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By August 1960, The Beatles had secured a residency in Hamburg, West Germany, where they played an astonishing number of shows over three and a half months. These early performances were crucial to their development, helping them hone their skills and stage presence. However, they endured heartbreak when Sutcliffe left the band to pursue his art, and tragically died a year later.
As the band returned to Liverpool, they began gaining traction with the burgeoning Merseybeat movement. Their fortunes changed when they caught the attention of producer Bert Kaempfert, leading them to tour as the backing band for Tony Sheridan, which allowed them to record tracks that would further shape their musical identity.