Sam Leach - KEEP
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maccascruff:
So Sam won another round. Today is the 40th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in the US. What an exciting day that was. I remember the news so well. I just wish Sam would have been with them.
Well, I did not know what was going on in the USA at the time. I was living in France and never heard of the Beatles, that is not until I came to England three years later. I wish Sam would have been with them too.
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Hi gang Here's the new page I'm putting up on my website. You're seeing it first though. But beware.....it's a longish one. Love, cheers and hugs. Sam. (See below). Beatles 40th Anniversary FEB 9th New York. Sam reminisces about the Beatles 40th anniversary on Ed Sullivan and how it all began in Liverpool 1961. Next Monday FEB 9th 2004 will be the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. That night they captured America's hearts. All these years later it seems they have no intention of letting go. Although they have been acclaimed as the greatest musical phenomenon of all time their dominance is still a mystery to some. How did these four young Lions from Liverpool enslave American youth...and their parents. In short...Why The Beatles ?? Why Liverpool ?? Yesterday I walked around my home town trying to find inspiration, hoping the solution to this would leap out at me. Every street, Bar and cafe brought back long forgotten memories of those halcyon days. Remember this ??....remember that ?? ...remember when ?? An hour went by without the blinding flash I was searching for....no light in my head. Why here ?? Why me even !! Exhausted I sat down next to the Statue of Eleanor Rigby, donated to our City by Tommy Steele. My eyes closed as I thought back to those magical days when Beatles walked our streets without being recognised by shoppers scurrying around town looking for bargains. A few minutes later I felt a tug on my sleeve. An old man stood there and asked anxiously. "Are you okay son ?? I thought you were ill or something. Or maybe too much Guinness." he chortled, winking conspiratorially. I thanked him for his concern for a complete stranger who was maybe just another drunk. But inwardly I was thanking him for far more. His eyes had lit up as I reassured him I was fine. A beaming smile had pierced his craggy lived in face. This was why I stay in Liverpool. We help each other. Despite two World Wars and an economically challenged life style we always smile at adversity. We are a happy breed. And suddenly I realised that's what set The Beatles apart. The `Spirit of Liverpool' was captured in their music. `I Wanna Hold Your Hand' `She loves you' 'Love me Do' `All You Need Is Love'....all those simple songs epitomised their outlook on Life. Have a laugh and don't take ourselves too seriously. This became a contagion that The Fabs spread around the World. A pandemic of happiness injected into us via their Music. America caught that bug......and no one is searching for an antidote. Now Sam remembers the early days Why he wrote `Beatles On Broadway'. ...40 years ago. The night he first saw them perform. His race with Eppy Why I wrote `Beatles On Broadway'. When Ed Sullivan's plane was delayed for over an hour at Heathrow Airport London in 1963 he demanded to know why. The answer "It's because The Beatles are returning from Australia" didn't mean a thing to him then. But Ed checked it out....and booked The Beatles for FEB 9th 1964. Some say that was sheer luck. I say it was Destiny. A few months later I heard Ed had booked them and I saw an opportunity. I decided to do a book on their exploits and inevitable conquest of America. Yes I knew even then. You may recall the first night I saw them I said "One day you'll be as big as Elvis." That time was fast approaching...and I was determined to be part of it. But how...I was flat broke !! That was a good motivation...right !? My first move was to ring United Press International, one of the World's premier News Agencies. They weren't over excited and told me The Beatles would flop. However after three more calls I managed to get them to have two photographers follow the Fabs around. UPI agreed a deal whereby they would supply me with 100 exclusive photos for 300 Pounds. And to my intense relief didn't mention those dreaded words..."Money up front." As it happened I'd arranged for two London `businessmen', John Pargeter and Charles Winston Holmes, to finance the deal and get me a publisher. The reason for the quotes around `businessmen' will soon become clear. I was so broke I had to hitchhike to London... ...and it was raining hard. The morning of FEB 8th I turned up at the offices of UPI more than slightly bedraggled....but still full of hope. From news reports it was clear The Beatles already had America by the short and curlies even though they weren't due to appear on Ed Sullivan till the following