Newly discovered Beatles photos from 1961

The images show George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and a partly-obscured Pete Best. © TRACKS LTD/PA

Discovered by memorabilia experts Tracks Ltd, here are two photos of the Beatles you will not have seen before. They are photographed in Liverpool’s Cavern Club in 1961, and the group had recently returned from their stint at Hamburg’s Top Ten Club. The group is pictured wearing unusual clothes – leather trousers and cotton tops. George has yet to acquire his Gretsch guitar, as he is still playing his Futurama – but not for long. He purchased his new Gretsch Duo Jet sometime in July 1961, before 26 July.

© TRACKS LTD/PA

Mark Lewisohn said that these photos show The Beatles playing to a lunchtime or evening audience in July 1961. In that month, The Beatles played The Cavern on the following dates: 14 (two shows), 17, 19 (two shows), 21, 25 (two shows). This was months before John and Paul went to Paris and got their Beatles haircut from Jürgen Vollmer, and yet – behold: both of them have their hair combed forward! Paul also has that split fringe that is also evident on some of the photos of him from Paris in October.

Jürgen Vollmer with Paul in Paris, October 1961.

To mark the 60th anniversary of Love Me Do’s release, memorabilia dealer Tracks Ltd is offering free rare music memorabilia valuations. The valuation day takes place at The Beatles Story exhibition at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock from 11am-6pm on October 5.

Sources: BBC News – The Evening Standard.