PAUL Wilde, 57, has been a Beatles fan since his dad, Geoff, a trad jazz player at the Malt Shovels in Altrincham, took him to a concert in Southport.
“I can remember sitting at the back and everyone screaming,” he said.
His interest was rekindled in 1975 after seeing Paul McCartney at the Free Trade Hall
Seven years ago at a convention in Liverpool he was photographed with George Harrison’s sister. Louise. “She was friendly,” he said.
A highlight of the Beatles’ Manchester appearances was at Abbotsfield Park, Urmston in 1963.
Paul, from Davyhulme, said: “I have met people who went.
“The Fab Four were booked before they were famous but appeared after a successful UK tour.
“They played She Loves You before it was released.”
Now he’s arranged for Pete Best, the Beatles drummer between 1960
and 1962 to appear at what was the Playhouse Theatre, Hulme, where eight of their 53 BBC radio shows were broadcast.
Unbeknown to Pete, the first two recordings with him on drums, made in 1962, in a show called Teenagers Turn, will be played. “I’m hoping to surprise him,” said Paul.
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The afternoon will start with a Beatles’ history talk by Paul who will interview Pete Pilbeam, the producer of the radio shows.
Then, tribute band, the Threetles will play Beatles hits.
“I’m hoping to get Pete Best to join them on drums,” he said. “Then I’ll talk to him and he’ll have a signing session.
* An Audience with Pete is at the Fountain Gate Chapel, Hulme, on Saturday, June 11 at 1 pm. Tickets, priced £10, are available from manchesterpoptrail.co.uk or Kingbee Records at 0161 860 4762. Proceeds go towards the Chapel’s renovation.
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