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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaron Curran

George Harrison was 'penniless' after being deported from Hamburg

In their early days, the Beatles played in the German city of Hamburg.

The Fab Four first headed out to Germany in the summer of 1960, beginning their residency at the Indra club- playing there almost every night. At this time however, George Harrison- the youngest member of the band- was only 17, meaning it was technically not legal for him to be performing in the country.

Following a dispute with a club owner, the authorities were informed, leading to the guitarist being forced to leave the country, and embark on a non-stop 24 hour trip back to Liverpool.

READ MORE: George Harrison's wife fought off attacker who stabbed former Beatle in his own home

Speaking about the situation later, Harrison said: "I had to go back home and that was right at a critical time, because we’d just been offered a job at another club down the road, the Top Ten, which was a much cooler club. In our hour off from the Kaiserkeller we’d go there to watch Sheridan or whoever was playing.

"The manager had poached us from Bruno Koschmider and we’d already played a couple of times there. There was a really good atmosphere in that club. It had a great sound-system, it looked much better and they paid a bit more money."

Band member Stuart Sutcliffe would then drop Harrison off at the station to begin his long journey home. George added: "Astrid, and probably Stuart, dropped me at Hamburg station. It was a long journey on my own on the train to the Hook of Holland. From there I got the day boat. It seemed to take ages and I didn’t have much money – I was praying I’d have enough.

"I had to get from Harwich to Liverpool Street Station and then a taxi across to Euston. From there I got a train to Liverpool. I can remember it now: I had an amplifier that I’d bought in Hamburg and a crappy suitcase and things in boxes, paper bags with my clothes in, and a guitar. I had too many things to carry and was standing in the corridor of the train with my belongings around me, and lots of soldiers on the train, drinking.

"I finally got to Liverpool and took a taxi home – I just about made it. I got home penniless. It took everything I had to get me back."

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