‘I’m the director of the Cavern Club and Adele’s gig there blew my mind!’ Jon Keats reveals legendary tales from The Beatles’ Liverpool home: From a surprise visit from The Fonz and even a rumoured show by Jimi Hendrix’
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It is one of the most iconic music venues in the world.
Yet while The Cavern Club may be best known as The Beatles’ ‘home’, the live music bar has hosted a range of legendary stars – including Adele, The Fonz and Jimi Hendrix.
Initially a jazz club when it opened in 1957, the venue is now fast approaching its 70th anniversary and despite it being five decades since The Beatles’ last show, their legacy still lives on.
However, they aren’t the only huge stars to have put their mark on the iconic Liverpudlian venue.
The club’s director Jon Keats revealed his wildest celebrity run-ins over the years as he chatted with Jodie Kidd and Merlin Griffiths on the latest episode of their new podcast Three Landlords Walk Into A Bar.
During the chat, Jon revealed that before reaching the dizzy heights of her stratospheric fame, Adele chose the Cavern for the album launch of her second record 21.
While The Cavern Club may be best known as The Beatles’ ‘home’ (pictured in 1962) the live music bar has hosted a range of legendary stars – including Adele, The Fonz and Jimi Hendrix
Before the dizzy heights of her stratospheric fame Adele chose the Cavern for the album launch of her second record 21 back in 2011
The club’s director Jon Keats (left) spilled the secrets of his wildest celebrity run-ins as he chatted with Jodie Kidd and Merlin Griffiths on their podcast Three Landlords Walk Into A Bar
After gaining chart success after the release of 19, the singer was already on the map when Smooth Radio called Jon and asked if they would be interested in hosting the intimate gig.
‘She launched 21 at the Cavern. I remember taking that call and it was through Smooth Radio and asked if we would be interested in hosting this intimate gig – just 120 people in the room,’ explained Jon.
‘She did four tracks from 21 and three from 19, with just a piano and a guitar. We’d never heard the songs obviously, but you just knew. Head blown. She was lovely as well, she really was lovely.’
Another day that stuck in Jon’s mind was when his childhood here strolled into the Cavern for a casual pint.
‘I’m in the office booking the music when we get a call. Bill, one of the owners, answers it and goes, “Yeah, yeah, okay, we’ll do it.”
‘He puts the phone down and I ask, “What was that about?”. He says, “Oh, typical… apparently the Fonz just walked into the Cavern.”
‘I get in there – and there he was. The Fonz. He was my childhood hero. When I was 10, I thought I was the Fonz.’
Henry Winkler, who was often best known as the Fonz or Fonzie due to his role in the sitcom Happy Days, was in the city doing Panto over the festive period.
‘He was renting an apartment just around the corner from the Cavern, huge Beatles fan. He’d come in quite a lot – usually for a half and all the staff got to know him quite well.’
Initially a jazz club when it opened in 1957, the venue is now approaching its 70th anniversary and despite it being five decades since The Beatles’ last show, their legacy still lives on
One day that sticks in Jon’s mind above them all is the time his childhood here strolled into the Cavern for a casual pint (Henry Winkler, who was often known as The Fonz pictured in 1984)
It is thought that Jimi Hendrix graced the stage, but the owners have never been able to confirm it for definite (Jimi pictured in 1967)
Jon added: ‘We’ve also had current big names doing album launches. Libertines played recently, Circa Waves, Paolo Nutini (pictured), Wunderhorse, Scouting for Girls’
Jon was also keen to discuss the club’s most legendary performers.
‘When you talk about the Cavern and you’ve got to talk about The Beatles,’ he mused.
He continued: ‘We wouldn’t be here without them – they put the Cavern on the map because everyone wanted to play there after that, and it’s still the same now.
‘The Beatles played here 292 times. But the Cavern’s story isn’t just about The Beatles. As owners and custodians, it’s our job to tell the whole story.’
‘Their last gig was August ’63 the Stones played in November ’23, again because the Beatles had played it.’
Yet there is one star that even Jon is 100% sure performed at the iconic venue despite swirling rumours.
It is thought that Jimi Hendrix graced the stage, but the owners have never been able to confirm it for definite.
Jon explained: ‘There was a rumour that Jimi Hendrix played the Cavern. It’s one of those ‘did he didn’t he?’ We say he didn’t because we have never been able to prove it.
‘There is talk that he was playing the Empire theatre and then he came down and had a row with his girlfriend in the car park. So there is all these stories.’
The Cavern Club calls itself the ‘most famous club in the world,’ but aside from their iconic Beatles nights which they still hold every Saturday they are still proving ground for big names and new acts alike (pictured Anne-Marie)
After performing two sold out nights for his album launch, Sam Ryder returned to the Cavern Club for the week Eurovision was held in Liverpool back in 2024 for three back to back shows
Arctic Monkeys pictured after their name was added to the Wall of Fame in the club
The Happy Mondays are another hit UK band to have played the venue
The Cavern Club calls itself the ‘most famous club in the world,’ but aside from their iconic Beatles nights which they still hold every Saturday they are still proving ground for big names and new acts alike.
‘You might go in one night and see a Brazilian samba band, and the next night me a local school or college doing it’s end of year showcase so its young musicians,’ added Jon.
‘But we’ve also had current big names doing album launches. Libertines played recently, Circa Waves, Paolo Nutini, Wunderhorse, Scouting for Girls.’
Another star who is becoming a household name there is Eurovision star Sam Ryder.
After performing two sold out nights for his album launch, he then returned for the week Eurovision was held in Liverpool back in 2024.
‘He did three shows back to back the week of Eurovision when he came to Liverpool. He is such a hard worker, he deserves every bit of success he really does.
Jon joked: ‘He can hit the notes but he can’t poor a pint that lad.’