night. UPI had stolen a march on the other News Agencies, thanks mainly to my badgering them to put a close tail on The Beatles exploits in New York. Photos were streaming in and the World's press waited in line while one cheeky sod had first choice....me. It makes me smile even today at the sight of these executives in their camel hair coats, puffing Cuban cigars and only being offered the photos that I was casting aside. Oh did I tell you I also had a hole in my shoe from tramping to London ?? I returned to UPI early the next morning to even greater bedlam. The World's media had gone Beatle mad, desperate to get their hands on good shots of The Fabs triumph the previous night when 73 million Americans had witnessed an event that would change them forever. I soon had the 100 photos that I required and left every major Newspaper in Britain scrambling for my cast-offs. That was so funny !! But the best laughs were still ahead. Early on FEB 10th 1964 I met Charles Winston Holmes, one of the `businessmen' I was telling you about, outside Thomson Publishers in Greys Inn Road, near Euston Station. CW, as he liked to be called, had arranged an interview to secure a publishing deal for `Beatles On Broadway' which I'd worked on the previous night...without sleep I might add. If you can imagine Oliver Hardy in a suit and bowler hat, both several sizes too small....you have a picture of C.W. Holmes. But to be truthful he looked and talked the part....so I was confident of getting my deal. Until we got inside the private office of the legendary Lord Thomson of Fleet, one of the World's leading media moguls. CW had instructed me not to say a word. "Your Liverpool/Irish accent is hardly the thing down here old boy. This is my scene." We were ushered into the most palatial and awe-inspiring office I've ever seen. Lord Thomson's right hand man motioned for us to take a seat at the massive conference table around which were gathered a host of lynx-eyed `We won't take any shit' journalists. Clearly we were the last item on their busy workload. No doubt they expected us to give them something to laugh about over lunch..."And the sooner the better mate." CW stood up and pompously announced to these hawks of Fleet Street. "Gentlemen I bring you an idea for a book based on The Beatles exploits in the Colonies." CW paused for effect. There wasn't any....just a few stifled yawns and groans. I sensed we were in trouble already. For the next five minutes Holmes assailed us to an incoherent and boring monologue as he droned on as if he'd just discovered an unpublished play by William Shakespeare. By this time Lord Thomson had had enough and waved a tired hand to one of his people. Outside, in the rain, I raged at the incompetent Holmes. "You're a bloody clown. You've just blew the deal with your verbal diarrhoea. Forget our arrangement...you're history mate." With that I stormed back into Lord Thomson's lair....you don't get rid of me that easily. The meeting had broken up but Lord Thomson was still conferring with some of his lieutenants. Looking over his glasses with some astonishment, he lowered his huge cigar and barked angrily. "Didn't we just thrown you out, young man??" The `young man' was uttered with real menace but I was past caring. `Beatles On Broadway' was going to be a winner...and he was going to publish it whether he liked it or not. Without saying a word I flung the mock-up of the book onto his desk with as grand a flourish as I dared. Following the thud of the material on his shiny desk, there was complete silence. I'll swear I heard an echo reverberate around the oak panelled room. To my relief. Lord Thomson suddenly roared laughing and picked it up. "Now that's what I call a presentation. The rest of you could learn from that. Who was that clown with you before. He was a damn liability." The great man began to leaf through my lay-out making odd but encouraging sounds under his breath. Waiting for his decision...I held mine. After a few minutes he smiled and looking me in the eye asked. "This is good stuff. When can you have it completed." My heart pumping I told him three days.....with my fingers crossed. Nodding with satisfaction, he picked up the phone and giving me an encouraging wink told his secretary to. "Ring John Pemberton at World Distributors and tell him I'm sending a Sammy Leach up to Manchester with a magazine called `Beatles On Broadway' which he has to publish. And warn John this chap's a little mad." With that, Lord Thomson handed me the mock-up, shook my hand vigorously...and swept out of the room. World Distributors did as they were told, published `Beatles On Broadway; which eventually sold a million copies in 11 languages. A small footnote to this. Recently a copy of `Beatles On Broadway' signed on the cover by all four Beatles, and again by Paul on the inside cover, sold for $15,000 on E-Bay. That was more than I eventually made on the deal. The Beatles very rarely sign books but must have done on