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Birth
John Winston Lennon (Liverpool, 9 October 1940-New York, 8 December 1980) was an English artist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer, poet, cartoonist, producer, writer, pacifist, activist and actor, best known as one of the founding members of the rock band The Beatles. -
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John Lennon meets Paul McCartney
On this day in 1957, 15-year-old Paul McCartney attends a church picnic in the village of Woolton, near Liverpool, where he meets 16-year-old John Lennon. Lennon had formed a band called The Quarrymen, who played at the picnic. Between sets, McCartney played a few songs on guitar for the band and a few days later Lennon invited him to join. At first, McCartney didn't take the group seriously; in fact, he missed his first gig with the band because he had a scouting trip. -
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The first official performance of Quarry Men.
The Quarry Men's first "official" public performance, albeit unsuccessful; they failed to impress when they auditioned before promoter Carroll Levis, who was looking for new talent to appear in his upcoming production of the ATV television show Mr Star Maker. In his search for new talent, Mr Levis had organised the TV Star Search show at the Empire Theatre. However, as mentioned, John and his friends were unsuccessful on this occasion. -
- George Harrison
I remember being very impressed by John's big, chunky sideboards and teddyboy fashion clothes. In a way, I think all that emotional, hardcore stuff was just a way of helping to separate the men from the boys. He never bullied me. Whenever he attacked me, I always gave him a little bit of his own back. -
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George Harrison
According to George Harrison, the first time he saw the Quarry Men was at Wilson Hall, opposite the bus station in Garston, Liverpool.
Author Barry Miles noted that the date was the group's booking at the hall on 7 December 1957. By contrast, Quarry Men drummer Colin Hanton recalled being introduced to the young guitarist on 13 March at the Morgue Skiffle Cellar.
Paul had invited me to see them play several times but, for some reason, I had never been before. -
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The Quarry Men become The Silver Beats
From "The Quarrymen", the band went through a succession of names, including "Johnny and the Moondogs" and "Long John and The Beetles". Sutcliffe suggested the name "The Beetles" as a tribute to Buddy Holly and The Crickets. The band changed its name to "The Beatles" in 1960. The band's lack of a drummer posed a serious problem, as the group's unofficial manager, Allan Williams, had arranged for them to perform at a club in Hamburg, West Germany. -
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Pete Best joins the Beatles
Four days after hiring Best, the group left for Hamburg. The Beatles began a 48-night residency in Hamburg at Bruno Koschmider's Indra Club, and moved to the Kaiserkeller in October 1960, but they then accepted an offer to play at the rival Top Ten Club, thereby breaking their contract with Koschmider. Koschmider was furious, and reported Harrison to the German authorities for having lied about his age, leading to his deportation on 21 November 1960. -
Ringo Starr se une a The Beatles
The Beatles asked Richard Starkey, known as Ringo Starr, to join the band; Ringo first met the Beatles in Hamburg in October 1960 while there performing with what had become Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. Ringo joined the Beatles on August 18, 1962. Rory Storm was magnanimous about the theft of his drummer, but Pete Best fans were upset, holding vigils outside Pete's house and rioting at the Cavern Club, shouting "Pete Best forever! Ringo never!"
