Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' final gig in their hometown of Liverpool, a hefty, bronze statue of the fab four has been unveiled at Liverpool's Pier Head.
The impressive sculpture was crafted by artist Andy Edwards and given to the city by famed venue the Cavern Club, known for its heavy involvement with the Beatles in the '60s. The iconic "I Saw Her Standing There" musicians took on the Empire Theatre on Dec. 5 1965 for their last-ever career gig in Liverpool.
The extremely accurate sculptures of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr showcases the band walking alongside the Mersey, which mimics a real life photo shoot. Andrew Edwards revealed that he hoped his sculpture would give people a spot to come together for "a place of ritual," while Ann O'Byrne, Deputy Mayor, said she was "delighted" with the unveiling. Everyone has their own unique Beatles memory or connection and now, the statues can serve as a meeting ground for those to share them.
"Talk to anyone in or outside the city about our history and you can guarantee The Beatles will get a mention, so it feels right that this sculpture of these iconic men stands proudly on our iconic waterfront," O'Byrne added, according to BBC News.
John Lennon's sister, Julia Baird, was also in attendance during the statue's commencement and said, "The statue stands in loving memory of the best band in the world - the band that leapt from The Cavern stage to worldwide recognition," Yahoo! reports. The original idea for creation came from managing director of Castle Fine Art Foundry, Chris Butler, who describes it as a "monument to a moment and the moment started in Liverpool."
The surviving members of the Beatles have kept busy lately. Paul McCartney hopes to improve our environment by implementing meat free Monday's. Starr, who was honored last year with The Lifetime of Peace & Love tribute gig, will issue a compilation album of the performances given at the event.
