The Liverbirds (/ˈlaɪvərbɜːrdz/) were an English all-femalerock band from Liverpool, active between 1963 and 1968. The group consisted of vocalist and guitarist Valerie Gell, guitarist and vocalist Pamela Birch, bassist and vocalist Mary McGlory, and drummer Sylvia Saunders. They were one of the very few female bands on the Merseybeat scene, as well as one of the first all-female rock and roll bands in the world.[1][2] They took their name from the fictional liver bird, which is the symbol of their native Liverpool. They were mostly a cover band, except for three of their songs being written by Pamela Birch.
The Liverbirds
The Liverbirds in April 1965; from left to right: Valerie Gell, Sylvia Saunders, Mary McGlory and Pamela Birch.
Gell, Saunders, and McGlory formed the band in 1963,[3] along with guitarist Sheila McGlory (Mary's sister) and vocalist Irene Green, both of whom quickly left to join other bands and were replaced by Birch.[4] According to Bruce Eder, the group formed in early 1962 as the Debutones. Irene Green left to join Tiffany's Dimensions and Sheila McGlory to the Demoiselles.[5] They achieved more commercial success in Germany than their native Britain.[2] Early in their career, they followed in the footsteps of fellow Liverpudlians the Beatles and made their way to Hamburg, where they performed at the Star-Club after the Beatles' own tenure and were billed as "the female Beatles".[6]John Lennon of the Beatles infamously told the group that "girls" were unable to play guitars.[6] This remark motivated the band, and they proved him wrong as The Liverbirds became one of the top attractions at the Star-Club and released two albums and several singles on the club's own label. One of those singles, a cover of Bo Diddley's "Diddley Daddy", reached No. 5 on the German charts.[2] The group broke up in 1968, just after finishing a tour of Japan.[3] They briefly reunited in 1998.[7]
Three members of the band settled in Germany permanently.[2] Saunders moved to Spain, settling in Alicante with her husband, John (died 2 April 2017). Sylvia Saunders is now living in Glasgow. McGlory runs a Hamburg-based company called Ja/Nein Musikverlag ("Yes/No Music Publishing") which she founded with her husband, German songwriter Frank Dostal (died April 2017), who was one of the band's former colleagues from the Star-Club and later vice-chairman of the German performance rights organization GEMA.[8] Birch also settled in Hamburg and worked for many years in the city's clubs. She died at the UKE on 27 October 2009, at the age of 65.[7] Gell, who settled in Munich but later returned to Hamburg, died on 11 December 2016, aged 71.[6]
Saunders and McGlory, the two surviving members of the band, published an autobiography The Liverbirds: Our life in Britain’s first female rock ‘n’ roll band in 2024.[9]
Membersedit
Valerie Gell, vocalist and guitarist (1963–1968, 1998), died 2016
Mary McGlory, bassist and vocalist (1963–1968, 1998)
Sylvia Saunders, drummer (1963–1968, 1998)
Sheila McGlory, guitarist (1963)
Irene Green, vocalist (1963)
Pamela Birch, guitarist and vocalist (1963–1968, 1998) (replaced Sheila McGlory and Irene Green), died 2009
From Merseyside to Hamburg - The Complete Star-Club Recordings (2010), Big Beat CDWIKD 290[12] (features the 29 songs from both studio albums, though not in the order on the albums)[13]
Singlesedit
"Shop Around "/"It's Got to Be You" (1964 or 1965)
"Diddley Daddy "/"Leave All Your Loves in the Past" (1965)
"Peanut Butter"/"Why Do You Hang Around Me" (1965)
The story of the Liverbirds is the subject of the 2019 musical, Girls Don't Play Guitars, written by Ian Salmon and directed by Bob Eaton[15] at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.[16] Founding members McGlory and Saunders have been involved with the production and join in the cast on stage for the encore. Also in 2019, The New York Times produced a sixteen-minute documentary about the band called We're Britain's First Female Rock Band. This is Why You Don't Know Us. | 'Almost Famous' by Op-Docs. It featured surviving members Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders.[17] It is also known as The Other Fab Four.[18]
