Sunday 26 February 2012

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Star Club

Press Release


On April 14th and 15th, BEATLEMANIA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Star‐Club

There are places and names within the world of music which lead to all sorts of associations – Woodstock is one of them, Abbey Road, maybe even Graceland and
Live Aid. Certainly, the Star Club is to be found among these catch words. During spring 1962 the club opened in the ‘Große Freiheit’ centred at the red light district where it rose to fame of being the holy mecca of beat music, a magical place of pop culture and becoming one of the most famous live‐clubs of the sixties. The orange‐red posters for the opening night were promising “Die Not hat ein Ende” – ’Misery is over` – the Star Club kept its word: The Beatles, Roy Young, The Bachelors and ‘Tex Roberg & The Graduates’ played at the opening – and during the following months and years almost every top musician within the world of Rock’n’Roll came to play at the venue, among them Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Ray Charles, the Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Brenda Lee and many more. Finally the post‐war youth was offered a place which wasn’t dominated by the music of their parents or even grand‐parents.
The Star Club was Hamburg’s jewel which put the city to the worldwide centre of attention of Rock’n’Roll.

The 13th of April 2012 is the Star Club’s 50th anniversary – obviously such a special occasion will be celebrated in style. In cooperation with the ‘Große Freiheit 36’, the BEATLEMANIA Hamburg has prepared a weekend in the name of music and art.

Friday:
Friday is entirely packed with Live‐music: The ‘Große Freiheit 36’ presents bands throughout the whole evening who all have a special connection to the club or even played the venue back in the day. The Line up includes The Quarrymen, The Pete Best Band, Mike Pender’s Searchers, The Mojos, The Undertakers, Lee Curtis with the Bonds and Mr.Piggi, Jimmy & The Rackers, Rockhouse Brothers, Ian’s Zodiacs, Ticket to Ride and the ‘Star Club All‐Star‐Band’.

Saturday:
Saturday and Sunday will continue with a loaded jubilee programme in the halls of the BEATLEMANIA. The popular TV and radio host Carlo von Tiedemann will start Saturday at 12 pm with the opening of the exhibition ‘People at the Star Club´ – drawings by Klaus‐Dieter Schweitz. Contemporary witness Schweitz has portrayed all different kinds of personalities of the 60’s – whether it is a doorman, a bar lady or John Lennon – and as a result presents an artistical document of history about the heritage of Rock’n’Roll in Hamburg.

Moreover a charity auction starts to support the Hamburg charitable society Clubkinder e.V. and one of Schweitz’s drawings will be sold on auction till Sunday. Interested parties can leave their bids directly at BEATLEMANIA or compete in the bidding online via www.beatlemaniahamburg.com and via www.clubkinder.de.

Afterwards, the successful audio‐book series ‘Hamburg‐Krimis’ guest stars in the BEATLEMANIA – showing excerpts from the live‐staging of their brand new audio‐book ‘Todesengel Reeperbahn’. The story involves one of The Beatles famous musicians being under suspicion of murder and showcases the Star Club as an essential location.

Less homicidal but none the less exciting will be the reading of Horst Fascher, former Star Club manager and Beatles‐companion, who will please the crowd with extracts from his book ‘Let The Good Times Roll’.

The Hamburg Beatles‐guides band ‘Die Koschmiders’ will enter the stage to (re‐)interpret the biggest hits as well as some less famous pearls of Beatles music history – which will all take place during a live performance in the Yeah Club of the BEATLEMANIA.

On the fifth floor, the BEATLEMANIA continuously shows the film ‘All You Need Is Klaus’. Subject of the screening is the life of Klaus Voormann, who, as no other German, has experienced the rise and fame of the legendary pop era first‐hand.

Sunday:
To ease up the tired bones, the BEATLEMANIA calls out for ‘Let’s Rock’n’Roll’. To participate in the dance‐workshops, given by the ADTV dance school ‘Die Schrittmacher’, is highly recommended and expressively desired!

A treat in form of a very special premiere is given to the audience in the Yeah Club: Before the 55‐minutes‐long audio‐book ‘Beat! Beat! Beat! Or: How the Lobscouse hit the Leslie’ will be broadcasted for the first time via the station NDR Info at 21.05 that Sunday, you will be able to listen to it at the BEATLEMANIA. The audio‐book combines true and adapted stories based on the beginnings and the best years of the Star Club.

Additionally, the poster exhibition ‘Star‐Club in 3D’ will offer a new glimpse into the cult club and a signing session with Horst Fascher is scheduled.

Also during the Sunday, it’s time again to push the music button. Dara and Band, who acclaimed fame far beyond Hamburg’s borders as backing group for Tony Sheridan, offer Star‐Club‐Sound that would do anyone proud. And as previously done on Saturday, the 5th floor will be transformed into a cinema where between 10am and 7pm continuously the documentary ‘Bye Bye Star‐Club’ will be screened. This search of clues is lead by moviemaker Axel Engstfeld and Günter Zint, once ‘Star Clubs’ own photographer.

NB: Programme is subject to change

_________________________

The Combo‐ticket for all three days of the Star‐Club celebration, which means the Star‐Club‐Night at the ‘Große Freiheit 36’ on Friday and the Saturday and Sunday programme at the BEATLEMANIA, is available for € 53.45 at www.eventim.de.

Who only can clear their schedule for one day and still don’t want to miss the BEATLEMANIA programme is welcome to purchase a day ticket for € 12 (price per adult).

BEATLEMANIA Hamburg

Daily from 10am till 7pm (final entry 6pm)
Reeperbahn / on the corner of Große Freiheit / Nobistor 10
22767 Hamburg / St. Pauli
Telephone: +49 (0) 40 – 311 718 18
info@beatlemania‐hamburg.com
www.beatlemania‐hamburg.com






1 comment: