5 January 1963
Concert:
Museum Hall, Henderson Street, Bridge Of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland
"A historic building in Bridge of Allan, where The Beatles were showered with missiles and booed offstage, is to be turned into luxury flats.
Stirling Council says it has a shortlist of two developers interested in transforming the disused Museum Hall into upmarket apartments, heralding the end of an era for Beatles fans and the Stirlingshire town.
Although the striking B-listed building has become a dilapidated shell since being closed by the council in 1978, it was one of the first venues where a Scottish audience heard The Beatles play their world-conquering pop music.
But instead of being met by hordes of screaming fans, the unknown Liverpudlians played to around 100 drunk farmers who jeered loudly and pelted them with coins.
The show on January 5, 1963, was the third night of a disastrous Scottish tour during which Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr had performed in half-empty halls in Elgin and Dingwall before reaching Bridge of Allan.
At that time the band were about to release their second single after their first, Love Me Do, reached only number 17 in the charts.
Andi Lothian, who booked them to play the hall, said: "It was absolute chaos. The crowd was all huge young farmers and they were absolutely plastered.
"They were gathering on the floor and would occasionally throw coins on the stage. One of the coins hit Paul McCartney's bass guitar. They were just not interested in them. I think the crowd were disappointed at the lack of women in the room.""
Source: Sunday Herald, March 30, 2003
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