Rory Storm

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Rory Storm
Photo by Astrid Kirchherr
Background information
Birth nameAlan Ernest Caldwell
Born(1938-01-07)7 January 1938
Stoneycroft, Liverpool, England
Died28 September 1972(1972-09-28) (aged 34)
Broadgreen, Liverpool, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1958–1972
Labels

Rory Storm (born Alan Ernest Caldwell;[1] 7 January 1938 – 28 September 1972) was an English musician and vocalist. Born in Liverpool, Storm was the singer and leader of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a Liverpudlian band who were contemporaries of The Beatles in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Ringo Starr was the drummer for the Hurricanes before joining the Beatles in August 1962.

The Hurricanes were one of the most popular acts on the Liverpool and

America", and was produced by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein
.

Early years

Rory Storm was the stage name of Alan Caldwell, born 7 January 1938, in Oakhill Park Estate,

Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust.[5] Apart from music, Storm was interested in sports, particularly athletics; he ran for an amateur team in Liverpool, the Pembroke Harriers, and set the Pembroke Athletics and Cycle Club steeplechase record.[6][7] Instead of being driven home after concerts in Liverpool, Storm preferred to run home.[8]

Storm played

speech impediment), which did not affect his singing.[6][9] Because of Storm's stammer, his friends never allowed him to tell a joke or to order a round of drinks, as it could take a long time.[8] He became a cotton salesman (as was Paul McCartney's father, Jim) before forming a skiffle group.[8]

Music

Storm's first name for a group was "Dracula & the Werewolves", but he then settled on "Al Caldwell's Texans".[10] Still known as Alan Caldwell, Storm opened the Morgue Skiffle Club in the cellar of a large Victorian house, "Balgownie", at 25 Oakhill Park, Broadgreen, on 13 March 1958.[10] The cellar consisted of two rooms, painted black and connected by a long corridor, with skeletons painted on the walls and one blue light.[10] Groups played on Tuesdays and Thursdays for up to 100 people (above the age of 15) starting at 7:30 pm, including Storm's group (later called "The Raving Texans") and the Quarrymen (who later became "the Beatles").[8] After complaints about the noise, the police closed down the club on 1 April 1958, but Storm reopened it on 22 April 1958.[11] It was in the Morgue Skiffle Club that George Harrison auditioned for the Quarrymen, playing "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" by Bert Weedon, before being admitted as a member of the band.[8][10] Paul McCartney has stated that George Harrison auditioned for John Lennon on the top of a bus by playing "Raunchy". Harrison later asked Storm if he could join his group, but Storm's mother refused to allow it, as she thought Harrison was too young.[11]

Storm went to

tea-chest bass). "Spud" Ward, a former member of the Swinging Blue Jeans, later played bass guitar.[8] Storm met Ringo Starr at a talent contest called "6.5 Special". Starr had previously played with the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group and was then drumming with a group called "Darktown Skiffle". Starr's first concert with Storm was on 25 March 1959, at the Mardi Gras in Mount Pleasant, Liverpool.[8]

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes

Storm changed the name of his group to "Al Storm and the Hurricanes", then "Jett Storm and the Hurricanes", and finally to "Rory Storm and the Hurricanes". Storm and the Hurricanes entered "Search for Stars", a competition managed by Carrol Levis, at the

shillings, but the coins collected from the stage floor were worth more than the fine.[13]

Storm and the Hurricanes performed at the

Boys" by the Shirelles.[16] Starr finally agreed when Storm told him about how many women would be "available".[13] It was during this season that Starr (who had been known as "Ritchie" until then) changed his name to "Ringo".[17]

Hamburg

After playing for more than 16 hours per week, the group were contacted by Allan Williams, who wanted them to go to Hamburg. Derry and the Seniors were successful there, and Williams wanted an additional group.[18] As Storm and the group were committed to Butlins, they turned Williams' offer down (as did Gerry and the Pacemakers), so Williams sent the Beatles to Hamburg instead.[19][20] After the summer season ended in early October 1960, Storm and the Hurricanes were free to travel to Hamburg, replacing Derry and the Seniors at the Kaiserkeller. They arrived in Hamburg on 1 October 1960, having negotiated to be paid more than the Seniors or the Beatles.[21] They played five or six 90-minute sets every day, alternating with the Beatles.[18][22] Storm and the Hurricanes were later presented with a special certificate by Bruno Koschmider (the owner of the Kaiserkeller) for their performances.[20]

The stage of the Kaiserkeller was made of planks of wood balanced on the top of beer crates, so the two groups made a bet to see to who would be the first to break it.

coshes, who beat the musicians as punishment.[24]

During their eight-week residency, Williams arranged a recording session at the Akoustik Studio, which was a small booth on the fifth floor of 57 Kirchenallee (the Klockmann-House) on Saturday 18 October 1960.