this occasion because it was mine. And even though Eppy and I had issues, he still devoted the entire window of his huge shop in Liverpool to display over a 100 copies of the book. Nothing else in the window just `Beatles On Broadway.' I lost count of the number of times I walked proudly up and down the street outside. The night I met The Beatles. January 25th 1961. It was a damp and foggy night as I nervously approached Hambleton Hall, a miserable little dance hall in Huyton on the outskirts of Liverpool. I was tense because a gang of `Teddy Boys' were following me to the same little dive. The hooligans were putting the boot into cars, garden fences, lamp-posts and the occasional cat. We were all going to see a new group called The Beatles, who had just returned from Hamburg. Inside the smelly, dank hovel I stumbled around blindly, trying to adjust my eyes which were burning with a pungent mix of cigarette smoke and stale sweat. Broken coke bottles, no doubt recently used as weapons, crunched underfoot as I gasped for breath. A fight between rival gangs broke out at the back of the hall. One drunken lout lurched into me and demanded. "Eh La...do yous wanna fight?" The question was rhetorical so I directed him to where the fighting was taking place. By this time I was pretty fed up and to be truthful s**t scared. Turning I was about to abandon my quest when the sound of the `William Tell Overture' almost burst my eardrums as I was standing near the speakers. Wondering why classical music was being wasted on this mob, I turned back and looked at the puny little stage. Bob Wooler's immaculate voice announced excitedly "It's The Beatles !!" and the curtains fell apart which was hardly surprising as they were decomposing already. Amazed I watched spellbound as five unkempt black leather clad dervishes bounced into my life. John , looking like a big Ted himself, ripped into `Slow Down'. Then Paul bounced up to the mike and tore into `Rip It Up' an appropriate choice as Teddy Boys were known to specialise in such doings. To be fair however the fighting had been postponed whilst they too stood gaping in astonishment at this new group on the block. George shuffled shyly to the fore and did a comic version of `I'm Henry the eighth I am'. Stuart half turning his back to the audience, mumbled `Wooden Heart'. Without a glance at the by now screaming girls, Pete dragged the mike towards him and did a credible version of `Matchbox'. By this time I was totally hooked...a prisoner of The Beatles. Their rich, vibrant, raw sound seemed to pulse right through my body as it reverberated around the room, bouncing off the walls and totally dominating any attempt at thought. After 45 minutes the Beatles relented and as they walked offstage everyone in the room was mesmerised and in a trance-like state. And please believe me...that is no exaggeration !! I followed them into their `dressing room' in reality a hastily converted ladies toilet. Bouncers had been posted by Bob Wooler to stop other promoters from booking the Beatles but three of them were due to start work for me the following week at my new Cassanova Club....so naturally they let me pass. Excitedly waving my bookings diary I informed Paul and John. "One day lads you'll be as big as Elvis." John stared at me as though I was insane and muttered to Paul. "We've got a right nutter here." Paul knew I was opening up a new venue and smiled. "Have you got work for us then Mr. Leach?" I gave them 12 bookings and for me that began a two year roller coaster ride through Rock'n'Roll history. They made their debut for me at the Cassanova Club London Road on Feb 9th 1961. Exactly three years later, on Feb 9th 1964 in New York, they made their debut on The Ed Sullivan show...America's top spot. A pretty rapid rise to fame. That momentous night America took The Beatles to their hearts......and never let go !! When I discovered Eppy was `after the Beatles.' As you could imagine my nose was put out of joint by the unfortunate - for me that is - arrival of Brian Epstein. The first time I became aware of him was shortly after the Aldershot `Safari.' Paul and John had left an urgent message for me to meet them at the Grapes Pub in Mathew Street around the corner from NEMS.....Brian's headquarters. Ultimately he would be my nemesis. When I strolled in - unaware my plans for the Beatles were about to go up in smoke - Paul and John looked a little uneasy to put it mildly. Stammering, Paul told me. "Sam there's this Millionaire wants to manage us. We know we have a handshake agreement with you and we're doing a record for you. BUT HE'S A MILLIONAIRE....Sam. " Dumbfounded I looked at them both. John in particular avoided my penetrating glare. Regaining what little composure nature has blessed me with, I replied a little truculently. "Yer what?? What are you bloody idiots talking about." Taking it in turn they told me about this `Eppy fella who owned a chain of shops and would I go check him