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The Cavern Story Part 4

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Hippy Daze

While closed the Cavern attracted considerable interest from potential buyers, business men and even a consortium of fans called New Cavern Ltd. But eventually the Cavern was purchased by Joe Davey, a local bar owner, and was re-opened 23rd July 1966. Amazingly the club opening ceremony was attended by, the then Prime Minster - Harold Wilson, a keen supporter of the Merseybeat scene.

Now reopened, the club was desperately trying to recapture its original atmosphere which made it famous, but sadly the Cavern had changed forever. The 'new' Cavern was a licensed premises and hence had a much older crowd. The old days of kids bunking off school to attend at lunchtime had gone forever, the Cavern was now for grown-ups.

As the kids left so did the soft drinks and crisps, the replacement came in the form of drugs. At the end of the 60's and the beginning of the 70's, drug culture had swept the nation and the developed world as we know it. Under the guise of 'love and peace', the hippy was born and so too was LSD. The emergence of this new sub-culture spread to the shores of Liverpool and hence to the smoke filled dance floors of the Cavern club. For some the early 70's was a great period for the Cavern with the likes of Wishbone Ash, Thin Lizzy, Supertramp and Judas Priest playing there, but for many the club had died. Whether this is the truth of the matter or not, we will never know. Maybe the club had just moved on and those who attacked had not. Nethertheless, the Cavern enjoyed the end of its life and closed forever in 1973 (27th May).

Closure of the club was not a conscious decision by the owner but a decision made for him by British Rail. The subterranean land was needed for part of an extension to Liverpool's underground railway network and was hence taken by the public company. Nethertheless, the 'real' Cavern closed its doors for the last time.

Famous Artists Who Have Played the Cavern

• Queen
• The Animals
• Status Quo
• Oasis
• Dodgy
• Shadows
• Moody Blues
• Thin Lizzy
• Batchelors
• Jimmy Page
• Temptations
• John Lee Hooker
• UFO
• Ginger Baker
• Rod Stewart

The Rebirth

In the early eighties, eleven years after its closure, the Cavern was to re-open. It was thought that the underground club would still be in tact below the hastily built car park above it. They were wrong. The club's ceilings and general structure had collapsed, hence the original Cavern could never be reused. Regardless, a company called Backhouse decided to build a shopping centre at the original site and more importantly, a 'new' Cavern Club.

The new club was built only yards from the original site and is said to be a true replica of the club, they even used the original Cavern's bricks for extra authenticity. This club is still going strong today and is popular with locals and tourists alike, after all a great idea never dies.

Thanks for the memories Mr Sytner.

Next: also by the Beatles