Referencesedit
^"Lost Liverpool #5: Girls with guitars - The Liverbirds, Britain's first all female rock band". Getintothis. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
^ abcdBruce Eder. "The Liverbirds | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Flannery, Joe: Standing in the Wings (The History Press 2018), ISBN978075098760 8
McGlory, Mary, Saunders, Sylvia: The Liverbirds: Our life in Britain’s first female rock ‘n’ roll band, (Faber & Faber 2014) ISBN0571377025, 978-0571377022
We're Britain's First Female Rock Band. This is Why You Don't Know Us. - 'Almost Famous' by Op-Docs on YouTube
January 01, 1970
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For other uses see The Liver Birds disambiguation The Liverbirds ˈ l aɪ v er b ɜːr d z were an English all female rock band from Liverpool active between 1963 and 1968 The group consisted of vocalist and guitarist Valerie Gell guitarist and vocalist Pamela Birch bassist and vocalist Mary McGlory and drummer Sylvia Saunders They were one of the very few female bands on the Merseybeat scene as well as one of the first all female rock and roll bands in the world 1 2 They took their name from the fictional liver bird which is the symbol of their native Liverpool They were mostly a cover band except for three of their songs being written by Pamela Birch The LiverbirdsThe Liverbirds in April 1965 from left to right Valerie Gell Sylvia Saunders Mary McGlory and Pamela Birch Background informationOriginLiverpool EnglandGenresMerseybeat R amp B rock and rollYears active1963 1968 1998LabelsStar Club RecordsMembersValerie GellPamela BirchMary McGlorySylvia Saunders Contents 1 History 2 Members 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Compilations 3 3 Singles 3 4 Possible songs 4 In other media 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory editGell Saunders and McGlory formed the band in 1963 3 along with guitarist Sheila McGlory Mary s sister and vocalist Irene Green both of whom quickly left to join other bands and were replaced by Birch 4 According to Bruce Eder the group formed in early 1962 as the Debutones Irene Green left to join Tiffany s Dimensions and Sheila McGlory to the Demoiselles 5 They achieved more commercial success in Germany than their native Britain 2 Early in their career they followed in the footsteps of fellow Liverpudlians the Beatles and made their way to Hamburg where they performed at the Star Club after the Beatles own tenure and were billed as the female Beatles 6 John Lennon of the Beatles infamously told the group that girls were unable to play guitars 6 This remark motivated the band and they proved him wrong as The Liverbirds became one of the top attractions at the Star Club and released two albums and several singles on the club s own label One of those singles a cover of Bo Diddley s Diddley Daddy reached No 5 on the German charts 2 The group broke up in 1968 just after finishing a tour of Japan 3 They briefly reunited in 1998 7 Three members of the band settled in Germany permanently 2 Saunders moved to Spain settling in Alicante with her husband John died 2 April 2017 Sylvia Saunders is now living in Glasgow McGlory runs a Hamburg based company called Ja Nein Musikverlag Yes No Music Publishing which she founded with her husband German songwriter Frank Dostal died April 2017 who was one of the band s former colleagues from the Star Club and later vice chairman of the German performance rights organization GEMA 8 Birch also settled in Hamburg and worked for many years in the city s clubs She died at the UKE on 27 October 2009 at the age of 65 7 Gell who settled in Munich but later returned to Hamburg died on 11 December 2016 aged 71 6 Saunders and McGlory the two surviving members of the band published an autobiography The Liverbirds Our life in Britain s first female rock n roll band in 2024 9 Members editValerie Gell