Liverpool is a city blessed with a fine variety of statues, non more so than those that celebrate the musical icons associated with the city. For this post I will concentrate on those easily located in and around the city centre but those that arrive via the airport may well encounter a rather famous figure in the terminal building.
Ken Dodd – Lime Street Station Concourse
The statue is part of an installation entitled “Chance Meeting” by Liverpool sculptor Tom Murphy which also features Bessie Braddock who was a Liverpool Labour MP for over 30 years. The installation is usually to be found on the concourse of Lime Street station but was removed in autumn 2017 to allow for redevelopment of the station. Following the death of Ken Dodd his statue was replaced on temporary basis until the full installation is reinstalled at the end of building work. Although perhaps better known as a comedian he had 18 chart hits, mainly in the 1960s, his version of Tears selling well over a million copies.
Eleanor Rigby – Stanley Street
Eleanor Rigby was a song on The Beatles album Revolver as well as a number one single in 1966. The sculpture was made by Tommy Steele in 1982 in recognition of the work of The Beatles and their place in the city. His fee for the work was a reported three pence. Tommy Steele himself was a singer and actor in musical theatre before becoming a sculptor.
In the work she is sitting alone with her shopping at her side and her head turned towards a small bird that is on an old newspaper. There is room on the bench for you to join her. The ‘real’ Eleanor Rigby is buried in the churchyard of St Peters Parish Church, Woolton in the city.
Cilla Black – Mathew Street
Commissioned by her sons following her death in 2015, it was unveiled in January 2017 which coincided with the 60th anniversary of The Cavern Club where she worked before embarking on her singing and television career. Made by Andy Edwards and Emma Rodgers the dress has been sculpted with square panels which contain song titles etc. Cilla Black released nineteen top forty singles, mainly in the 1960s, including number one singles Anyone Who Had a Heart and You’re my World in 1964.
John Lennon – Mathew Street
Made by Liverpool artist Arthur Dooley the statue of John Lennon is one of the oldest musical statues in the city. Lennon stands against a wall opposite The Cavern, the bricks are engraved with the names of all the artists and bands that have played there. A Tom Murphy statue of Lennon is to be found at Liverpool airport to commemorate its renaming as the John Lennon Airport in 2002.
The Beatles – Pier Head
Andy Edwards statue of the Fab Four was donated to the city by the Cavern Club in 2015 to commemorate 50 years since their last appearance in the city, which was at The Empire Theatre on Lime Street. Arthur Dooleys “Four Lads Who Shook the World” installation on Mathew Street celebrated Beatle Street and their importance. This gives us the group as slightly larger than life characters looking as if they are casually walking to catch the nearby Birkenhead ferry and gives you a much greater sense of them as individuals.
Edwards has given each Beatle a personal touch; Paul McCartney carries a camera, George Harrison wears a belt with Sanskrit writing, Ringo Starr has L8 on his shoe and John Lennon holds two acorns in his hand.
Billy Fury – Albert Dock
The Tom Murphy statue of Billy Fury was moved to its current location opposite the Piermasters House at the Albert Dock in 2007. Billy Fury achieved most of his success in the rock and roll boom in the early sixties. He is much loved in the city and by his fan club who commissioned the statue in 2003. The flowers around the statue were to commemorate his birthday which was on the 17th of April.