out?....Please.' My gast was completely flabbered and I found myself agreeing to meet this interfering Epstein and give them an honest opinion about him. Making an appointment, I turned up at Brian's office next day hoping against hope he would prove to be a `phoney.' I hadn't been taken in by Paul claiming Eppy was a Millionaire. In those days that could merely mean he had a car - taxed, insured and with petrol in it. I was ushered into his office and immediately I saw the extremely nervous ex-public schoolboy I relaxed. There was no way such an innocuous person could manage the Beatles!!! Surely he wouldn't possess the `street level smarts' needed to manage such a volatile group. Sounding more like a future Father-in-Law, I asked Brian what his intentions were. His enthusiasm was obvious as he outlined his plans to further the Beatles career. Ten minutes later we shook hands and I knew the race to manage The best Rock band on the Planet was over. Brian had the determination - and more importantly the finance - to get them to the top. As I walked back to the Grapes I thought of telling The Beatles that Brian wouldn't be any use to them and they would be better throwing in their lot with me. But as I entered the Grapes John and Paul looked up at me, an expectant light in their youthful, trusting eyes. Although painfully aware I was about to miss out, I had no choice. A little reluctantly I stammered. "Epstein's your man. Remember me when you get to the top." A relieved Lennon promised. "You'll be with us Leachy. We'll get him to back the record." I'm certain John meant it at the time but as he would subsequently write. "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." You may have read in Ray Coleman's biography "Epstein" Brian and I would eventually become bitter rivals, not personally but in business. In retrospect his rancour toward me had surfaced long before I realised. However this doesn't alter my conviction that The Beatles would not have made the `Bigtime' without Brian. Even though at times he was a little naive and didn't fully comprehend the Rock'n'Roll business, Eppy was the final piece in their career jigsaw. Cheers. Sam. Copyright Sam Leach Liverpool Feb 7th 2004. E-mail sam@samleach.com Website www.samleach.com Telephone (from USA) 011 44 151 281 5555
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Sam, Thanks for the last post. It was very enlightening. Have a great day! Cheers! Sam C.
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Hey everyone!! Just checking in and catching up. Awesome post, Sam. HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY TO EVERY BEATLES FAN ON THE PLANET!! Take this day, and use it wisely! Hopefully I am going to get the new DVD that came out on the 3rd (it's name slips my mind at the moment)...and possibly a couple more CD's. Have a great day!! jen
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Something else that was interesting that I forgot to mention... I was at a concert last night with a bunch of Christian rock artists...I think this was my mom's attempt to get me interested in something other than the Beatles... (It didn't work...) So the very last group came out, Audio Adrenaline...And at the beginning of their first song they kept saying "Back in the U.S. ... Back in the U.S....." and I was like "Woah!!" So I stood up and shouted "BACK IN THE USSR!!!" My dad thought this was hilarious because he recognized the resemblence also...I swear it sounded just like 'Back in the USSR'...but just a little more modern....HOW FREAKY. So this was my mom's attempt to get me off the Beatles...so she takes me to a concert where the groups are chanting Beatles lyrics....HA!! Guess that one backfired, didn't it!
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Hello Sam thank you for sharing that!! You know if it was 40 years ago the Beatles would've just landed and would probably still be trying to leave JFK airport!! It gives you chills just thinking about it!! I'll have to watch their First USA Film visit!!
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Jessie millano I've never been to Hamburg. If you go to my website at www.samleach.com you can read all about my days with The Beatles. Pete wasn't a bad drummer, just not as good as Ringo. Regards Sam.
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Hi Sam C, Jen and Starr. Glad you liked the 40th anniversary piece. I'll be out later tonight so we'll chat again tomorrow. Christina (Harleyblues)> As you can see from the longish psot I put on I knew The Beatles were going to Ed Sullivan and just jow important that was. Love and hugs. Sam.
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Sam Leach:
Hi Sam C, Jen and Starr. Glad you liked the 40th anniversary piece. I'll be out later tonight so we'll chat again tomorrow. Christina (Harleyblues)> As you can see from the longish psot I put on I knew The Beatles were going to Ed Sullivan and just jow important that was. Love and hugs. Sam.
