The Liverbirds: Our life in Britain's first female rock 'n' roll band

by Mary McGlory, Sylvia Saunders

'In Liverpool everybody wanted to be in a band. On every street corner and in every cellar there were young fellas practising with guitars. But it was rare to see any girls on the new Merseybeat scene. It was inevitable that we would find each other . . .'
In the early '60s, four friends from Liverpool formed a band. But this is not the 'fab four' story we know.

Mary, Sylvia, Valerie and Pamela - also known as The Liverbirds - were one of the world's first all-female rock'n'roll bands. At an early gig, backstage at the Cavern Club, a young John Lennon told them that 'girls don't play guitars'. But they took that as a challenge. Despite the early scepticism, they won over tough crowds, toured stadiums, recorded two hit albums, and played with the Kinks, Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry - all in the space of just five years.

Now, the two surviving members of the band tell their incredible story in full for the first time - capturing a lost era of liberation and rock'n'roll, as they thrived in the vibrant Merseybeat music scene and formed a friendship that has endured through the decades.

*
'A ton of Liverpudlian grit, good sense and wry humour.' - Daily Mail
'Warm and vivid . . . Stories like this one are vital to keep.' - Telegraph
'A powerful story, one that dances to its own distinctive beat.' - The Sunday Times

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Memoir, Audiobook

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Liverbirds (pronounced Lyvahbirds, and in reference to the mythical liver bird used to symbolize Liverpool) were an English four-piece all-female rock band (Mary McGlory on bass, Sylvia Saunders on drums, Pamela Birch on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Valerie Gell on vocals and lead guitar) who were active between 1963-1968 across Europe, starting from when all of the members were still teenagers. They traveled in the same circles as many (generally all-male) bands of the era including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and others, though they were unique at the time for being an all-female band who all played their own instruments and generally stylized themselves androgynously (as opposed to the girl groups of the era who mostly sang and played up their femininities). In The Other Fab Four, the two surviving Liverbirds (Birch and Gell passed away from cancer in 2009 and 2016, respectively), McGlory and Saunders, recount their early lives, the band's formation and successes, and the rest of their lives after the band broke up in 1968. This was an interesting and entertaining listen, though a bit repetitive at times (chapters are split between McGlory and Saunders and often cover the same events from multiple points of view), and I'm unsure whether Gell and Birch would have wanted the difficult details of their early life traumas, substance abuse, and later life struggles to be shared as openly as they were posthumously.

After the Liverbirds disbanded, McGlory and Saunders spent decades raising their respective families and working in the entertainment industry as resort owners, songwriters, and so on, though the Liverbirds did reunite from time to time for one-off shows, and the four members remained in touch periodically. In recent years, the surviving members have collaborated on oral history projects and a musical called Girls Don't Play Guitar.

Definitely an enjoyable read for '60s music lovers, rock history fans, and female rock fans.

Further reading: women in rock
Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll by Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart)
Pretend We're Dead: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Women in Rock in the ’90s by Tanya Pearson | my review

My statistics:
Book 98 for 2025
Book 2024 cumulatively

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ It wasn’t the topic that kept this book a little lower for me, but the writing itself. It kind of felt like sitting with my grandma when she got in the mood to tell stories from her younger years. Which I LOVED. And I would have loved to sit with these women and hear their stories in person so I could have asked questions as they told their tales. There were just a lot of parts where I wanted more detail or it jumped kind of randomly and I felt like I was missing something. But, if there is a movie that comes out about this band? I’m definitely seeing it. These ladies sound amazingly interesting!!

[Armando · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great autobiography that highlights the struggles of women in the rock industry, but more importantly, their strength, determination, and passion. I have to admit, this book took a while to work its charm on me, but when it did it did it very well.

I loved the story of the women here, and enjoyed how it not only covered their rock careers, but also going into their lives afterwards, and their eventual reunions. I especially loved Sylvia's passion for her drumming. It was heartbreaking to hear of some of their childhood, but also served as a testament to their strength of characters.

This book is an important piece of history. One that is easy to overlook if you're into rock and roll. I'm not a huge buff of that time period, but I definitely did not know of their existence before this book. So I'm very happy I gave this a go, I did not regret it.

