The Beatles at The Apollo, Manchester

Here I am outside the Apollo in Manchester where The Beatles performed two shows in 1963. I’ve seen some groups here and the first 'proper' concert I went to was here (Saxon and it was the first time I’d seen head-bangers in action.) I haven’t been inside for many years and I think Deborah Harry was the last concert I went to (costing £7 per ticket.)

Some well-known footage of The Beatles was filmed here (link below). I'm sure you've seen it. When they played here in 1963 on the Autumn Tour they had a fixed set and performed ten songs. These days you expect a concert to last for 90-100 minutes but the early Beatles songs were short and the true playing time was probably no more than 40 minutes. They replicated their songs just as you heard them on the records and didn't deviate with extended guitar or drum solos. About 5000 fans had queued for two days to get tickets. The lads were well-established and well-practised but, as usual, could hardly hear themselves above the screaming. George Harrison was just 20 and been in the band for six years.

I parked up that sunny Sunday morning and walked round the building. This is a threadbare part of Manchester is called Ardwick Green but there's scant green left. There's a patch of mown grass adjacent to the car park and five lads were sat on it (with a scary-looking muscular dog in a shiny leather harness). By the time I'd finished taking some photographs they'd gone but left a pile of beer cans in their place.

This place was built in 1938 and housed a cafe, cinema and ballroom but I've only ever known it as a concert venue. I've driven passed it many times and seen people queuing at the front and all down the side - even in driving rain. It's a grade 2 listed building and holds a maximum 3500 people. The cafe and big ballroom still exist but aren't used. It was temporarily a Wimpey bar in the 1960. There're strong security shutters over the main doors now but for years you could peer through the glass doors into the foyer through which thousands of excited people had passed on route to see their idols.

I took a few photographs of the place. I'm glad it's still standing and wasn't bombed in World War Two. It's still used by bands making their name but the more well-known coming to Manchester use the 21,000-capacity arena. I walked round the back to look at the tired brickwork, rear doors, legs of ductwork, drain pipes and security cameras and wondered who'd been smuggled in so fans couldn't jump on them. Lots of whoppers have played here - ACDC, Genesis, The Jacksons, Gary Glitter, Bay City Rollers, The Jam, Bon Jovi (I was there) and Morrisey (two nights celebrating his 50th birthday.) In 2002 Peter Kay did 16 nights and Prince played for two nights. In 1981 you could see Bruce Springsteen for £6. In 1979 you could see Queen for £4.75. Blimey.

I had one last walk about. The Beatles returned here twice in October 1964 and December 1965 (they were 12 minutes late as their bus got delayed in thick fog.) I did a salute and went to see if my car was standing on piles on bricks.

For gig footage please click here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-_hRHRtN8Q