65 years of the Beatles in Indra: A weekend full of music and history!

65 years of the Beatles in Indra: A weekend full of music and history!

A formative chapter in music history takes a special turn this weekend. August 17, 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of the Beatles' first appearance at the Indra in Hamburg. It was a memorable day in 1960 when the Fab Four, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliff, laid the foundations of their legendary career. The performance at Indra was the first of 48 that the band performed there. Bruno Koschmider, the owner of the club, had set himself the goal of bringing a breath of fresh air into his dance floor and establishing rock 'n' roll in his premises. At that time, the Indra was a mixed club that, in addition to live music, also offered striptease and thus represented a wide range of entertainment.

The Beatles mainly presented cover versions of well-known artists such as Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. After playing in Indra, further appearances followed in other Hamburg clubs such as the Kaiserkeller, Top Ten Club and Star Club. There is also a fascinating legend surrounding the club: it is rumored that Paul McCartney borrowed the number 64 from the Indra's house number for the song "When I'm 64". After the Beatles' heyday, things quieted down around Indra, which has had different names and concepts over the years. But in recent years the club has revitalized its heritage — in 1998 the Indra name was returned and the interior recalls the heady days of the Beatles.

A look into the past

What is particularly interesting is that a Telefunken radio from the 1950s that the Beatles received from the owner of the Indra has been back in the club since 2025. This nostalgic piece brings back the magic of that time and continues to attract many visitors who want to be part of this “iconic aura”. On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the first Beatles concert, the “Beatles Weekend” will take place at Indra on August 16 and 17, 2025, celebrating the special connection between the band and this place.

Construction work is currently underway, which will temporarily close the Indra, but the renovation is intended to give the club a new freshness. The total costs for the renovation of the Indra and the neighboring Gruenspan amount to around 19 million euros. Fans and music lovers can look forward to a renovated place where music history was made.

The return of “Let It Be”

There is another reason for joy for Beatles fans in the area of ​​film history. The original Michael Lindsay-Hogg film “Let It Be” is now available on Disney+ — after over 50 years. The film, released in 1970 and dealing with the period of the Beatles' breakup, takes place in a new light. This is particularly exciting in the context of the revelations from Peter Jackson's Emmy-winning docuseries "The Beatles: Get Back," which debuted on Disney+ in 2021 and sheds light on the human side of the band.

“Let It Be” features not only unreleased footage, but also the Beatles' final live performances as a group. This special recording reveals how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and guest musician Billy Preston worked together on their GRAMMY-winning album. The younger generation, who may not have been able to experience the Beatles live, now has the opportunity to immerse themselves in this historical period.

Apple Corps commissioned Peter Jackson's Park Road Post Production to restore the original film, bringing a fresh technical look and sound. An upswing that is fueling renewed interest in the Beatles and their incredible musical history.

The Beatles Weekend at Indra is not only a tribute to one of the most influential bands in the world, but also an opportunity to celebrate the band's cultural heritage - in the place where it all began.