However, the fate of the recordings is uncertain and they have not been discovered to this day.

Liverpool

Storm and the Hurricanes were the headlining group at the first "Beat Night", in the Orrell Park Ballroom, in March 1961. They were also invited for a season at the Butlins camp in Pwllheli North Wales. Sam Leach (a Liverpool promoter) arranged a series of dance nights at the Palais Ballroom in Aldershot, starting on 9 December 1961.[20] The first Saturday featured the Beatles, but as the local newspaper forgot to run the advertisement only 18 people turned up.[20] The second Saturday was arranged for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to perform, and as it was advertised this time, 210 people paid to get in. Leach's idea was to attract London agents to watch the series of concerts, but when he realized they would never travel out of London he abandoned the idea.[20]

Starr considered leaving Storm at that time to join Derry and the Seniors, but accepted a job with Tony Sheridan at the Top Ten Club on 30 December 1961, as Sheridan's offer of more money, a flat and a car was too good to refuse.[20] Starr's stay with Sheridan was short-lived, as he found Sheridan's habit of changing the set list without telling his backing group beforehand frustrating, so he rejoined the Hurricanes.[20] On 5 February 1962, Best fell ill and the Beatles had to play a lunchtime concert at the Cavern and an evening concert at the Kingsway club in Southport. As the Hurricanes had no concert that day Starr played with them live on stage for the first time (although he had recorded with them in Hamburg).[26]

During a Hurricanes' residency at Butlins, Lennon and McCartney drove from Liverpool to Pwllheli North Wales, on 15 August 1962, to ask Starr to join the Beatles.

£20 a week (equivalent to £500 in 2024),[15] but Lennon and McCartney offered £25 a week (equivalent to £600 in 2024),[15] which Starr accepted.[17] Lennon and McCartney offered Storm to swap drummers (with Best replacing Starr) but Best rejected the idea.[17] According to Epstein in his autobiography, Storm was, "One of the liveliest and most likable young men on the scene ... was very annoyed when Ringo left and he complained to me. I apologized, and Rory, with immense good humor said, 'Okay. Forget it. The best of luck to the lot of you'".[28] The Hurricanes then became known for having a succession of drummers, including Gibson Kemp, Brian Johnson, Keef Hartley (August 1963), Ian Broad and Trevor Morais, who all stayed with the group for a short period before leaving.[17][20]

Despite Starr joining the Beatles, both groups would perform on the same bill during 1962, and at many concerts thereafter.

St Patrick's Night Rock Gala (Knotty Ash Village Hall), Queen's Hall (Widnes), and with Little Richard at the Tower Ballroom. In 1963, Storm and the Hurricanes were filmed as part of the "Beat City" documentary, which was broadcast by Associated-Rediffusion
Television.

Stage persona and lifestyle

When Storm became a professional singer, he changed his name to Rory Storm by deed poll, and changed the name of his family's home in Broadgreen to Hurricaneville (the house name has often been remembered as Stormsville, even by his sister Iris, but was registered with the Post Office as Hurricaneville and appeared that way in the telephone directory).[30]

Storm was known for the extravagant clothes he wore and the cars he drove, once buying a pink Vauxhall Cresta for over £800 in cash.[6] A young man was once caught by a porter at Bootle railway station writing "I love Rory" over the walls, and when questioned, it turned out to be Storm himself.[8] The Hurricanes wore matching suits on stage, but Storm sometimes wore a pink suit and pink tie, and during concerts he would walk to the piano and comb his blond hair with an oversized comb.[31] Their stage wear changed from sunglasses and palm tree-decorated shirts to red (and blue) suits. Storm also wore an Elvis-style gold lamé suit.[32] When they first appeared at Butlins holiday camp Storm wore a turquoise suit with a gold lamé shirt, while the group wore fluorescent suits.[13]

Rod Pont (also known as Steve Day in Steve Day and the Drifters) remembered Storm arriving at the Orrell Park Ballroom for a concert with a

swimming trunks, and then dived into the water at the end of a song.[7] In January 1964, during a performance at the Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead, he climbed up one of the columns supporting the balcony, but slipped and fell 30 feet (9 m) to the floor below, fracturing his leg. At another performance on the New Brighton Pier, Storm made his way onto the Pavilion roof but fell through the glass skylight.[7]

