Greg Kihn Band Played Their First Ever Gig Outside the US Today in 1978

It was on this date (April 1) in 1978 that the Greg Kihn Band played their first ever gig outside the United States at Eric’s of Liverpool.  Eric’s was located on Mathew Street in Liverpool, home of the infamous Cavern Club where the Beatles were discovered by Brian Epstein (and the rest of the world.)  By the time we made it there, the original Cavern Club had been torn down to make way for a parking lot (sensitive handling of rock & roll history there!)  The club moved next door to the address of Eric’s and continued to offer great shows for many years to come.  We were stoked and nervous that night.  It was our first gig in another country, and the historical nature of the venue had us tingling.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  The memory is still fresh in my mind after all these years.  We drove up from London in Fred Cantrell’s Bentley.  The drive took forever.  We found out about Motorway food on the M1- the worst in the world.  The first song we did that night was “Supergirl” a song that was never recorded.  The chicks in the front row were scary-looking but they liked us.  The restrooms were barbaric and smelled horrible, not that we cared, we were on cloud nine to be playing at the birthplace of the Beatles.   Afterwards we went up to a little bar on the corner and had a couple/three beers.  It was called the Grapes and it was where the Beatles drank.  I ran into the drummer for “Jerry and the Pacemakers” (Ferry Cross The Mersey) at the bar there.   We had dinner at the world’s worst Chinese restaurant- Henry’s Chinese Kitchen in Liverpool.  I didn’t know you could make Mongolian Beef with Hamburger Helper!  The next morning we had beans and toast (never, ever order that!) and I bought a pair of Beatle Boots at the Beatles Store.  I kept those Beatle Boots for years- I cherished them.  They were my favorite gig shoes!   They fell apart years later.

Don’t miss Monday’s Facebook postings, I have a great story from the annals of GKB history and a video to go with it!  See ya then.  Have a great weekend.