The azena ballroom gleadless sheffield.

[Switchblade]

Thanks for the info Switchblade.

As I understand it, The Beatles appeared at the Azena on Tuesday, 12th Feb 1963. Prior to that they had released 3 singles, 'My Bonnie' in Jan 62 which reached number 48 in the charts; 'Love me do' in Oct 62 which reached 17 and 'Please please me' in Jan 63 which went on to reach 1 or 2 depending on which chart is referred to.

'From me to you' I don't think was released until 12th April 63, after the Azena gig. So, without a doubt at the time they were becoming nationally known and evolving into the hugely successful group which we all came to appreciate.

At the time, however, as I have said before, we weren't willing to pay three times the admission price. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

To make maters worse we lost the support slot on the toss of a coin and ended up supporting Screaming Lord Sutch.

[Kidorry]

This is the only photo I could find.Not much detail but it explains how the Azena got its name.

[crookesey]

When the Beatles appeared at the Azena they were already a national sensation with 'From Me To You' at No1, They were not booked by the Azena but by Pete & Geoff Stringfellow who hired the venue as the 'Black Cat Club' wasn't big enough.

The 'Beatles' fee that night was around £80 which they honoured because Stringfellow had the insite to book them before they'd arrived big time.

 

It was 'Love Me Do', (I think), and as I recall, from a conversation with Geoff, the fee was something in the order of £400. My mate Alan Walsh, a local DJ went to a party with them after the performance, I belive it was in Frecheville.

[Switchblade]

It was 'Love Me Do', (I think), and as I recall, from a conversation with Geoff, the fee was something in the order of £400. My mate Alan Walsh, a local DJ went to a party with them after the performance, I belive it was in Frecheville.

Sorry mate the fee was nothing like £400 only well estabilshed starts were on that kind of money.

Stringfellow booked them on the showing of 'Love Me Do' when they were an unknown band outside Liverpool in the UK. By the time they came to the Azena they'd had a major hit with 'Please Please Me'

Stringfellow came down to the skating ring at Attercliffe where we were appearing with a Liverpool group (band) called 'Lee Castle & The Barons' and told us about the forthcoming events, he then tossed up between our group and Mark Stone & The Adens, we lost.

£80/5 was the fee I can assure you which the beatles honoured although by that time they were commanding much higher fees.

[deano]

This is the only photo I could find.Not much detail but it explains how the Azena got its name.

 

Am i right in thinking the fidlers also owned the farm on charnock?

[echo beach]

Am i right in thinking the fidlers also owned the farm on charnock?

 

Yes deano, I knew the field where the Azena was situated as ' Fidler's field ' before the ballroom was built on it , so presumably it was part of their farm.

If I remember correctly there was previously a hut on the field where cubs and scouts used to meet.

[Andy the dj]

Mentioned in this thread are the Fiddler's, who owned the field and had the ballroom built,does anyone know if they are the same Fiddler's who owned the stone masons and memorial service on Mansfield road, Intake, Sheffield next to the cemetery(They were called the fiddler brothers) A big family around Intake and Gleadless. Think there shop is still there to this day.

[DUFFEMS]

Mentioned in this thread are the Fiddler's, who owned the field and had the ballroom built,does anyone know if they are the same Fiddler's who owned the stone masons and memorial service on Mansfield road, Intake, Sheffield next to the cemetery(They were called the fiddler brothers) A big family around Intake and Gleadless. Think there shop is still there to this day.

 

Looking at marriage registrations this couple could be them:

Married in 1939, Chesterfield District of Derbyshire:

Arnold H. Fidler

Zena Hill

N.B. There is only one "d" in the surname FIDLER

[alex3659]

If you go to Ridgeway church the graveyard is very well represented by the Fidler family.

A few years ago there was two men in the Royal pub woodhouse both called Bill Fidler, they were not related and one of them was the man who did gravestones, he has since died but the other one still goes in the Royal pub at woodhouse.

Edited January 16, 2010 by alex3659

[Switchblade]

Does anybody know where i can obtain a picture of the azena when it was in its heyday?(beatles played there in 1963) Searched the net,picture sheffield ect with no luck.Spent many hours playing around the derelict building when i was a kid,in fact i've been in there today,its a co-op,but would love to see a reminder of how it looked.

When we gigged there in 1963 we shared billing with 'Ray Stuart & The Tremours' AKA 'Frankenstein & The Monsters'.