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THE SABRES GO TO HAMBURG
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Where The Beatles went, many were bound to follow. Hamburg was to remain a Mecca for emergent bands for many years after The Fabs sailed into orbit. In 1964 The Sabres from Matlock in Derbyshire hit the Hamburg trail after passing an audition in Liverpool for bands wishing to play the Star Club. The auditions were organised by Brian Epstein's childhood friend/business partner, Joe Flannery. By March they were ensconced in Hamburg's Pacific Hotel - where The Beatles, and Epstein had stayed during their final visit to Hamburg as 'Love Me Do' climbed the U.K. charts in 1962.
The Sabres soon felt at home when they bumped into 'The Londoners', a.k.a. The Blue Caps, whom they'd last seen in Chesterfield backing Gene Vincent. The Blue Caps regaled them with stories of
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Vincent's constant moaning about his bad leg, and of their unending battle to get him out of bed each day as Vincent resolutely failed to accept that, on tour, it took time to travel from one city to another.
Their upbeat mood soon changed however when Flannery announced he'd lost the contract to supply groups for the Star Club. Immediately The Sabres were faced with bills they couldn't pay to return themselves, their van and their equipment back home. With Flannery agreeing to honour their hotel tab for a few days The Sabres elected to try and secure some bookings on their own by applying directly to Manfred Weissleder, notorious owner of the Star Club. A chance encounter with The Sabres' U.K. rock hero Johnny Kidd ('Shakin' All Over', 'Hungry For Love, 'I'll Never Get Over You') did little to raise spirits. Asked if he was there to play the Star Club, Kidd replied that he wasn't, he there to try and get the money Weissleder owed him from his last trip!
Overlord of the biggest strip-club empire on the Reeperbahn, Weissleder was a gangster of awesome repute. He dispensed Horst Fascher, his strong-arm man, and bouncer Ali - a fearsome drop kick specialist - to seek out lead Sabre, Bob Price at The Pacific. Price was then 'invited' to a rendezvous with Weissleder. Being of sound mind, Price quickly agreed to the meeting and to the deal Weissleder proposed that day: play The Star Club for a night, and if they passed the audition, The Sabres could play for a month. Price agreed, his band played their hearts out, and got the gig. Impressed, Weissleder also booked them for a second, all-expenses paid trip - including accommodation at The Pacific.
Thus The Sabres entered Star Club history. Back home they had played The Cavern, and The Oasis in Manchester, bur now they could tell stories of band-feasts at the Mambo Café, Hamburg, served by a girl who was once engaged to Ringo. Even though chart success was to prove elusive, The Sabres did it all: they were really there, they played the places and they met the faces. How cool is that?
Colin Hall |
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