I arrived in Chicago from California. I had been there to scatter my wifeÕs ashes. Esther died from breast cancer last year and California was her favourite place. We found an amazing spot just south of Carmel.
I always knew it was going to be an emotional time and wanted to do something fun afterwards. Therefore I decided to combine the trip to California with a trip to Beatlefest.
The ÔFest was being held at the Hyatt Regency OÕHare Hotel - right by the airport. It is a very modern business hotel - well suited for Beatlefest with a huge ballroom and many other function rooms.
After a day of sightseeing in downtown Chicago and resting up a bit after California I was more than ready for the start of Beatlefest. I was at Beatlefest as a guest speaker and my first main task was to be interviewed on stage alongside other Beatle authors including Paul Saltzman, who wrote the ÔBeatles in RishikeshÕ book and my good friend and Beatlefan contributor Jorie Gracen. Even though IÕd done a similar thing in New York it was still pretty nerve-wracking being onstage in the massive ballroom. I was very glad that the interviewer was Terri Hemmert - a veteran of Beatlefest, whom I had met in London on my Beatles walks. Terri is a great MC and put us all at ease.
Unfortunately, being a guest speaker, I often had talks scheduled when other good things were going on. That was certainly the case on the Friday night as I was in an authors forum the same time that Liverpool, now very much the Ôhouse bandÕ of Beatlefest, were on stage. It was the 25th year Beatlefest has been held in Chicago and a huge cake was cut to celebrate. I missed the cutting ceremony but did manage to eat a piece later on - it was delicious by the way!
For a lot of the weekend I was selling books and signing autographs in the ÔLondon roomÕ - just of f the dealers room. I was rather disappointed with the location as a lot of people didnÕt seem to know it was there.
Also in the room was Danny from ÔLiverpool ProductionsÕ who organise Beatles related holidays to England. He was playing a video of a previous trip. A few minutes after the video was turned on I heard a voice on the video that made me rush over to watch it - it was my late wife Esther. On the video was an interview Esther and I had done for the British Council in 1992 at the Liverpool Convention. Unfortunately my copy of the video got lost - or ÔborrowedÕ several years ago and I hadnÕt seen it since. It was highly emotional watching Esther and I on screen talking about how we met on my Beatles walk.
After catching the last few minutes of Liverpool I was asked to be on the panel of ÔBeatley IncorrectÕ - hosted by Martin Lewis. It is based on the TV show ÔPolitically Incorrect and is great fun. The guest can let their hair down and talk frankly about anything Beatle - as controversially as you like. One of the conditions of taking part is that none of the discussions can be published in fanzines so my lips are sealed!
Perhaps the most fun to be had at Beatlefest takes place after the official events have finished. This in when people get out their guitars and have impromptu concerts/singalongs. These normally go on for most of the night at various parts of the hotel. Some of the musicians were great - for instance the band ÔBritish ExportÕ did a great set.
For me the highlight of Beatlefest was the appearance of Neil Innes. Neil, of course, wrote the music for The Rutles and played the part of Ron Nasty in the TV film. Neil has been on the music scene since the 60Õs when, as a member of the legendary Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, appeared in the Magical Mystery Tour film. During his guest spots Neil played some acoustic versions of Rutles songs and also some new songs heÕd just written.
On the Saturday night I managed to catch most of ÔLiverpoolÕs performance. They are a great band and play lots of songs other Beatle bands donÕt do. I especially enjoyed their rendition of side one of the ÔWhite AlbumÕ - it was certainly the first time IÕd heard ÔWild Honey PieÕ played live! However the highlight was still to come - Neil Innes joined them onstage to sing some Rutles songs - they did all my favourites ÔI Must Be in LoveÕ, ÔOuchÕ, ÔCheese and OnionsÕ, ÒPlease Please Hold My HandÕ and many others.
During the weekend Neil was signing autographs right next door to my table in the London room. He seemed a very nice guy chatting to everyone who asked for his autograph and showing a lot of patience too. For instance one guy wanted about 50 items signed and Neil did them all!
I told Neil that IÕd just been reunited with my birth mother and discovered I had 3 half brothers, and that one of them, Nick, was a huge Rutles fan. Neil signed a copy of the Rutles CD to Nick and gave me a big hug.
