Help from their friends

Astrid Kirchherr’s limited-edition signed photographs of The Beatles

The months that The Beatles spent in Hamburg have been well documented – mainly through the photographs taken by Astrid Kirchherr. As a 22-year-old student, and despite no common language, she became friends with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe after meeting them when the group was playing in a dive bar. Sutcliffe and Kirchherr started a relationship instantly.

George Harrison, Hamburg, 1962 | Image: Astrid Kirchherr

Now, aged 75, Kirchherr is releasing her photographs of The Beatles (some seen, some unseen, but all of which have never been sold as signed prints) through American website Rock Paper Photo. The editions are limited to 365 for each print (in various size configurations) and range in price from $700 to $3,000. An initial 12 have been launched this week, with an additional 50 to 75 to follow over the next few months.

Kirchherr’s impressions of that time remain clear. “When they arrived in Germany, the boys had ideas of what the Germans were like,” she says, speaking from her home in Hamburg. “They thought we shouted a lot and ate sauerkraut. But we were all the same – we were looking for something different and new after the war. Coming to Germany opened their eyes.”

George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and John Lennon at the Hugo Hasse Funfair, Hamburg, 1960 | Image: Astrid Kirchherr

On taking photos of them, Kirchherr comments: “George was sweet, very lovable, just a great guy. He cared for me and I for him. John was always fiddling around on his guitar and he was a huge joker,” she continues. “Paul was very nice – they all were really.”

George Harrison and John Lennon, Hamburg, 1962 | Image: Astrid Kirchherr

Sutcliffe became engaged to Kirchherr and won a scholarship to the Hamburg College of Art, so he stayed on in Hamburg when the others left. But he died of a brain haemorrhage aged 21. Kirchherr was devastated – it is still hard for her to talk about it now – as were all the others, but in particular his best friend John.  

Pete Best, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul Best and Stuart Sutcliffe at the Hugo Hasse Funfair, Hamburg, 1960 | Image: Astrid Kirchherr

The collection includes shots of The Beatles at the Hugo Hasse Funfair in Hamburg in 1960 (third and fifth pictures), pre-fame and still intent on a rockabilly look; in a studio in 1962 (second and fourth pictures), commissioned by their manager, Brian Epstein, to sharpen up their image; and during the filming of A Hard Day’s Night in 1964 (first picture) – for Stern magazine. They all have a particular intimacy.