[Poptartk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I read this book, I'd heard of the Liverbirds, but I didn't know much about them. Even though 17 years after they first began playing, I started playing in a series of all-girl bands (at a time when few people STILL took all-girl bands seriously), I thought of them as more of a gimmick than anything else. Well, I stand corrected! I was so impressed at their gumption and their pioneering spirit. They really did walk the walk and pave the way for my bands and all girl bands that came after. Thank you, Mary and Sylvia, for telling your stories and sharing the history of the Liverbirds. And you are so right—there's no sisterhood on this Earth tighter than a tight girl band!

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cool book. I enjoyed the reminiscing of the authors in their days of being in a rock band. I had never heard of the Liverbirds, but I had heard stories about them. I would have loved to read this when I was in my history of rock 'n roll class, but it unfortunately was about 9 years away from being published then.
This book is a bit slow paced, and some of the stories jumped around, but I had a good time reading this book, even if it took me a while to finish it.

[Coffee & Kindles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of The Other Fab Four. The true story of the Liverbirds Britains first female rock band.
This story was amazing and a real joy to read. Was surprised I had never heard of them. Their story is one I believe you would enjoy very much. I give this 5 stars

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In Liverpool everybody wanted to be in a band.” In THE OTHER FAB FOUR, Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders --- the surviving members of The Liverbirds --- tell the funny, heart-wrenching, exciting, rambunctious and gutsy stories of their wild ride in the land of rock ‘n’ roll. Coming together in 1964, four music-loving chicks with guitars, drums and bass decided to make a splash in the boys’ musical pool, and they made history while doing it.

The story that best sums up the courage and gumption of these teen gals --- Mary and Sylvia, along with guitarists Valerie Gell and Pamela Birch --- is the one told in the Prologue. In 1964, The Liverbirds had played around Liverpool enough to land a gig in Berlin. Heading to the Deutschlandhalle, they were told that they would be opening for Chuck Berry and would not be allowed to sing any of his songs. They were scheduled to play two 20-minute sets but didn’t have enough songs without their covers to fill the allotted time.

The arena was huge, packed and had horrible acoustics. The girls couldn’t hear their monitors, and the sound was reverberating all over the place. They made it through the first set, but when they returned for the second, Val yelled that they should do “Roll Over Beethoven.” Their cacophony began with a roar. As Sylvia banged her drums harder and harder, the band sang as loudly as they could to be heard. Chuck Berry looked angry, and his manager ran onto the stage, screaming in their faces to stop playing. Instead, they did 20 minutes of Berry covers and, quite proud of themselves, ran offstage expecting a stern rebuke.

Surprisingly that didn't happen. Berry was so impressed with their performance that he asked them to tour with him in the US. However, they were told that they would have to play topless in Las Vegas. That ended the deal right there. “We want to go to America but don’t take up the offer. Being treated as a gimmick is just one of the challenges of being girls in the rock ‘n’ roll world and we don’t let that put us off…. We’ve come a long way from the Liverpool Cavern and we’re still only in our teens.”

Mary was a devout Catholic who wanted to become a nun. Sylvia started going to concerts with Val and, while dressed as beatniks for a party with the Girl Scouts, discovered that the clothes fit well enough to imagine themselves living in an alternate world of music and less-than-ladylike endeavors. Naturally the Beatles made an impact, but they were just one of the hundreds of bands that they could see every night in Liverpool's crazy rock scene. They even had a run-in with the disgusting, infamous Jimmy Savile and made the pilgrimage to Hamburg just like the Beatles did in order to achieve wider fame. They pulled this off when they recorded their first album in 1964. Sylvia’s boyfriend was working with the Beatles and told them how to skip over the pitfalls of being a popular band. They lived their dream for a good long while.

Few rock memoirs are as charming or as readable as THE OTHER FAB FOUR. Mary and Sylvia alternate chapters, imbuing the band’s trajectory with their personal ones. As teens, they were still very much involved in their family situations, and romantic dramas were rampant. The book is a compelling, humorous and “heart on their sleeves” look at a gentler version of the rock dream come to life, and it’s a necessary addition to any musicophile’s library. Be sure to check out their music online while you read and double your pleasure.

Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5

I'd heard about this book (probably on NPR) and I rushed to get a copy. The first female rock band? Got their start at The Cavern Club about the same time as the Beatles? Like the Beatles, also from Liverpool? Like the Beatles, played the Star-Club in Hamburg? Hung out with the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix? How did I not know about this band?!

Well, the answer to that becomes pretty obvious through the course of the book (they rose to fame and stayed mostly in Germany, and they were primarily a cover band), but the journey that these Birds took was quite extraordinary.