Storm and the Hurricanes received the most votes in the first Mersey Beat magazine poll, but many votes were disqualified as they had been posted from the same place at the same time and were written in green ink; although never proven, it was thought that Storm had posted the votes.[34] This meant that the Beatles reached the top position, with the Hurricanes coming fourth, even though the Beatles had also been sending in extra votes themselves.[7][34] Storm was often photographed for the magazine, such as being surrounded by nurses when he left the hospital after breaking a leg during a performance, or playing for the Mersey Beat XI football team.[7]

The Hurricanes' set list

The group's typical 40-minute set list during 1963/1964:

Other songs included in the set were:

The Hurricanes recorded songs for Oriole's two This is Mersey Beat albums, but released only two singles: "Dr Feelgood"/"I Can Tell", Oriole (45-CB 1858 12/63) and "America"/"Since You Broke My Heart", Parlophone (R 5197 11/64), which was produced by Epstein at IBC Studios in London.[37] Epstein also sang backing vocals on "America", and Starr added percussion and sang. Storm later asked Epstein to manage the group, but Epstein refused.[7][38] The Hurricanes later recorded two songs at Abbey Road Studios in 1964: "Ubangi Stomp" and "I'll Be There", although they were never released.[39]

Final years and death

In 1967, at the age of 26, O'Brien collapsed in his home and was taken to a hospital where he would die from complications after an

Ice Rink in Liverpool, in Benidorm, Spain (he was also a water-skiing instructor there), and in Jersey and Amsterdam.[5] When Storm's father died, he returned from Amsterdam to Liverpool to be with his mother. He developed a chest infection and could not sleep properly, so he took sleeping pills. On 28 September 1972, Storm and his mother were both found dead at Hurricaneville. The postmortem revealed that Storm had alcohol and sleeping pills in his blood (as had his mother), but not enough to cause his death, which was ruled accidental. Although it could not be proven, it is thought that his mother took her own life after finding Storm's body.[5][38][42]

The funeral for Storm and his mother was at Oakvale Congregational Church, Broadgreen, on 19 October 1972. Mourners sang Storm's favourite song, "

You'll Never Walk Alone". The two coffins were carried from the hearse to the cremation (at Anfield Crematorium) by former band members.[6] Storm's remains were scattered on section 23 at Anfield Crematorium's Gardens of Remembrance. When Starr was asked why he did not attend, he said, "I wasn't there when he was born either."[5] Although Starr had often offered to arrange for Storm to record whenever he wanted to, Storm was not interested in finding new or original material. His sister said: "He [Storm] was happy to be the King of Liverpool – he was never keen on touring, he didn't want to give up running for the Pembroke Harriers ... and he'd never miss a Liverpool match!"[7]

Billy Fury, whom Storm had met at the Wyvern Club auditions, later played the part of a fictional singer called Stormy Tempest (based on Storm), in the film That'll Be the Day (1973), which also starred Starr. In 1987, a musical was staged in Liverpool about Storm and the Hurricanes called A Need for Heroes.[40]

After spending several years in the North West Ambulance Service, Johnny Guitar died in Liverpool on 18 August 1999. Lu Walters died on 19 July 2022.[43]

Legacy

Ringo Starr pays tribute to him in his songs "Liverpool 8" on his Liverpool 8 album and "Rory and the Hurricanes" on his Postcards from Paradise album.

Posthumous release

In September 2012, it was reported that a reel-to-reel tape of a complete concert by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, from 5 March 1960 at Liverpool's Jive Hive, had been unearthed in the basement of his sister Iris Caldwell.[44] The recording was released on CD as Rory Storm and the Hurricanes Live at the Jive Hive – March 1960. The concert had been professionally recorded in mono by radio engineers with a recording microphone added onto Rory Storm's concert mic stand, but only one mic for the entire band.[citation needed] The diary of Storm's guitarist Johnny Guitar reveals that, in the week of the recording, Ringo Starr was ill, and historian Mark Lewisohn has stated that the drumming on the recording is nothing like Starr's.[45] Four home demos were also included on the CD release.[46]

Discography

(releases by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes)

Singles

Albums

  • 2012 – Live at the Jive Hive March 1960, Rockstar Records, RSRCD 033[49]

Compilations

  • 1963 – This Is Merseybeat, Volume 1, Oriole, PS 40047 (tracks: "Dr. Feelgood" and "Beautiful Dreamer")[50]
  • 1963 – This Is Merseybeat, Volume 2, Oriole, PS 40048 (tracks: "I Can Tell")[51]
  • 1974 – Mersey Beat: 1962–64, United Artists, US$305 (tracks: "I Can Tell", "Dr. Feelgood")[52]
  • 2004 – Unearthed Merseybeat, Volume 2, Viper CD-027 (tracks: "Lend Me Your Comb")[53]

References

  • .
  • .
  • .
  • Lewisohn, Mark (2013). The Beatles – All These Years: Volume One: Tune In. United Kingdom: Little, Brown. .
  • .
  • Spitz, Bob (2005). The Beatles: The Biography. .
  • Apple records
    . ASIN – B00008GKEG.
  • Hogan, Anthony (2016). From a Storm to a Hurricane. .

