That's a bit of an urban myth about them turning it into a car park, it never actually happened. The current Cavern Club, by and large, occupies the same space as the old one although it was partially filled in and left derelict in the 1970s and 80s. It's now the centrepeice of the Cavern Quarter which rings out every possible Beatles connection possible with museums, memorabilia shops, themed pubs etc. There's even a psychadelically painted Magical Mystery Tour bus which takes Japanese Beatles fans up and down Penny Lane and past Strawberry Feilds.

Beatles wigs and inflatable guitars though does sound supremely naff.

It's hardly a memorable anniversary is it? Not like their last ever performance or their first number 1 or something..

I can't imagine kids in Liverpool ever ask their dad or their grand-dad 'what were you doing the day the Fab 4 came back home from touring America in 1964?'

that close to their hearts?".
Not in my experience, no. If anything there's a certain resentment that they left as soon as they could. They're as popular (and unpopular) as they are anywhere else. This is just tourist industry stuff. Do the "people of London" care much about Paddington Bear and plastic bowler hats?
I grew up in Liverpool and love the Fabs but I still wince at the thought of Speke airport now being the John Lennon Airport with the slogan "Above Us Only Sky". As, I "imagine", would John Lennon.

I'm pretty qualified to answer this as I work in the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool!

To a certain extent I do think you are being a bit of a cynic Niks but I totally understand. The way I look at it is would you accuse Windsor of milking the castle? Or York the vikings? Or musically, how about Nashville with country?

Every city needs a 'hook' or 'bait' to get tourists to visit. Liverpool's is the Beatles and football. Once they are here they can go on to find out or the other cultural offerings: the amazing architecture, art galleries, sea front etc etc.

What you've got to remember is that thousands of the tourists who come to Liverpool because of the Beatles aren't Word or Mojo readers. They might not know who Brian Epstein is or why Tomorrow Never Knows is such an important record. These are the people you cater for mainly and as a result the 'four lovable mop tops' idea is one that is constantly used. It's the same with how we deal with kids who visit the museum - there are cartoons of the Beatles, Sgt Pepper costumes and yes there are wigs and round glasses too. But they love it! Children are now learning about the Beatles in school in history lessons so you do need a way to engage them and we're very proud that we get so many school parties visiting.

However, we also try to strike a balance and obviously with me being involved I'm keen to make this a 'proper' museum. Paul Du Noyer called us a 'scholarly destination' in the Observer recently which made me very proud! We have a number of special evening events throughout the year including a literary event called Paperback Writer next month where Paul will be speaking as well as Mark Lewisohn, Spencer Leigh and John Lennon's sister Julia so hopefully it does alll balance out.

A couple more things:

It's a bit of a myth that all the tourists are Japanese. 55% of our visitors are from outside the UK. 51% of those are European of which Germans and Norwegians make up the vast majority.

I met with the people who are proposing this Beatles Day and suffice to say I wouldn't hold your breath!

I'm rather amazed that this is the city's first ever Beatles Day.
And as for the wigs, would they be 1964 vintage or a more up to date 2008 version?

I mis-read that as Original Plastic Ono.

Apparently if you've got the original packaging (yeah, right) it's worth hundreds of your English quids these days.

"The day will mark the 44th anniversary of the return of the band to their native city after touring in America."

Oh, do give it a rest for f**k's sake.

...a Teardrop Explodes day instead