IF YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY BEATLES: THINK AGAIN! LIVERPUDLIAN PENS DEFINITIVE NEW BOOK TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
“This is the best Beatles book for 20 years”, says Bill Heckle, Director of Cavern City Tours and organizer of the annual Beatle Week Festival, Liverpool.
Liverpool, England. When it comes to The Beatles‟ history, Liverpool lore is a bit like Hollywood: the legend seems to get retold and rehashed with scant regard for the truth. Liverpudlian, and Beatles Historian, David Bedford has penned a definitive book describing facts and truths of the colourful, formative years of The Beatles, starting many years before they stepped out in suits and mop-top haircuts. This gloriously colourful new volume takes fans on a unique magical mystery tour through the Liverpool of The Beatles, while setting the record straight on many myths and legends.
“I read the news today, oh boy! David Bedford is one of the fabbest Beatle buffs around. I should know, being the Liverpool Echo’s Beatle expert: every Moptop tome passes through my hands and this is an outstanding literary gig.” Peter Grant, Liverpool Echo
About Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles
Growing up in post-1960s Liverpool – or “Liddypool” as John Lennon renamed it – one cannot avoid The Beatles. Much to Bedford’s dismay, authors were writing about The Beatles’ hometown, and getting their facts wrong.
“To understand The Beatles, you have to understand Liverpool,” says Bedford.
It’s Been a Hard Days’ Decade
Bedford spent nearly a decade compiling Liddypool: Birthplace of the Beatles. “Most authors who have written about the Beatles write about Liverpool from their computers in another country. All of my research was done the old-fashioned way: by visiting sites, talking to eyewitnesses first-hand, collecting stories from friends and acquaintances of The Beatles, and viewing hundreds of documents and previously unseen photographs. It was a labour of love.”
Foreword by former Beatles drummer Pete Best
Pete Best certainly believes Liddypool is the definitive book on his hometown.
“Having been a Beatle for two years and not professing to be a Beatle historian, to me this book is totally enlightening.” Pete Best
The Only Major Book on The Beatles and Liverpool
In a market that has seen an estimated 8,000 books published about The Beatles, Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles is unique. It is the first major book to concentrate solely on The Beatles and their hometown of Liverpool. It covers their rise from birth and childhood in the 1940s and obscurity, to their triumphant civic reception at Liverpool Town Hall on 10th July 1964.
Bedford uses local knowledge and eyewitness testimony to chart every band member, name-change and line-up, from The Black Jacks to The Beatles: it is the story of the “Fab 27”.
How did they eventually become The Fab Four?
Who changed the course of Beatles folklore because she won on the horses?
Why was Pete Best dismissed? The new theory is proposed.
Were they really John, Paul, George, Stuart and Norman?
Whether you are a fan, a fanatic or a “fanorak”, this book will tell you how they became the “Fab Four”. It is:
A history book – the history of Liverpool, plus a chronological long and winding road through the life of John, Paul, George, Stuart, Pete, Ringo, Brian Epstein, The Quarrymen and many more. Bedford has interviewed; Pete Best, Allan Williams, The Quarrymen, Bill Harry, Alistair Taylor, Ken Brown, Julia Baird and many more, to get first-hand, eyewitness accounts.
A reference book – search by date, Liverpool song connections, venue or geography.
A guide book – Bedford provides maps and directions for every suburb within Merseyside connected with The Beatles. You can follow walking tours around Liverpool City Centre; The Dingle; the Penny Lane area; Wavertree; Childwall, and Woolton with information and photographs about The Beatles. Discover and explore 59 homes, 24 schools and 103 music venues.
About the Author
DAVID BEDFORD is a life-long Beatles fan who grew up in the Dingle, Liverpool, near the bottom of the street where Ringo Starr was born; attended the same school as the famous drummer – though many years later – and has been involved as a parent and governor at Dovedale School, where John Lennon and George Harrison attended; he has lived by Penny Lane for 20 years. Bedford is also a feature writer for The British Beatles Fan Club since 2000. He has been interviewed on BBC and Local Radio and several national British newspapers about his knowledge of The Beatles. He was most recently chosen by Paul McCartney’s production team to lead and direct the film crew around McCartney’s childhood haunts for the pre-show film on his Back in the World tour.
What the experts say about Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles
“The best illustrated book on the Beatles‟ Liverpool I have seen”
Hunter Davies, Official Beatles biographer
I am proud that David Bedford’s magnificent tour de force of a book was inspired by one of my own works and also that its very title comes from a phrase John Lennon used in Mersey Beat. There can be no doubt that Liverpool forged the early career of the Beatles and “Liddypool” creates a vivid picture of the life and times of that exciting period.
Bill Harry, Founder of Mersey Beat.
“At last Liverpool has the Beatles book it deserves. “Liddypool” has been lovingly assembled, diligently researched and lavishly illustrated. Casual browser and avid fan alike will discover something they didn’t already know about the world’s most documented quartet. I’d pay the cover price for the pictures alone.”
Steve Turner, author of “A Hard Day’s Write”
“It’s great to see a book from an author who is trying to sieve his way through all the various myths, legends and half-truths and paint a realistic picture of what really happened.
Rod Davis, The Quarrymen
“The depth of David Bedford’s research is unprecedented. This is a fascinating, valuable and devoted piece of detective work which will appeal to any fan of the Beatles.”
Janine Ross, Marketing Manager, The Beatles Story Ltd.
“David has always been a stickler for detail and passionate for facts. If I needed to know some obscure piece of information relating to The Beatles or Liverpool I knew I could rely on him to provide the answer. With the publication of this book, all the information I could require is now handily available within these pages!”
Pete Nash, Editor: British Beatles Fan Club
It’s a pleasure to help writers like you, David, and others in your quest for a more honest picture – and I wish you every success. Best wishes.”
Pauline Sutcliffe: Stuart Sutcliffe’s sister.
Find out more about David and his books