Morning Sammmmm!!! ahh as I sip my coffee & puff on my smoke Im reading the true life account of your book deal & how you sprung the Beatles carreer,...ahh Sam Im over wept with emotion as tears are strolling down my eyes for the fantastic oppurtunity that was yours..and well slipped..You are truly an honorable man..with true grit & a heart that is selfless,,.. Job well done Sam for your contributions for YOU & great Britan that gave us the Beatles.... I think it would be fitting that everyone reading this needs to buy a copy of Sam's book & tell your friends n support for Sam.."Birth of the Beatles" I suppose I cannot trul express the deep down feelings that Im feeling for what you HELP create Sam... YOur a true gentleman and a visonary that cannot be forgotten" I love You" thankyou Sam thankyou so much for what you have done ....it truly is an honor in knowing you ..bless Christina ((((((Sam)))))))) ps happy anniversary to you too Sam! pss Sam..Id like to buy a copy of that book Beatles on Broadway if yu still have copies left ..please let me know I also got your email!!~ damn email account just keep trying!!~
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Hi Christina. Thanks for enjoying the post. Regarding losing out on the Beatles I didn't. Eppy was the man for the job and he did well. But I did far better. I got four lovely children and three grandchildren, who may not have been born had I been still with the Fabs on that crazy merry-go-round. Re `Beatles On Broadway' I'm having reprints done this Summer. I'll let you know when they're ready. Love and hiugs. Sam xx
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Paulfan:
Hi Mike, On Jorie Gracen's site she wants everyone to pick five songs they would like Macca to perform in concert and she will give him the list of songs that fans want him to play os you may want to give her your suggestions. I submitted mine.
When is she giving the list to Paul?
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femaleanimal:
Paulfan:
Hi Mike, On Jorie Gracen's site she wants everyone to pick five songs they would like Macca to perform in concert and she will give him the list of songs that fans want him to play os you may want to give her your suggestions. I submitted mine.
When is she giving the list to Paul?
when she's hidding under a table to watch paul eat again, of course don't be so nasty
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Hi Sam, A funny thing happened yesterday. I decided to give KFRC a call about the roof top performance. I asked the girl who answered the phone when it was going to be and she said in an hour, at the top of TOWER RECORDS in San Francisco. I groaned "Oh, no!!". Couldn't believe they got it together so fast. We chatted some more and I hung up. 5 minutes later I heard my voice on the radio, she aired the whole conversation. It was really cool. The Sun Kings did the concert and I listened to them on the radio. I wasn't overly impressed with them but I hear they have quite a following. They showed a brief clip of them on the local news at night. Wish it had been American English. Oh well maybe in August I'll get to hear them.....??
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anna_medlicka:
femaleanimal:
Paulfan:
Hi Mike, On Jorie Gracen's site she wants everyone to pick five songs they would like Macca to perform in concert and she will give him the list of songs that fans want him to play os you may want to give her your suggestions. I submitted mine.
When is she giving the list to Paul?
when she's hidding under a table to watch paul eat again, of course don't be so nasty
It was a genuine question!
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Sam Leach:
Hi Christina. Thanks for enjoying the post. Regarding losing out on the Beatles I didn't. Eppy was the man for the job and he did well. But I did far better. I got four lovely children and three grandchildren, who may not have been born had I been still with the Fabs on that crazy merry-go-round. Re `Beatles On Broadway' I'm having reprints done this Summer. I'll let you know when they're ready. Love and hiugs. Sam xx
Sam, You certainly do have your priorities straight. Best, Sam C.
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Sam Leach:
Hi Christina. Thanks for enjoying the post. Regarding losing out on the Beatles I didn't. Eppy was the man for the job and he did well. But I did far better. I got four lovely children and three grandchildren, who may not have been born had I been still with the Fabs on that crazy merry-go-round. Re `Beatles On Broadway' I'm having reprints done this Summer. I'll let you know when they're ready. Love and hiugs. Sam xx
ahhhhhh....I'll be silent...your the best!~
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don't expect me to be serious on things like that why making such a poll anyway? paul should play whatever he wants... has he ever done requests??? seriously, i have the feeling she's trying to get email addies for whatever reason weird,...
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Good question Femaleanimal. I asked her that yesterday through pm but no reply so far. On her board there si a section where you can post five songs you want Paul to play in concert. Mine were Helter Skelter,Monkberry Moon Delight,Run Devil Run,Nineteen Hundred Eigthy Five and Oh WOman Oh Why.
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Well hello everyone! Today is great day... the Beatles touched down in New York this fine afternoon, 40 years ago. I am definetly celebrating. I bought a new DVD about them in the USA. It came out 2 days ago, and they resereved it for me before i even knew it existed! Arent they nice!?!? The craziest thing about this whole 40th ann. thing is that amazingly i have each of the significant days off from work. Like today. I also have all of the Ed Sullivan dates off, and so on. How is everyone? Anyone catching the Grammy's tmorrow? I know i am going to try and tape it. Its all i can do. TTYL gang.
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Paulfan:
Good question Femaleanimal. I asked her that yesterday through pm but no reply so far. .
Ah....