Magical Mystery Tour,, Molly & Malloy's

On Saturday afternoon, after meeting Mike McCartney, Charlie/Denise, Joe/Holly, Dale and Linda/I bought tickets for the Monday 9:30am 'Magical Mystery Tour', that left from The Adelphi. (We hadn't met up with Pat & his family yet.) It was the only one left for the week not sold out! What a drag, getting on that bus with only 4 hours sleep! But at least we got the actual MMT bus from the movie. Only 1 tour out of 4 can have the movie bus!

Tour guide Eddie Porter was fantastic...you'd never know he's been spewing out the same info for the last 22 years! Les, the driver, was just as funny, throwing out all kinds of jokes and puns that made for an enjoyable morning.

We drove past St. Peter's church, where The Quarrymen played a garden fete' on July 6, 1957 where John met Paul for the first time. CHILLS!

We went to the boyhood homes of John, Paul & Ringo, as well as Brain Epstein's house. A "life moment'/highlight of the week for me, was while Eddie was talking in front of Paul McCartney's house at 20 Forthlin Road. As Eddie explained the background of the house, the front door opened and "Molly" (a shepherd mix) came out onto the lawn and sat. Everyone thought...how cute....must be part of the tour.

30 seconds later...would you believe that Molly sauntered through the gate opening, onto the sidewalk, and came RIGHT to me & Linda??!! Out of 50 people in the tour group, she came to see "Paul & Linda"! She sniffed & licked us, while we petted and rubbed the back of her head. When others tried to pet her, she calmly just turned around and trotted back into the yard. I truly believe that Molly 'knew' who we were...as if Linda and I were 'meant' to be together, and meant to be wed in the land of Lennon/McCartney. I hope that Molly finds her own Desmond someday.

We saw all of the literary icons from Penny Lane - the shelter & the roundabout, the bank, the firehouse, the barbershop; and then onto our wedding site for the next day - Strawberry Fields. Word had gotten out to Eddie about us, and he was very charming in letting the tour group in about our plans.

There many other sites that were pointed out to us, all with history & meaning, but too long to mention here. So after we were dropped off at The Adelphi, we trodded back up the hill.

Our next two gigs were FABtastic. First a 2pm show in the Cavern Back Stage. What a luxury to have all that room, and a monitor for everyone, including Stan on drums. Dale told me afterward that it was our best set of the week, and that it drew people from the the front stage area...including Bill Heckle, the Cavern owner.

The last gig was up on the crazy-busy Victoria Street pub called "T.P. Molloy's" at 6pm. The Mathew Street Festival was in full force, and the streets were closed down for the "Bank Holiday". Only 300,000 were in town that day!!!

This was our last gig of the week (excluding the Badfinger shows on Tuesday) so I think we were ALL in the mindset to give it our all. The set was glorious.

Pat soared on his solos, Joe, Charlie & I sang SO well in three part for 'Help', 'Tell Me Why' and our now-famous 'Searchers Medley'. Tommy Allen sat in for 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy' and 'You Can't Do That' while Stan came up from to sing. The atmosphere was ELECTRIC! And, it was my only occasion of the week to sing 'Ferry Cross The Mersey'...with the waters flowing just two blocks away. Sniff...sniff....

A fellow from Chicago who watched, wanted us to play at the Chicago Beatlesfest...Pete Best's tour manager from the states caught us there and wanted us to open for him next summer if we were available! And to add a little local flavor - there were 4 old scousers who saw Linda & I on the 'telly'. They loved us, and all bought t-shirts or CD's. Many autographs were signed after the Molloy's show.

It's very heartwarming that 5 average working stiffs from America could be treated like rock stars!

Dale, Tommy, Linda & I joined up with Gary Quinn & Lynn later in the evening, and went to the glorious Empire Theater to catch The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Merseybeats, and The Searchers. Those lads, now most in their early 60's, can STILL rock & roll...all with amazing, youthful voices.

We lasted a little bit longer up at the Adelphi for the "VIP Party". This is where I got to meet and chat with many of 'my friends' on myspace. Joey & Tommy hung out with Fab Faux Frank, talking shop of course! Linda & Lynn talked for the longest time, while Gary & I watched them... LOL... as we downed those 'super-chilled' pints of Fosters!

Lastly, the best band of the week performed there - The Overtures. You HAVE to check them out at www.theovertures.com. They played SPOT ON renditions of songs like 'Itchykoo Park, Look Through Any Window, and Sir Cliff Richard's On The Beach.

Tomorrow Never Knows - Because - Tuesday afternoon is never ending...