Last updated: 01 September 2009
Capitol Theatre, Cardiff
Monday 27 May 1963
Roy Orbison was the named headliner for The Beatles' third national tour, which began on 18 May. However, by the time they arrived in Cardiff, The Beatles' popularity meant they were promoted to top billing.
The Beatles performed at the Capitol Cinema, where they returned on two other occasions. Also on the bill, in order of appearance, were the Terry Young Six, Ian Crawford, Louise Cordet, David Macbeth, Gerry and the Pacemakers, comedian Erkey Grant, and Roy Orbison.
The Beatles performed seven songs: Some Other Guy, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Love Me Do, From Me To You, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There and Twist And Shout. They were paid £100 for the appearance.
Before the show began the group was visited by Dave Edmunds, who at the time was working in a Cardiff music shop. He was sent to the venue by his manager, with the orders to try and sell The Beatles anything they might need for the show.
"They were setting up, going for a sound check in the afternoon and we rolled in," Edmunds explained in the 2001 Â鶹Éç Radio Wales programme The Dragon's Breath. "There was no security in those days. I stayed for the whole day.
"In the evening, I was just standing on the side of the stage watching The Beatles do their first tour. We were too nervous to charge them so we just gave them everything, all the sticks and strings. I gave Paul McCartney a set of bass strings."
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Marilyn Baskerville and Harry Cook discuss their memories of The Beatles' concert in Cardiff, 1963, plus footage from their concert the following year.
From the Â鶹Éç Wales programme The Slate, February 1996.
