No Hamburg, No Beatles

“We were born in Liverpool but grew up in Hamburg”, John Lennon once said. This feature documentary seeks to find the truth in those words. The long and winding road that the Beatles took to worldwide fame passed through Hamburg, Germany in the early 1960s. Only a couple of years before they became household names, the former Quarrymen were cutting their musical teeth on nightclub stages in the city. Hamburg had become the vice capital of Europe after World War Two, its neon-lit streets home to sailors, sex workers, drug dealers, gangs and low life. Meanwhile, the English band was still developing, still young and virtually unknown. By the time of their last German visit in 1966, the Beatles were an international phenomenon. 'No Hamburg, No Beatles' explains how learning their trade in this fascinating city helped propel them to global stardom.

Cast

Paul McCartney Self (archive footage) John Lennon Self (archive footage) George Harrison Self (archive footage) Pete Best Self

Stuart Sutcliffe Self (archive footage)

Ringo Starr Self (archive footage) Astrid Kirchherr Self Klaus Voormann Self Tony Sheridan Self (archive footage) Brian Epstein Self (archive footage) (voice)

Frank McDonough Self

Rosie McGinnity Self

Metadata from the source database.