The friendship sometimes extended into their individual careers. "Paul came in when I was recording Mellow Yellow and added some claps and yells and I think I may be the only person who added a lyric to a Beatle song. Paul asked me to contribute to Yellow Submarine and I wrote a couple of lines to that. It was great to know them, you know, and have so much fun."
Donovan will be appearing on a bill with John Lennon's original group The Quarrymen ("That will be a treat," he says) and Tony Sheridan, the Hamburg-based singer who once had the Beatles as a backing band.
"I will be bringing a bass player and it will be mostly Donovan Unplugged, telling stories, singing songs and having a jolly time with the audience, I hope."
Although he is only appearing on stage for one night, he intends to stay over for at least two days. "I will be signing copies of my autobiography Hurdy Gurdy Man which is now in paperback, selling the new CD The Very Best of Donovan ("It's all the hits with a few bonus tracks") and soaking up the festive spirit."
* DONOVAN appears at the Liverpool Empire on Saturday, August 26.
