The Beatles Musical Extravaganza

The Beatles’ story dates back to November 1956 when John Lennon formed a band with some school friends and called it ‘The Quarrymen.’ When he met Paul McCartney on 6th July, 1957, they immediately gelled, and Paul joined the band as rhythm guitarist. February 1958: Paul’s friend, George Harrison, auditioned for the band, but John, although impressed with his playing, said he was too young to join. (He was fifteen.) However, Paul insisted he have another audition, and this time John gave him the role of lead guitar.

By 1959, the band was just the three lads, and they called themselves ‘Johnny & The Moondogs.’ Occasionally, they went by the name ‘Rainbows’ because they each wore different colour shirts.

In 1960, John met Stuart Sutcliffe at art school. They became good friends. Stuart and John wanted Stuart to join the band, but he didn’t play anything. So, he sold a painting and, with the proceeds from the sale, bought a bass guitar. And, voila: the new bass guitarist was made. After a few months the band’s name changed from ‘Beatals’ to ‘The Silver Beetles’ to ‘The Silver Beatles’ to simply ‘The Beatles.’

Pete Best auditioned and became the drummer as they gigged around England and Germany. In August 1960, the band went as a five-piece to take up a three-and-a-half-month residency in a club in Hamburg. However, they moonlighted by playing another club one night, and the original club’s manager reported George to the authorities in retaliation because he was underage to be working there. George was deported in November 1960. Paul and Pete were arrested a week later for starting a small fire, and they, too, found themselves deported. John remained in Hamburg until December, and Stuart (who now had a German girlfriend) stayed until the following February.

Stuart’s heart was no longer in the band. He wanted to be with Astrid, his German girlfriend, and later in 1960, he left the band to study art in Germany. Paul took over the bass guitar. And, I think it’s fair to say, he found his home in that instrument.

Brian Epstein saw ‘The Beatles’ performing in the famous Cavern Club one lunchtime in November 1961. Instantly, he knew he had to represent them because they had something special. He pursued them for two months, constantly making offers to become their manager (even though they already had one, and he had never managed anyone before). Finally, he convinced them to trust him, and he got them an audition with Decca Records on 1st January, 1962. However, the record company executive said, “Guitar groups are on the way out, Mr Epstein.” I bet he regretted the day he uttered those words!

Finally, they auditioned before George Martin of EMI’s Parlophone Records a couple of months later. George Martin saw their potential but insisted they would need to replace the drummer. So, Pete was out and Richie Starkey was in. Welcome, Ringo!

October of 1962, ‘Love Me Do,’ their first single, reached number 17 on the UK weekly charts. When the boys recorded ‘Please Please Me,’ George Martin said to the band, “You’ve just made your first number 1.” Oh, what foresight that man had!

I’ll end this history lesson () by saying the boys recorded their first UK album in one twelve hour recording session at Abbey Road Studios (then EMI Studios) on 11th February, 1963. ‘Please Please Me’ entered the world, changing music and pop culture forever. The rest, as they say, really is history.

And just for a little extra info ...
Beatles Albums as Released in the UK

Please Please Me ~ 22nd March 1963


With The Beatles ~ 22nd November 1963


A Hard Day's Night ~ 10th July 1964


Beatles For Sale ~ 4th December 1964


Help! ~ 6th August 1965


Rubber Soul ~ 3rd September 1965


Revolver ~ 5th August 1966


Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ~ 1st June 1967


Magical Mystery Tour ~ 27th November 1967


The Beatles (The White Album) ~ 22nd November 1968


Yellow Submarine ~ 17th January 1969


Abbey Road ~ 26th September 1969


Let It Be ~ 8th May 1970

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