I think that this point needs to be rephrased at least and re-examined for veracity. Throughout 1962, the Beatles were the most popular band in the UK, and thorough records exist for their touring and performing schedules for that year. Here is an extensive and likely definitive record of their work in '62. Most of their UK performance were still at The Cavern, their hometown Liverpool club, and at a number of venues in Hamburg, West Germany.
https://www.dmbeatles.com/history.php?year=1962
(I seem to have forgotten how to make a proper link.)
To the best of my recollection, our "Beatles opened for the KT" folklore was initially derived from the fact that at some point between 1961 and 1964 both groups performed at Wembley Stadium. But the KT's peak popularity was between 1959 and 1961, and if they ever played Wembley with its 90,000 seats it would have to have been then. The Beatles themselves never made it to Wembley until 1965.
I suppose that it's possible that the KT played a club date in the UK at a venue that later staged the Beatles-on-the-rise, but it's going to take some digging to determine that.
Bob Shane was a charming guy who on occasion could effortlessly stretch the truth a bit, though to my knowledge never crossing the line into pure fabrication, so for now my money is on a scenario somewhat as I opined above - that the KT and the Beatles both played at the same venue at different points in their histories.
More to come, I think.
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on 7/15/2024, 3:11 am, in reply to "