See the Beatles' early days in Hamburg
2010-09-30
Fifty years ago, five unknowns from Liverpool played their first gig in Hamburg, Germany at a little known joint called the Indra Club. Years later, five would become four and The Beatles would go on to international superstardom and what is typically considered the greatest career of all time.
Now, travelers who visit the Reeperbahn area of Hamburg can see many of the spots where the Beatles got their start - although they've changed over the years. The Indra Club is still there, although it's under new management and has been spruced up since the Beatles played there. Other venues include the Kaiserkeller, where the Beatles spent a month opening for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a lineup that included a then-unknown Ringo Starr.
In addition to a statue of the four Beatles in the main square near the Reeperbahn, Hamburg has recently opened Beatlemania, a five-floor museum that explores the band's entire career, from their formative years in Hamburg up to globe-trotting superstars. Travelers will be able to glimpse of wealth of rare Beatles memorabilia while participating in interactive exhibits that celebrate the band's full history.
For Beatlemaniacs planning European travel, Hamburg should definitely be near the top of the list of possible destinations.
View Larger MapSee also ...