This memoir/biography is told by the two surviving members of the group, the bass player and drummer (Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders, respectively) (ironically, the surviving Beatles are also the drummer and bass player). The chapters alternate between Mary and Sylvia, taking us through the start of the band, the early years, the success, and the eventual break-up of the group. We get to know all the players, not just Mary and Sylvia, and it's nice that we get two different perspectives of the other two main players (Valerie Gell and Pamela Birch).

Their origin is almost laughable - only in the naive 60's could a group of girls who don't know how to play any instruments actually convince managers that they are a band. Even the decision on who should play which instruments is like something out of Pollyanna ... Sylvia's hands weren't big enough for a a guitar fret but they could hold a pair of drumsticks, so she became the drummer!

This book is packed full of music history as The Liverbirds were part of the British invasion, though, by choice, they went west rather than across the pond. The very unassuming style of storytelling by Mary and Sylvia really adds to the charm of their story. Where else can you read about a devout Catholic who plans on being a nun, even while earning a living playing rock and roll in Germany and getting such a reputation for rolling the best joints that even Jimi Hendrix is seeking her out?

I'm really surprised that I hadn't heard of the Liverbirds or their story. A short documentary was made by my favorite documentary filmmaker (Ben Proudfoot), and there's a stage musical of their story (called Girls Don't Play Guitars) that was first performed in 2019. I should have picked up on this much sooner.

Nonetheless, I'm familiar with it now and I really enjoyed the read.

Looking for a good book? The Other Fab Four by Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders is a truly interesting memoir from the hippest days of pop music, and it'll almost certainly have you scouring the internet for videos and recordings.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[MB KARAPCIK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit. When I received the copy of The Other Fab Four by Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders, the reception was lukewarm. Even though I love reading books about music and the rise and, sometimes, fall of different groups, I'd never heard of the Liverbirds. Usually, I avoid books about musicians or bands that I'm unfamiliar with or don't listen to, but two facts intrigued me. That they are considered one of the first female rock bands and that they came of age and started their band in Liverpool, home of the Beatles.

I approached this book like a work of fiction, at first, because I was afraid that I wouldn't be interested. This book, though, is chockfull of vibrant stories, colorful characters, and all the underpinnings of a rock star life. Two of the four band members wrote this book and have a handle on the other two members who both lost their lives. They cover everything they went through and the unique experiences they shared. During the course of the book, you will encounter the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and other notable names.

The book also covers the sisterhood these women shared through the good times and the hard times. They grew up together, dealt with varying relationships with their families, boyfriends/girlfriends, and a cast of characters that appear throughout the book. It's interesting how they developed the band, toured diverse places, and landed in Germany before jetting off to diverse places. The areas and places they go to are vividly described and will intrigue you. You don't even have to know any of the songs to be swept up in the story.

If you're a music fan or just looking for a different story to read, this book may be a consideration. There's plenty of drama, funny stories, and all the elements that make up being in a rock band. It's amazing how this group of girls came together in an age dominated by male-oriented bands and fought against any chauvinism or other obstacles to make a real impact.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1962, Liverpool. The music scene is exploding at the Cavern Club and a few determined teenagers decide they wanted to be part of it. They buy instruments and carry them around everywhere, creating a mystique about when they'd actually play them. The playing came later (when they learned how!) and ladies and gentlemen here are the Liverbirds! An ALL-GIRL (gasp) rock band.

Told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of bass player Mary (who grew up wanting to be a nun) and drummer Sylvia, the memoir is a dishy tell all, name dropping everybody from the Stones and the Beatles to the Who and the Kinks, Jimi Hendrix and Gary Glitter. And dozens of lesser known bands, the Liverbirds being one of them, relegated (until now) to the annals of history.

They must have kept some pretty detailed diaries.

It's a fun read, shedding a different light on the scene that we know primarily from the male bands' points of view. The perseverance and naivete of the Liverbirds were evident from the get go and their years long stint in Hamburg was particularly fascinating.

Thanks to the internet there's footage of them playing. See for yourself!

Inevitably they went their separate ways and the subsequent sections weren't as captivating. Sylvia and Mary bring us to the present, and the later chapters read like holiday catchup letters.

It seems like the story of the Liverbirds has gained loads of interest - there was a stage production and short documentary film recently, and rumors of a long form documentary. Good for them.

My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

[Mark Lieberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from Netgalley so I can read and review it before it’s published. Had I not gotten a promotional email from the publishing company on February 8th, I doubt I would’ve been interested in this book. So, good job to the marketing team for a getting my attention.

