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Rory Storm (born Alan Ernest Caldwell; 7 January 1938&nbsp;– 28 September 1972) was an English musician and vocalist. Born in Liverpool, Storm was the singer and leader of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a Liverpudlian band who featured drummer Ringo Starr before he joined The Beatles.

The Hurricanes were one of the most popular acts on the Liverpool and Hamburg club scenes during their existence, although their attempt at a recording career was not successful. They released only two singles (and one additional compilation track) during their early 1960s heyday, and none of their material made the charts. Their second and final single was a version of the West Side Story song "America", and was produced by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein.

Early years

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Rory Storm was the stage name of Alan Caldwell, born 7 January 1938, in Oakhill Park Estate, Stoneycroft, Liverpool to Violet (née Disley) Storm had one sister, Iris Caldwell, who dated George Harrison when she was 12 (Harrison was then 14), and Paul McCartney, when she was 17. Iris later married Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust. Apart from music, Storm was interested in sports, particularly athletics; he ran for an amateur team in Liverpool, the Pembroke Harriers, and set the Pembroke Athletics and Cycle Club steeplechase record. Because of Storm's stammer, his friends never allowed him to tell a joke or to order a round of drinks, as it could take a long time. He became a cotton salesman (as was Paul McCartney's father, Jim) before forming a skiffle group. all performing on guitar and vocals, Reg Hale (washboard) and Jeff Truman (tea-chest bass). "Spud" Ward, a former member of the Swinging Blue Jeans, later played bass guitar. The group played at the Cavern Club with the Cy Laurie Jazz Band on Sunday 3 January 1960, and a week later supported the Saints Jazz Band and Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazz Band. Starr finally agreed when Storm told him about how many women would be "available".

Hamburg

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After playing for more than 16 hours per week, the group were contacted by Allan Williams, who wanted them to go to Hamburg. Derry and the Seniors were successful there, and Williams wanted an additional group. As Storm and the group were committed to Butlins, they turned Williams' offer down (as did Gerry and the Pacemakers), so Williams sent the Beatles to Hamburg instead. After the summer season ended in early October 1960, Storm and the Hurricanes were free to travel to Hamburg, replacing Derry and the Seniors at the Kaiserkeller. They arrived in Hamburg on 1 October 1960, having negotiated to be paid more than the Seniors or the Beatles. They played five or six 90-minute sets every day, alternating with the Beatles. Storm and the Hurricanes were later presented with a special certificate by Bruno Koschmider (the owner of the Kaiserkeller) for their performances. They recorded three songs: "Fever", "September Song", and "Summertime". Shortly before, Starr had agreed to join Kingsize Taylor in Hamburg, as Taylor was offering £20 a week (equivalent to £ in ), but Lennon and McCartney offered £25 a week (equivalent to £ in ), which Starr accepted. In 1962, both groups performed together at St Patrick's Night Rock Gala (Knotty Ash Village Hall), Queen's Hall (Widnes), and with Little Richard at the Tower Ballroom. In 1963, Storm and the Hurricanes were filmed as part of the "Beat City" documentary, which was broadcast by Associated-Rediffusion Television.

Stage persona and lifestyle

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When Storm became a professional singer, he legally changed his name to Rory Storm by deed poll, and changed the name of his family's home in Broadgreen to Hurricaneville (the house name has often been remembered as Stormsville, even by his sister Iris, but was registered with the Post Office as Hurricaneville and appeared that way in the telephone directory).

Storm was known for the extravagant clothes he wore and the cars he drove, once buying a pink Vauxhall Cresta for over £800 in cash. Their stage wear changed from sunglasses and palm tree-decorated shirts to red (and blue) suits. Storm also wore an Elvis-style gold lamé suit. When they first appeared at Butlins holiday camp Storm wore a turquoise suit with a gold lamé shirt, while the group wore fluorescent suits.

The Hurricanes' set list

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The group's typical 40-minute set list during 1963/1964:

  • "Brand New Cadillac" – Storm, vocals (Vince Taylor & the Playboys);
  • "Roll Over Beethoven" – Storm, vocals (Chuck Berry);
  • "I'll Be Your Hero" – Storm, vocals (Vince Taylor & the Playboys);
  • "Beautiful Dreamer" – Walters, vocals (Stephen Foster, rewritten by Gerry Goffin and Jack Keller and released by Tony Orlando in January 1963);
  • "Since You Broke My Heart" – Walters/Guitar, vocals (The Everly Brothers);

Final years and death

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In 1967, Storm's guitarist, Ty O'Brien, collapsed in his home and was taken to a hospital where he would die from complications after an appendicitis operation at the age of 26. Storm and his guitarist Johnny briefly attempted to revive the band with three new members but it ultimately failed and the Hurricanes were permanently disbanded. After his band broke up, Storm became a disc jockey, working at the Silver Blades Ice Rink in Liverpool, in Benidorm, Spain (he was also a water-skiing instructor there), and in Jersey and Amsterdam.

The funeral for Storm and his mother was at Oakvale Congregational Church, Broadgreen, on 19 October 1972. Mourners sang Storm's favourite song, "You'll Never Walk Alone". The two coffins were carried from the hearse to the cremation (at Anfield Crematorium) by former band members.

Legacy

Ringo Starr pays tribute to him in his songs "Liverpool 8" on his Liverpool 8 album and "Rory and the Hurricanes" on his Postcards from Paradise album.

Posthumous release

In September 2012, it was reported that a reel-to-reel tape of a complete concert by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, from 5 March 1960 at Liverpool's Jive Hive, had been unearthed in the basement of his sister Iris Caldwell's house. The recording was released on CD as Rory Storm and the Hurricanes Live at the Jive Hive – March 1960. The concert had been professionally recorded in mono by radio engineers with a recording microphone added onto Rory Storm's concert mic stand, but only one mic for the entire band. The diary of Storm's guitarist Johnny Guitar reveals that, in the week of the recording, Ringo Starr was ill, and historian Mark Lewisohn has stated that the drumming on the recording is nothing like Starr's. Four home demos were also included on the CD release.

Discography

(releases by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes)

Singles

  • 1963 – "Dr. Feel Good" b/w "I Can Tell", Oriole, CB 1858
  • 1964 – "America" b/w "Since You Broke My Heart", Parlophone, R 5197

Albums

  • 2012 – Live at the Jive Hive March 1960, Rockstar Records, RSRCD 033

Compilations

  • 1963 – This Is Merseybeat, Volume 1, Oriole, PS 40047 (tracks: "Dr. Feelgood" and "Beautiful Dreamer")
  • 1963 – This Is Merseybeat, Volume 2, Oriole, PS 40048 (tracks: "I Can Tell")
  • 1974 – Mersey Beat: 1962–64, United Artists, US$305 (tracks: "I Can Tell", "Dr. Feelgood")
  • 2004 – Unearthed Merseybeat, Volume 2, Viper CD-027 (tracks: "Lend Me Your Comb")

Notes

References

  • Republished 1998 by Byron Preiss. .
  • Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at AllMusic
  • Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at Discogs