Notes

  1. ^ a b "findmypast.co.uk". Search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Iris Caldwell". Tripod. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  3. ^ "16. I Saw Her Standing There". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. ^ "The illustrations guide – Storm's autograph". Beatles Autographs. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (page 7)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (page 1)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (page 6)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (page 2)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  9. ^ "An almost famous singer". The Stuttering Foundation. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d Spitz 2005, p. 126.
  11. ^ a b Spitz 2005, p. 152.
  12. ^ a b Rory Storm and The Hurricanes' Infamous Show at The Cavern, 1960, retrieved 10 January 2023
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (page 3)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Issue No.7". Bill Harry. 20 August 1999. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  15. ^ a b c UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  16. ^ ”The Beatles Anthology" DVD 1&2 2003 (Episode 1 – 0:31:06) Lennon talking about Starr's 'Starr-Time' and being a professional drummer.
  17. ^ a b c d Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & the Hurricanes (page 5)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  18. ^ a b Lennon 2005, p. 76.
  19. ^ Spitz 2005, p. 202.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harry, Bill. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Tragic Story of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (page 4)". Bill Harry. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  21. ^ Spitz 2005, p. 201.
  22. ^ Spitz 2005, p. 216.
  23. ^ a b Spitz 2005, p. 219.
  24. ^ Spitz 2005, pp. 220–221.
  25. ^ Lou Walters' recording session Retrieved: 29 January 2007
  26. ^ Spitz 2005, p. 300.
  27. ^ "Reference Library: Pete Forever, Ringo Never!". Bill Harry. 23 August 1962. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  28. ^ Epstein 1964, p. 65.
  29. ^ McCormack, Peter R. (29 September 2004). "Liverpool Idol Sweeps Local Warehouse". rickresource. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  30. ^ Lewisohn 2013, p. 493, 875.
  31. ^ "Rory Storm and the Hurricanes – July to September 1960". The Beatle Source. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  32. ^ Spitz 2005, p. 151.
  33. ^ Spitz 2005, pp. 151–152.
  34. ^ a b Spitz 2005, p. 288.
  35. AllMusic
  36. ^ "Record Details". 45cat. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  37. ^ Spitz 2005, pp. 418–419.
  38. ^ a b "Rory Storm and The Hurricanes". tropea magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  39. ^ Unterberger, Richie (2007). "Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (biography)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ a b Leigh, Spencer (20 August 1999). "Obituary: Johnny Guitar (page 2)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  41. ^ Haskayne, Ian. "Rory Storm". Mersey Beat Nostalgia. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  42. ^ "World's number one drummer was a fashion Starr, too". Liverpool Echo. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  43. ^ "They Also Served: Lu Walters", Mojo 347, October 2022, p.114
  44. ^ Youngs, Ian (4 September 2012). "Tapes by Ringo's first band found". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  45. ^ Lewisohn 2013, p. 282.
  46. ^ Rory Storm and the Hurricanes – Live at the Jive Hive, July 2012, retrieved 9 June 2022
  47. ^ "45cat - Rory Storm And The Hurricanes - Dr. Feel Good / I Can Tell - Oriole - UK - CB 1858".
  48. ^ "45cat - Rory Storm And The Hurricanes - America / Since You Broke My Heart - Parlophone - UK - R 5197".
  49. ^ Jive at the Jive Hive March 1960 at Discogs Retrieved 13 May 2013
  50. ^ "This Is Merseybeat Vol. 1 by Various Artists - RYM/Sonemic" – via rateyourmusic.com.
  51. ^ "This Is Merseybeat Vol. 2 by Various Artists - RYM/Sonemic" – via rateyourmusic.com.
  52. ^ "Mersey Beat 1962 - 64 by Various Artists - RYM/Sonemic" – via rateyourmusic.com.
  53. ^ "Unearthed Merseybeat, Volume 2 on The Viper Label website". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.

External links