Concert Details

The Yardbirds were one of the support acts at “Another Beatles Christmas Show” which featured music, pantomime sketches, and comedy which ran from 24 December to 16 January 1965 at the Hammersmith Odeon. There were two shows at 6:15 and 8:45pm except on opening night and 29 December when there was only one show. This date’s performance was at 7:30.  29 December was a charity performance (The Beatles For Brady) at 6:15. No shows took place on 25 / 27 December and 3 / 10 January.

The show opened with The Mike Cotton Sound who also backed singer Michael Haslam. The Yardbirds were next, followed by a pantomime sketch featuring The Beatles dressed as Antarctic explorers searching for the Abominable Snowman. The first half closed with Freddie And The Dreamers.Elkie Brooks opened the second half, followed by a short set from Sounds Incorporated. The Beatles closed the show with an eleven song performance. The compère was Jimmy Savile.

It was during these shows that EC began his friendship with George Harrison.

The Art Deco Grade II–listed Hammersmith Odeon is one of West London’s best-known live music and entertainment venues. It opened on 28 March 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema. With a capacity of 3,487, the theatre was renamed the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962 when it became part of the Odeon chain, and it screened its final film in 1984. Since the early 1990s, the venue has operated under a series of sponsorship names:

Gaumont Palace (1932–1962)
Hammersmith Odeon (1962–1993)
Labatt’s Apollo (1993–2002)
Carling Apollo (2002–2009)
HMV Apollo (2009–2012)
Eventim Apollo (2012– )

Over the decades, it has hosted thousands of performances across genres, with many concerts filmed or recorded. Among the most notable: Buddy Holly played his final UK concert here in 1958; The Beatles appeared for 38 shows between 1964 and 1965 (with Eric on the bill with The Yardbirds); and David Bowie staged the final performance of his Ziggy Stardust persona in 1973. The venue also hosted Queen on multiple occasions in the 1970s, including their Christmas concerts, and Bruce Springsteen delivered legendary multi-night runs in 1975 that helped cement his reputation in the UK.

Eric has released the following recordings from his solo appearances at the venue:

4 December 1974:
“Layla” — Give Me Strength: The 1974/1975 Recordings
“The Sky Is Crying / Have You Ever Loved a Woman / Ramblin’ On My Mind” — Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies

5 December 1974:
“Ramblin’ On My Mind / Have You Ever Loved a Woman” — Give Me Strength: The 1974/1975 Recordings

Note: The 4 and 5 December recordings are often combined or edited across releases, so exact attribution between the two nights can vary by source.

27 April 1977:
“Hello Old Friend” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Sign Language” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Alberta” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Tell the Truth” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition / Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition / Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies
“Steady Rollin’ Man” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Can’t Find My Way Home” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Further On Up the Road” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Stormy Monday” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition / Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies
“Badge” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“I Shot the Sheriff” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Layla” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
“Key to the Highway” — Slowhand 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition