The Rolling Stones in Rochdale

You Had To Be There: The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69

A new book about the career of the Rolling Stones has been published, giving a front row perspective on the group’s early live shows, including memories of their infamous non appearance at the Cubi Klub in Rochdale in the 1960s.

Amongst the shows remembered in ‘You Had To Be There: The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69’ are several concerts which took place in Manchester at the ABC, the Odeon, the Apollo and the Oasis Club. The infamous Stones ‘concert that never was’, which was due to take place on 16 April 1964, also features in the book.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/91922/do-you-have-memories-of-the-rolling-stones-from-the-1960s

The book, written by Manchester based author Richard Houghton, contains over 500 eyewitness accounts of the band’s very first performances, beginning with pubs and clubs in and around London and culminating in their 1969 Hyde Park show.

Richard Houghton said: “The Rolling Stones came to Rochdale but didn’t play. They were scheduled to appear at the Cubi Klub but, with the venue full and the band back stage, the decision was taken to cancel the concert for health and safety reasons due to the huge numbers of people in the audience.”

Richard has included two memories from Stones fans who were there that evening in his book.

Peter Oldham remembers: “I was at the Cubi Klub in Rochdale that night. I remember going into this basement and thinking it was a disaster waiting to happen. It was hot with body heat. I was at the front right up to the stage and the barrier was made out of church pews. There was no security staff or bouncers. The stage entrance was to my right, little more than ten feet away.

“I could not see what was happening behind the curtain but I recall at one point a cheer and messages passed down the line that the group was there and had been seen by those who could see behind the curtain. I cannot remember how long I was there until a guy came on stage and said the Rolling Stones would not appear. Any sort of stampede, crowd rush or fire and the loss of life would have been substantial.”

Another person at the Cubi Klub that night was Bob Lee, he recalls: “There was almost a riot. Thousands of us turned up - I’d booked in advance but when we got there they said they couldn’t go on because they’d sold too many tickets. The police had stopped them because of the fire regulations. I just thought, like everybody did at the time, that it was just a con to get people there.”

Rumours about whether or not the Stones had made it to Rochdale or if the gig had been cancelled because of one or more band members failing to show up began to circulate.

Mr Lee added: “It was only afterwards that I found out that the Rolling Stones did turn up but they were advised that it wasn’t safe for them to perform. Another group was going to be the support and the club still opened that night and the other group played.”

The publication of ‘You Had To Be There: The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69’ coincides with the recent announcement of a major Rolling Stones exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London next year. The group have been performing live for more than 50 years and interest in the group’s early days is stronger than ever.

Mr Houghton said: “I got the idea for the book last year when I went to see the Rolling Stones perform in Stockholm. Mick Jagger was about to turn 71 and it occurred to me that many of the people who saw the Stones when they were starting out would be of a similar vintage. 50 years ago they were teenagers and I thought it would be good to capture those memories of the early Stones shows before they fade.

“This book is not just about the Rolling Stones. It’s also a window on the past, a look at what it was like to grow up in 1960s Britain. Teenagers hadn’t really been invented until the Rolling Stones came along and they played a part in opening many people’s eyes to what was possible. The Stones helped to make the Sixties swing.”

Mr Houghton added: “I’ve been lucky enough to capture some great anecdotes from people who saw the Stones on their journey to stardom. They started out as a group of rhythm and blues aficionados, sometimes playing to a handful of people in a pub, and became the greatest rock’n’roll band in the world.”

Mr Houghton did not see the Rolling Stones live in the 1960s himself, although his mum did take him to see The Beatles. He was four-years-old and the Fab Four are the subject of his next book.

He said: “I’d love to hear the memories of anyone who saw The Beatles in the 1960s. They set the entertainment world alight when they came along and there will be lots of people out there who heard them or saw them and who have a story to tell about the impact The Beatles had on them.”

You can share your Beatles or Stones memories with Richard via:

thebeatlesinthe60s@gmail.com

‘You Had To Be There: The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69’ is available from 12 October 2015.