vocalist and guitarist 1963 1968 1998 died 2016 Mary McGlory bassist and vocalist 1963 1968 1998 Sylvia Saunders drummer 1963 1968 1998 Sheila McGlory guitarist 1963 Irene Green vocalist 1963 Pamela Birch guitarist and vocalist 1963 1968 1998 replaced Sheila McGlory and Irene Green died 2009Discography editAlbums edit Star Club Show 4 1965 10 More of the Liverbirds 1966 11 Compilations edit From Merseyside to Hamburg The Complete Star Club Recordings 2010 Big Beat CDWIKD 290 12 features the 29 songs from both studio albums though not in the order on the albums 13 Singles edit Shop Around It s Got to Be You 1964 or 1965 Diddley Daddy Leave All Your Loves in the Past 1965 Peanut Butter Why Do You Hang Around Me 1965 Loop de Loop Bo Diddley Is a Lover 1966 Possible songs edit Tablyrics com lists some songs that are not known outside of the site Their existence is unknown The Past Nobody But You Baby I Dig Love Tell Me 14 In other media editThe story of the Liverbirds is the subject of the 2019 musical Girls Don t Play Guitars written by Ian Salmon and directed by Bob Eaton 15 at the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool 16 Founding members McGlory and Saunders have been involved with the production and join in the cast on stage for the encore Also in 2019 The New York Times produced a sixteen minute documentary about the band called We re Britain s First Female Rock Band This is Why You Don t Know Us Almost Famous by Op Docs It featured surviving members Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders 17 It is also known as The Other Fab Four 18 References edit Lost Liverpool 5 Girls with guitars The Liverbirds Britain s first all female rock band Getintothis 27 January 2016 Retrieved 28 May 2019 a b c d Bruce Eder The Liverbirds Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 17 December 2016 a b Rohkohl Brigitte Rock Frauen Rowohlt 1979 Leigh Spencer 14 December 2016 Valerie Gell obituary The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 28 May 2019 The Liverbirds Radio Listen to Free Music amp Get The Latest Info iHeartRadio Retrieved 3 December 2020 a b c Leigh Spencer 14 December 2016 Valerie Gell obituary The Guardian a b Singer of the Liverbirds died on 27 October 2009 Abendblatt de 29 October 2009 Retrieved 29 October 2009 Meet The Liverbirds The all girl Beatles who once toured with the Kinks and Rolling Stones DangerousMinds 25 April 2016 Retrieved 28 May 2019 Europe s first all female rock band recall sexist John Lennon remark The Independent 4 March 2024 Retrieved 14 March 2024 Richie Unterberger Star Club Show Vol 4 The Liverbirds Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 17 December 2016 More of Liverbirds The Liverbirds Releases AllMusic Retrieved 17 December 2016 Ace Records Archived from the original on 19 November 2010 Retrieved 19 February 2011 The Liverbirds From Merseyside To Hamburg The Complete Star Club Recordings Discogs Retrieved 30 November 2020 The Liverbirds s lyrics amp chords www tablyrics com Retrieved 1 December 2020 Bob Eaton theatre director and writer Bobeatontheatredirector com Retrieved 11 June 2020 Girls Don t Play Guitars opens at Royal Court Goodnewsliverpool co uk 3 October 2019 Retrieved 11 June 2020 We re Britain s First Female Rock Band This is Why You Don t Know Us Almost Famous by Op Docs YouTube 18 December 2019 The Other Fab Four Breakwater Studios Retrieved 23 November 2021 Further reading editRohkohl Brigitte Rock Frauen Rowohlt 1979 ISBN 978 3499144547 Flannery Joe Standing in the Wings The History Press 2018 ISBN 978075098760 8 McGlory Mary Saunders Sylvia The Liverbirds Our life in Britain s first female rock n roll band Faber amp Faber 2014 ISBN 0571377025 978 0571377022External links editWeb archive org Allmusic com The Liverbirds discography at Discogs We re Britain s First Female Rock Band This is Why You Don t Know Us Almost Famous by Op Docs on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Liverbirds amp oldid 1219592565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
