“Basically I suggested that if he thought the Beatles were what he was looking for, we would keep in close contact, sporadically bringing our artists together, and meet as frequently as possible to debate issues arising from his sojourn into the world of management. In all honesty, it was all I could do to keep his feet on the ground, and I still hadn’t had time to see the Beatles for myself at that juncture, and so I was somewhat reserved about the whole affair, not only from a managerial point of view, but also in fear that my oldest and closest friend might be lining himself up to be hurt once again. On both counts of course, I needn’t have worried, but at that stage I was not to know that what was about to happen was the greatest case of synergy that the musical world had seen”.
Epstein agreed for according to Flannery he was already managing the Beatles in his own mind. Before his visit to the Cavern he paid Joe another, more casual call, on a Wednesday afternoon, whereupon they discussed the Detours affairs, Lee Curtis’ appeal, P.R., bookings and publicity and took a trip to The Musical Box shop in Rocky Lane for a few records that NEMS did not have.
By the 10th of December Brian was ensconced as manager of the Beatles and during December Joe saw very little of him. The Detours were working solidly in North Wales and Birkenhead whereas the Beatles continued their residency at the Cavern, while also expanding to hitherto un-chartered waters such as Widnes, Runcorn and Ellesmere Port. Brian and Joe finally met up again at the beginning of 1962 at the Liverpool Jazz Society when finally the Beatles and the Detours shared the same bill - promoted Joe recalls “possibly by Sam Leach”.
The Detours were checking their equipment prior to the gig when they discovered that one of the amps had ‘blown’- a severe blow. The Detours’ sound at that time was very loud with great emphasis on beat and twang. Although Joe claimed to be roadie as well as manager, he could “barely change a fuse”. He decided to try to borrow an amp from another band.

“I turned away from the stage area to discover Brian standing in the shadows watching the Detours warm-up. Initially I asked him whether he had come to see the show, forgetting that he had now also entered the managerial merry-go-round, but he was quick to remind me that he was now in charge of the Beatles, who were also on the bill that evening. At last our paths had crossed! Seizing my chance, I asked Brian about the amp”
“He told me it was fine by him, but that I had better ask the band...they’re upstairs in the band room”

“I went up the winding staircase in the decaying warehouse to what were laughingly described as the dressing rooms to see what I could scrounge whereupon I came across the Beatles. Their local profile had risen greatly in the intervening couple of months and they were now sharing the top spot with Lee Curtis and the Detours. But they were still extremely friendly and complementary about Lee, albeit with a sense of irony and a competitive edge. Brian had followed me up the winding staircase and promptly introduced me to his ‘boys; they, in turn, having found that I was an old friend of Brian’s, greeted me with genuine warmth. Even in the short time that Brian had been with them, he had obviously made a great impression. When it was suggested that the Detours borrow an amp from the Beatles I was delighted to hear John Lennon agree.”

Editor’s Note: This is the first of what we hope will be a series of oral memories from Joe which Mike has recorded. We also hope to bring stories of many of the other behind-the-scenes personalities of those exciting times such as Spencer Lloyd Mason, Jim Turner, Ted Knibbs and several others. It’s important that we gather photographs and illustrations for the many features to be included on the Mersey Beat site and would much appreciate any readers who could lend us such illustrative material.

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