As with the New York convention. I met many people in Chicago who had been on my tours over the years. I wish I could remember everyone that had been on tours but as IÕve taken around 80,000 people around London in 12 years my memory isnÕt THAT good!
On the Sunday I did my slide show in the main ballroom. There was a bit of a panic to start with as there seemed that no-one from Beatlefest was around to help me set it up. However Paul Saltzman kindly helped me out so it went fairly smoothly.
On the Sunday night me and Jorie decided to have some fun and stayed up until about 3am joining in with lots of the musicians that were jamming.
I got home from Chicago on Tuesday morning, and after having a quiet day at home trying to get some rest, made my way to the Forum Hotel in London to guide some walking tours for a people who had come over for Beatleweek. In the morning I guided a group from Argentina and then in the afternoon guided Charles RosenayÕs group from the US. Charles has been bringing groups over for several years and I always enjoy guiding for them as they are such big Beatles fans.
I travelled up to Liverpool with CharlesÕ group by coach on Thursday morning. Rather than go up alone by coach I thought it would be nice to go with a group of fans. I bought along my ÔRingo Starr - Going HomeÕ video and we watched it on the way up. Rather than drive directly into Liverpool we went through The Wirral and entered Liverpool on the famous ÔFerry Ôcross the MerseyÕ. This is definitely the best way to get to the ÔPool as you get a wonderful view across the Mersey to the Pierhead, the cathedrals etc.
The first night in Liverpool saw a special reception/concert at the Town Hall. It was an amazing experience. This was where The Beatles were given a civic reception before the Premiere of ÔA Hard DayÕs NightÕ. For the first time ever fans were allowed on to the balcony where the Fabs had greeted there fans from all those years ago. Even when they had the Premiere of the re-release of Yellow Submarine in Liverpool two years ago Neil Aspinall wasnÕt allowed to go on the balcony.
After drinks we were led into the main hall. It is an amazing place with huge crystal chandeliers. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool gave a speech and then we were all entertained by three Beatles sound alike bands. The best of them was certainly ÔA Hard NightÕs DayÕ from the USA, who specialise in early Beatles songs. Although the music was great you couldnÕt help thinking that the hall was much better suited to chamber music rather than rock and roll.
On Friday I was persuaded by the Americans to accompany them on a seven hour coach tour of The BeatlesÕ Liverpool. IÕd seen these sights many times before - but not for a few years so I went along with them. Our guide was Eddie Porter, who has been a tour guide in Liverpool for well over 20 years. ItÕs funny that we share the same family name, but we are not related.
We saw countless places on the tour with Eddie giving us a very informative and entertaining commentary. One highlight was when we arrived outside Admiral Grove in the Dingle. It was RingoÕs familyÕs home until The Beatles became famous. We were all outside taking pictures when the current owner, an old lady called Margaret, invited us all in! As Eddie said to Margaret ÔDo you realise thereÕs over 50 of us?Õ but she said it was OK. The house is very small but was really nicely decorated. Margaret said she has visitors from all over the world and met Ringo a couple of times. However I did notice there was more pictures of Elvis than Ringo in the house!
Friday evening saw one of the highlights of the whole weekend - a performance by The Overtures. I first saw this band many years ago when they were way down the bill at the Mathew St Festival. I was blown away by their show, which consists of not only Beatles songs but from virtually every 60s group you can think of. I told Cavern City Tours how good they were and insisted they be put on at the joint London Beatles Fanclub/Cavern City Tours party the next year. CCT loved them too and ever since The Overtures have been starring at the Convention. Unfortunately, due to EstherÕs illness, IÕd missed their last few Liverpool shows so was really glad to catch this one. I wasnÕt disappointed. IÕve seen them now many times in London and Liverpool and every time IÕve seen them every song theyÕve played I have in my record collection. As their repertoire now consists of several hundred songs itÕs amazing that there musical tastes are so similar to mine. The band get better and better each time I see them and did not disappoint this time. I especially loved their rendition of The Byrds ÔEight Miles HighÕ which was really mind blowing.