Even though I know a lot about music from the 1960’s (with The Beatles being my favorite), I have never heard of the Liverbirds.

The book is told from the points of view of Mary McGlory, the guitar player and Sylvia Saunders, the drummer. The other two original members, Val Birch and Pam Gell passed away, but Mary and Sylvia talk about them a lot!

How awesome is it that Mary McGlory in 1962, then age 16, saw The Beatles play live at The Cavern Club in Liverpool and that made her want to be a musician.

Even though Mary and Sylvia didn’t know how to play, they learned and eventually the band got booked at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany and that booking was several years long. They met there spouses at the Star-Club, and when Sylvia became pregnant, she made a tough choice to leave the band. She was always close by as her husband was a musician.

It must be awesome and yet strange to become famous at such a young age, but they survived. They had kids, they had grandkids, and they had a few reunions as well.

I really enjoyed reading about them and all the stories they told, especially when they met The Beatles and at one early point, they chased down Brian Epstein as they wanted him to manage them.

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to hear the Liverbirds via one of those brilliant Ace Records 60s girl groups comps, and subsequently their career compilation 'From Merseyside to Hamburg' (recommended). As an all-girl band they were initially written off as a novelty act - most famously by John Lennon, whose "Girls don't play guitars" was eventually used as the title of a musical about the band. However, they made the move to Hamburg, and playing relentlessly at the Star-Club soon earned them the respect of their peers and fans alike.

The book is written by the two surviving Liverbirds, Mary and Sylvia, and they have taken the slightly unusual approach of writing alternating chapters, which actually works really well. Although the band lasted for only five years, the effect it had on the rest of their lives is remarkable. They reckon the years spent living in each other's pockets while gigging constantly made them like sisters, and although long years passed sometimes - along with the accompanying highs and lows - they would always find their way back to each other.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thought-provoking read, with some parts feeling slightly slow. However, the overall narrative was compelling, particularly in its portrayal of the relationships between the female characters and their intertwined lives. The story showcases a strong sense of female solidarity. It is worth noting that this book was first adapted into a play in Liverpool, which is now being developed into a film. The play's title was different from the book's and was inspired by a comment made by John Lennon, 'Girls don't play Guitar,' revealing that even open-minded individuals can hold prejudices.

[Sarah Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would recommend for fans of…
🥁 The Beatles: Get Back
🥁 Miss Americana
🥁 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

I was motivated to pick up The Other Fab Four based on this brief summary: “When John Lennon told the four members of The Liverbirds—Britain’s first female rock band—​that girls couldn’t play guitar, they proved him wrong.” I mean, seriously, how cool is that (minus Lennon’s overt sexism). And while the book is largely interesting, it doesn’t have as much of the girl power kick I was hoping for.

I was expecting this to have a large focus on the rock and roll heyday of The Liverbirds, so I was a bit disappointed by how much of the book focused on their lives after the band. It was interesting to get a glimpse into how the breakup of their band, which was linked to motherhood and personal tragedies, differed from the demise of male-fronted bands, but I just wanted to hear a bit more about their rise and success.

Overall, this was a really interesting read, and it brings up a lot of interesting points about how gender plays a role in fame and success. It’s very thought-provoking, without being stressful or upsetting, and I loved getting to learn more about a group that I knew nothing about!

The Other Fab Four is out now. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Other Fab Four is a memoir about Britain’s first female rock band The Liverbirds.

I am going to be honest I had never heard of The Liverbirds before reading this. While reading this I listened to their music. I thought this was a really great memoir about some bad ass women. If you are into music I would suggest this one. Overall I thought this was a good memoir. I feel like I would have enjoyed this one more if I knew about the band beforehand. But I am a fan of them now.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5 Definitely recommend. Inspiring and a great insight into what the actual day-to-day life of a band would have been early in their careers and then later as life takes over. Really interesting. Also, their music is genuinely really great!

[Tim Pieraccini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely anecdotal, and some of the incidents/exchanges captured seem not entirely to the point, but the voices telling the story (perhaps courtesy of Lucy O'Brien) are very engaging, and it's an easy, smooth read.

[David Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always amazed when reading musician memoirs from the 60s how small of a world the music scene of the time seems, as these 4 women befriended and/or played with so many extremely famous groups. I enjoyed their story as well as looking up some clips from the era on Youtube.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really interesting!

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. I lost interest halfway through and I missed the good parts.. but I will be fine.

[Katra · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting tale but not very focused, rambling.

p-h, s-n, v-n