The Beat Ballad Show Tour was a 1960 tour of Scotland by singer Johnny Gentle, backed by the Beatles (billed as Johnny Gentle and His Group).[1][2] It was the first concert tour by the Beatles.
Background
On 10 May, the Beatles competed with other local Liverpool bands in an audition for talent manager Larry Parnes for a chance to back singer Billy Fury on a summer tour called "Idols on Parade".[3] There was also an opportunity for the second-best band to back singers Duffy Power and Johnny Gentle in a tour of Scotland from 20–28 May 1960. However, Beatles drummer Tommy Moore arrived late and Johnny Hutch was asked to sit in with the band.
The Beatles were turned down for both spots, although Parnes contacted Beatles manager Allan Williams to arrange for them to back Gentle on a Scottish tour beginning on 20 May; the Beatles were the only group Williams could book at such short notice.[4]
The Tour
For the tour, the Beatles adopted stage names—John Lennon became known as "Johnny Lennon", Paul McCartney was "Paul Ramon", George Harrison was "Carl Harrison", Stuart Sutcliffe was "Stuart de Staël", and Tommy Moore was "Thomas Moore". The band was very under-rehearsed, barely knowing the songs they were to perform with Gentle.[5] Gentle and the Beatles were friendly with each other on the tour, and Lennon contributed to a song Gentle was writing, "I've Just Fallen for Someone".[6]
