O'Brien, rhythm guitar
Johnny Guitar, Johnny Byrne, lead guitar
Ringo Starr, Richard Starkey, drums
Bobby Thomson, ?, Bass, More info needed
Many thanks to all of you who have sent bits and pieces to fill in the story. I am slowly integrating them into the text to get a more factual and accurate account of the group.
Unfortunately due to the nature of the subject and the plethora of anecdotes and tall tales
surrounding the beat groups, some of the so-called 'facts' in this piece may be in fact rumours fed from rumours.
I hope it isn't so, but judging from the large number of fictitious 'facts' surrounding The Beatles, for example, it wouldn't be surprising if some of the above facts are untrue.
However, this is the only story we have, and I've pieced it together as best I could. As more information comes in, I have been adding to or modifying the text to make it clearer. I have had encouraging comments from some who were close to the Hurricanes, so at least I feel that the basic story is on track.
The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia - Bill Harry
The Rocking City - Sam Leach
How They Became The Beatles - Gareth Pawlowski
Beatle! - Pete Best
Call Up The Groups- Adam Clayson
Beat Merchants - Adam Clayson
The Beatles And Some Other Guys - Pete Frame
The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away - Allan Williams
Ringo Starr - Straight Man or Joker? - Adam Clayson (Much info on Ringo's days with the Hurricanes)
Beatles Undercover - Kristofer K Engelhardt Exhaustive volume detailing the Beatles' uncredited work on other peoples' albums.(click on the title for web link)
Shout! - Philip Norman
Also check out the Roadrunners page (another Liverpool group from the early 60s) at http://www.liverpool-roadrunners.org.uk
Bill Harry's Mersey Beat website is now online and contains a wealth of information
about the Liverpool groups. Check it out at www.triumphpc.com/mersey-beat
Closing comments: Though I had hoped to have correspondence with Johnny 'Guitar' Byrne last year, obviously that never happened due to his illness and finally his death. Since his death I have received some very nice correspondence from friends and family members, and finally, Bill Harry.
Now that Bill has taken up the task of chronicling the story, I'm looking forward to reading the results of his research. Bill has also released a new edition of the Beatles Encyclopedia which was released in April 2000 in the UK by Virgin. Finally (late 2001) this book is also available in the U.S. Bill has a lengthy section on Rory Storm and the Hurricanes that is worth the read.
Comments or questions?
Back to John Cirillo's home page
This page last updated on: 3 Feb, 2003