A Sauchie man’s love of the Beatles is behind a plaque commemorating their first-ever Scottish gig.
Malcolm Robinson and Alloa pal Robert Ferguson lobbied Clackmannshire Council to have it installed at Alloa Town Hall to mark the band’s appearance there on Friday, May 20, 1960.
At that stage they called themselves The Silver Beetles comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Tommy Moore.
They had been supporting singer Johnny Gentle on a tour which also included stops in Inverness, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Keith, Forres and Nairn.
Sixty-five-year-old writer Malcolm, aged three at the time of the gig, who attended the unveiling of the plaque on Tuesday this week, said: “Not many people know that the Beatles’ very first gig in Scotland, before they were famous, was Alloa Town Hall.
“We decided that there should be a commemorative plaque placed at the front of the hall to let people know about this moment in music history.
“Hopefully it will put Alloa Town Hall on the map and encourage Beatles fans to pay the site a visit.
“There is no denying that the musicians appearing at Alloa Town Hall that night went on to shape the world with their music.
“It is only fitting that a commemorative plaque should be placed there to hightlight that appearance all those years ago.”
Songs played during the Alloa gig included covers of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and Ricky Nelson songs.
Johnny Gentle was supported by Alex Harvey and His Beat Band. Alex Harvey went on to form famed The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in 1972.
Malcolm added: “The Beatles as a name, were not mentioned at the time, they were just billed as Johnny Gentle and his group!
“Of course, all this was to change, and the Fab Four would soon conquer the world with their incredible music, and Johnny Gentle would be left in the wake of these famous sons of Liverpool.”
Malcolm and Robert set up a fundraising page to pay for the plaque which cost just over £250.
A US Beatles fan from Washington State donated $100 to the fund.
An author, scriptwriter and speaker, Malcolm has written a number of published books on the supernatural and UFOs.
His next book ‘The Falkland Hill UFO Incident’ (Scotland’s most controversial UFO case) is scheduled for publication next year.
A commemorative party to celebrate the placement of the plaque at the town hall will take place at Alloa’s Coopers Bar and Restaurant on Friday, March 25.
Music will be provided by the A Beats, and there will also be a Beatles disco. Tickets are £10.
