About

Organisation History Beatles « Excerpts Transcript Audience Funding Sponsor Tour Directions Contact Us

Beatles

Radio Clatterbridge interviews The Beatles in 1962

Much has been made of Ringo Starr launching Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. But did you know he did his first radio interview with the Beatles especially for Radio Clatterbridge?

It was October 27th 1962, and presenter Monty Lister with assistants Peter Smethurst and Malcolm Threadgill had clinched a world exclusive.

The band was on the verge of taking the world by storm, and listeners to Radio Clatterbridge became the first in the world to hear about the Fab Four.

The Beatles were playing at Hulme Hall in Port Sunlight, so Monty Lister and his team decided to take their tape recorder along to record an interview with them. At the time, the band were promoting their new single, Love Me Do.

Peter Smethurst, Monty Lister, Sam Leach & Ray O'Brien in 2002

40 years on, Radio Clatterbridge broadcast the interview again during a special debate programme about the recording and the Fab Four's early days.

Local Beatles historian Ray O'Brien and the band's former publicist, Sam Leach, were there. After the interview was replayed, Sam commented: "I'd never heard all of it before. Monty did a good job there for posterity."

Monty Lister was also reunited with his assistant Peter Smethurst for the programme.

Peter said: "We've got to thank Monty for having the foresight to come up with an interview like that. A one off."

Further information
• See a transcript of the original interview
• Listen to excerpts from the special programme in 2002.
• Read about the man who helped create history