No Hamburg No Beatles

John Lennon once remarked, “We were born in Liverpool but grew up in Hamburg.” This documentary aims to explore the truth behind that statement. The Beatles’ journey to global stardom included a significant chapter in Hamburg, Germany, during the early 1960s. Just a few years before they became internationally recognized, the band, then known as the “Quarrymen,” honed their musical skills on the stages of Hamburg’s nightclubs. In the 15 years following World War II, Hamburg had transformed into Europe’s hub of vice, with its neon-lit streets bustling with sailors, sex workers, drug dealers, gangs, and other unsavory characters. The Beatles were still in their formative years; George Harrison was just 17 during their initial Hamburg stint. At that time, they were a group of young men largely unknown to the world. However, by their final visit to Germany in 1966, the Beatles had become a global sensation.