On Saturday morning I went with my new friend Nicole to LIPA to see the auction, which was taking place in the Paul McCartney auditorium. As we didnÕt really want to buy anything we decided to sign up for a tour of LIPA. To our surprise we were the only ones on it.. The highlight of the tour was definitely the home movie of Paul McCartney going around the ruins of his old school in the early 1990s reminiscing about his school days.At one point Paul remembered how, as a boy, he used to get up on a desk and sing rock and roll songs. He then got on a desk and did just that! He talked about ÔThe InnyÕ with a great deal of affection but also sadness that it was now derelict. It was just after that visit that the idea of LIPA was put forward.
A very moving thing for me was noticing the park benches in the grounds. One was dedicated ÔTo Jim and MaryÕ - PaulÕs parents; the other ÔTo Lee and LouiseÕ - LindaÕs parents.
In the canteen at LIPA are many examples of Linda McCartneyÕs wonderful photos of rock stars. The prints were donated to LIPA by Linda and really show what a great photographer she was.
In the afternoon Nicole and I decided to go down to The Albert Dock to see the ÔBeatles StoryÕ exhibition. It had been announced just a few days before that George Michael had donated to the Beatles Story the piano that John Lennon had written ÔImagineÕ on so we wanted to see it.
I had been to the Beatles Story many times before and found it rather disappointing - very little had changed since I was last there. However it was good to see the piano - it was in a replica of JohnÕs favourite Ôwhite roomÕ at Tittenhurst alongside a replica of JohnÕs white piano (Yoko has the original in the Dakota).
Even though we had a seven hour coach tour the day before, Nicole and I were disappointed the tour didnÕt cover the Speke area. Therefore, armed with a map and Ron JonesÕ excellent ÔBeatles Liverpool book we decided to do some exploring on our own. We found the sites without too much trouble and it was great fun exploring this area where fans donÕt often go.
Sunday was convention day at the Adelphi. Normally I really enjoy the conventions but this year all I could think of was not having Esther with me. The convention was always the first things weÕd put on our calenders every year and something weÕd always enjoyed as a couple. During the afternoon I just lost it and started crying - right in he middle of the dealers room! Luckily my good friend Jean Catherall from the Liverpool Beatlescene was on hand to give me a pep talk and I cheered up a bit.
On thing that was better in Liverpool than Chicago was the guest speakers - in Liverpool they had Pete Best, Cavern DJ Bob Wooler, Astrid Kirchherr, and, for the first time at a Convention, Mike Smith from Decca - the man that turned down The Beatles. Mike was a disappointing guest as he answered ÔI canÕt rememberÕ to most of the questions asked. After being interviewed he answered some questions from members of the audience. I was very tempted to get up and ask him, Rutles style, ÔWhatÕs it like to be such an arseholeÕ but I desisted.
One very humorous thing for me was that Alistair Taylor was interviewed by told Spencer Leigh that he had invented the name ÔRay JonesÕ because Brian Epstein wouldnÕt order copies of The Beatles ÔMy BonnieÕ without having a definite order. A few minutes later, during an interview with BrianÕs secretary, Beryl Adams, Spencer said he had interviewed Ray Jones on his radio show a few years ago.
One strange personal coincidence with the above story is that IÕve just been reunited with by birth mother, having been adopted at birth. Her name, when she had me, was Raye Jones! Raye was hoping to come to Liverpool with me but couldnÕt due to family commitments. It would have been nice to introduce Alistair to Raye Jones.
The evening of the convention was given over to groups with the highlight, again, being the Overtures. They only did an hour set on Sunday but it was the best theyÕve ever done. In a way it was good they only did an hour - if theyÕd done much more IÕd have died from exhaustion from dancing too much.
Monday was the Mathew Street Festival - this has grown hugely since it started a few years ago. In fact, for me, it was all too much. I walked down Mathew St and could hear live music coming from every direction. By Monday I was totally exhausted and decided to head home a day early and get some rest before going back to work.
Overall I really enjoyed Chicago and Liverpool but could have done with a break in between.
I will certainly be back in Liverpool next year and in 2003 should be staying in the ÔHard DayÕs NightÕ Hotel - which has finally got the go-ahead.
See you next year
Richard Porter