The Liverpool Stadium with Gene Vincent

On 3rd May 1960, Liverpool Stadium hosted an incredible concert that nearly didn’t happen. Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran were on a tour of British cities, when there was a car crash. Cochran was killed in the crash, and Vincent survived, though with injuries.

Larry Parnes and Allan Williams were promoting the concert, so when Parnes asked Williams about what they could do about the Stadium concert, he suggested putting on some Liverpool bands in place of Eddie Cochran. The local bands chosen were the top bands at the time: Cass & his Cassanovas; Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and Gerry and the Pacemakers. John, Paul, George and Stuart Sutcliffe were in the audience. After the gig, they approached Allan to help them get work.

This was the catalyst that led to the beginning of The Beatles.