Please Present Your Ticket Trivia Quiz

Answer: Paris

Alan had visited Le Caveau de la Huchette in Paris and been impressed by the acoustics in the underground cellars. He decided that he could recreate this ambience in the tunnels under Liverpool's street, which had been used as air raid shelters during the war.

The Cavern had three vaults , joined by archways, and had originally been the cellar of a warehouse. The first band to top the bill there was called The Merseysippi Jazz Band and the opening night attracted six hundred fans, with hundreds more unable to gain entrance.

Answer: Mathew Street

Mathew Street (I hope the spelling helped you pick the right answer) is in central Liverpool, and the whole of the surrounding area is now called 'The Cavern Quarter'. An annual music festival has been held in the area since 1992 and is often called the largest free music festival in Europe. Music of all types is played, although much of it is Beatles related, and the festival is held towards the end of August to coincide with the August Bank Holiday weekend in the UK.

Answer: Skiffle

Even on the opening night, the bill featured one skiffle group, called The Coney Island Skiffle Group, and the transition to mainly skiffle took place very soon. Among the early bands to play there were the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group, featuring one Richard Starkey, later known as Ringo Starr, on drums.

In August 1957 The Quarrymen Skiffle Group appeared for the first time, with only John Lennon in the lineup at the time. John's attempts to introduce some rock 'n' roll into the set were brought to a swift end by Alan Sytner who gave him a note halfway through the song telling him to 'cut out the ** rock 'n' roll'.

Answer: Cilla Black

Helen Shapiro was born in London, Sandie Shaw came from Dagenham in Essex and Lulu from Glasgow, leaving 'Our Cilla' as the correct answer. Originally called Priscilla White, Cilla took the job and managed to impress some of the bands at the Cavern with her singing abilities.

She was eventually signed by Brian Epstein and her first single, 'Love of the Loved' in 1963, was produced by George Martin and written by Lennon and McCartney. Despite these credentials, it was only a minor hit although she did much better with her second recording, which was a cover version of Dionne Warwick's 'Anyone Who Had a Heart'.

This was a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart for Cilla, and was followed by many more hits before she branched into television presenting.

Answer: True

The Beatles first performed at the Cavern Club on 9 February 1961 with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best being in the group. Brian Epstein saw them for the first time in November 1961, when he called in for a lunchtime session from the record shop owned by his family. He offered to act as their manager and the rest, as they say, is history.

Answer: Harold Wilson

Although all the options I offered you have been Prime Minister, it was Wilson who was in the post at this time, during his first stint in the job, which lasted from 1964-1970. Heath was in charge from 1970-1974, Callaghan from 1976-1979 and McMillan from 1957-1963.

The Cavern Club closed at the end of February 1966 with McFall's financial failure but was taken over by Alf Geoghegan and Joe Davey. The changes included a new entrance, a shop and coffee lounge with the vaults being kept unchanged.

Answer: British Rail

British Rail planned to clear the area to create a ventilation shaft for the new part of Liverpool's underground railway system. This led to the closure of the original Cavern Club in May 1973 although it moved across to the other side of the street. The buildings above ground were demolished in June 1973 and the cellar was filled in with the rubble.

The ventilation shaft was never actually built and plans were made in 1981 and 1982 to excavate the cellar and reopen the club in its original location. Eventually, the club was reconstructed in a slightly different location and with its entrance moved, but with the bricks from the original club being used.

Answer: John Daly

Among Daly's nicknames are 'Wild Thing', which reflects his rather colourful life, which has included battles with alcoholism, gambling and his weight. Despite all his problems, he has had a successful golfing career, winning the 1991 PGA Championship and The Open (in Britain) in 1995.

His appearance at the Cavern was to publicise his autobiography 'My Life in and out of the Rough', and he was in England at the time to play in The Open which was held that year in Wirral across the Mersey from Liverpool. John Daly is an accomplished guitar player and singer and he released an album called 'I Only Know One Way' in 2010.

Answer: John Lennon

The statue of John was based on the cover of his album 'Rock 'n' Roll', which was released in 1975. On it he sings tracks including Buddy Holly's Peggy Sue, Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me' and Gene Vincent's 'Be-Bop-A-Lula'. The cover shows him leaning against a wall and the statue is strategically placed against the Wall of Fame outside the Cavern Pub.

Answer: The Pacemakers

The wall contained 1801 bricks inscribed with the names of both the well known and obscure and long forgotten singers to appear on the stage at the Cavern Club. Two have been removed, with Gary Glitter and Jonathan King both having been found guilty of offences against children.

A plaque has been placed there to tell visitors that their bricks have gone, which rather defeats the object of the exercise. Among the names to be found there are The Hollies, The Rolling Stones and Queen as well as Billy Woods Five and Budgie, who are rather less famous. Gerry and The Pacemakers had several well known hits, including 'Ferry 'Cross the Mersey' and the Dakotas were led by Billy J Kramer, who unveiled the previously mentioned statue at the same time. All the bands mentioned came from Liverpool.