Beatles in Birmingham 1963

Thank Your Lucky Stars – Photography

Beatles in Birmingham – Thank Your Lucky Stars, 1963

My father, Willoughby “GUS” Gullachsen, was the official photographer for Thank Your Lucky Stars, the ABC Television music programme recorded at Aston Studios in Birmingham. He worked on the show throughout the early 1960s, and thanks to him I was lucky enough to watch several recordings, including one by The Beatles.

Unless you actually witnessed Beatlemania, it’s hard to understand just how extraordinary it was. Britain in the early 1960s was still recovering from the Second World War, and youth culture was often viewed as an American influence and something to be suspicious of. Then, almost overnight, everything seemed to change. Looking back, it wasn’t quite that sudden, but as a 12-year-old boy it really did feel like a cultural explosion.

The 1960s brought a shift away from looking to America for everything. Films, fashion and, above all, music were changing. If you wanted to hear the best rhythm and blues you often had to tune into Radio Luxembourg. I had already discovered jazz, and the first record I ever bought was a Ray Charles EP featuring Georgia on My Mind.

At that time, Cliff Richard and American artists such as Bobbie Vee dominated the charts, while the BBC Light Programme was where most people heard popular music. But things were beginning to change.

Because my father was working on Thank Your Lucky Stars, he managed to get me a seat at the recording of The Beatles’ appearance in November 1963. I was an awkward 12-year-old, probably trying to look older than I really was, but I knew I was about to see something special.

The charts then were a mixture of lightweight pop and the occasional great American artist. When four young men from Liverpool started reinterpreting American rhythm and blues in their own unique way, the Mersey sound was born. It marked the beginning of the British music explosion that would soon dominate popular music around the world.

As for my own memories, I caught the bus into Birmingham and made my way to the Alpha Studios in Aston. My father, who had already been busy photographing rehearsals, met me at reception and showed me to my seat. It felt like I waited forever before the audience was finally allowed in.

The excitement built steadily. Every movement on stage seemed to trigger another wave of screams. The warm-up presenter did his best to keep everyone entertained, but the audience only wanted one thing—they were waiting for The Beatles.

More than sixty years have passed since that November afternoon, yet the excitement I felt being in the studios is still vivid. I could never have imagined that my father’s photographs would one day become highly collectable fine art prints.

The collection, now released by PickArt Gallery, offers a rare opportunity to own beautifully produced prints from one of The Beatles’ most important years. They are more than photographs of four young musicians—they are a genuine record of the moment Beatlemania was taking hold and Britain was discovering a band that would change popular music forever.

For me, they are also a reminder of my father, Willoughby “GUS” Gullachsen, who was ‘just my Dad ’.

I  now realise he captured some amazing images that will hopefully be enjoyed b a new generation of Beatles fans, music lovers, and collectors alike.

If you would like to see the full collection or own one of these remarkable limited-edition prints, please visit PickArt Gallery, where the complete series is now available.

Thank Your Lucky Stars