The Quarrymen
The Quarrymen, and The Quarry Men, is a British band that was founded by the later Beatles member John Lennon and four school friends in 1956 and is thus regarded as the predecessor band of the Beatles. In addition to Lennon with Paul McCartney and George Harrison already three of the four members of the later classic Beatles line-up involved.
Band History
Prior to founding
John Lennon decided at the age of 15 years, with his school friend Eric Griffiths guitar lessons at Hunts Cross, a suburb of Liverpool to take. But soon gave up the two lessons, because they based their opinion too much on music theory and the actual making music I'm too short.
Since Eric Griffiths already mastered the banjo games, showed John Lennon's mother, who also mastered the banjo, the two, how to tune a guitar like a banjo, they brought the three chords C, D and D7 and finally the British Hit Is not That a Shame at. From then on, the two often met at the home of Lennon's aunt or with Griffith, where they subsequently learned various songs and practiced.
Foundation
So decided the two, 1956 together with her school friend Pete Shotton to start a Skiffleband, although dominated Shotton no musical instrument. Shotton was informed about the Skifflemusik and the tools used there and decided to make music on the washboard, as this was the lightest of these instruments in his eyes. His utensils worried his mother: a washboard she found in the garden shed, two thimbles she donated from her Nähkiste.
Then campaigned Shotton whose school friend Bill Smith to play the wash tub bass, and Rod Davis appeared as a banjo player in the band, so that Griffiths was now able to play guitar. Having previously called The Black Jacks, they took the decision to rename itself The Quarrymen, which alludes to a passage in its school song:
" Quarrymen, old before our birth / Straining each muscle and sinew "
" Quarry guys [ also: quarry workers ], old before our birth / stretch every muscle and every sinew to "
However, Smith appeared less and less to the samples of the band and finally decided to move out of the group. The others stole then unceremoniously the wash tub bass from Smith's garage. As a replacement for Len Garry Smith was hired. This soon rose from the wash tub bass to the tea box bass.
In the school bus Griffiths met the apprentice Colin Hanton know. Randomly learned Griffiths, Hanton that has a drum set, but this was to be only an amateur. So visited Griffiths Hanton to see him play, and then invited him in to the Quarrymen. From then on, Hanton was a member of the band and the Quarrymen were extended by an instrument.
First appearances
Subsequently, The Quarrymen played various gigs. So in the meantime the manager of the band appointed school friend Nigel Whalley got two Intermission appearances in the movies, besides also appearances at music competitions in Liverpool and in several other places. In addition, they performed at the school dance of the Quarry Bank High School.
Then the band began increasingly to play songs of Elvis Presley. Finally, the Quarrymen were asked to provide a sample foreplay in a golf club, in which, to the surprise of the musicians more than one hundred visitors came. With this prelude, she convinced the owner of the Cavern Club, one of three major jazz clubs in Liverpool. This led to an appearance of the Quarrymen at the Cavern. Even before the band was arguing about the setlist for this gig. She began the concert with a skiffle song; then called Lennon his band members to Do not Be Cruel by Elvis Presley to play. His band members warned him with the words "The audience will eat us alive! " ( German: " Viewers will eat us alive " ) and refused to play the song, as in the jazz club no Rock ' n ' Roll was desired. Lennon agreed to the song itself and urged other musicians to enter with. The owner of the club stormed meanwhile on stage and called on the ribbon with the words " Cut off did bloody rock ' n ' roll! " ( German: " Cease to play this damn rock ' n ' roll " ), the song immediately cancel.
On 22 June 1957, the Quarrymen played on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the founding of Liverpool in the Roseberry Street in Liverpool on the back of a truck its first full appearance and also the first appearance in public.
Encounter with Paul McCartney
On July 6, 1957 the Quarrymen played at a music event in the St. Peter 's Church in Woolton. This is exceptional in the sense than that in the Rose Queen - the colloquial name of the event - actually played music only brass bands; the Quarrymen thus presented a musical except dar. Bessie Shotton Pete Shotton's mother, the organizers had, however, able to convince them in advance that a Skiffleband as The Quarrymen could bridge the gap between young and older audience at an event like this. Against 14 clock, the group began to play on a flatbed, which was part of a procession similar itinerary.
After the show, the band met at Scout; also the former band member Ivan Vaughan later met with the band. He introduced the band an old school friend before - Paul McCartney. Vaughan and McCartney had followed the appearance of the Quarrymen together before. McCartney had happened to be his guitar and played later in Twenty Flight Rock by Eddie Cochran, so he could impress Lennon obvious. McCartney saw this clearly and then playing Be-Bop -A- Lula - a piece that The Quarrymen had previously also presented at their appearance. Lennon was impressed by both the musical skills as well as the appearance McCartney, however, was concerned about his position as Vorsprecher the band worries. So Lennon later said:
" Now, I thought, if I take him on, what will happen? It went through my head did I'd have to keep him in line if I let him join. But he was good, so he was worth having. So He Looked like Elvis. I dug him. "
" I wondered what would happen if we receive him? It went through my head that I had to keep it under control if I could join him. But he was good, so it was worth it to have him. Also, he looked like Elvis. I liked him. "
While the other band members took the bus home, Lennon and Shotton decided to walk home on foot. On the way they discussed McCartney and Shotton reiterated his opinion that McCartney was a really good musician. Then Lennon made the decision to take McCartney in the band.
Further success with McCartney
With McCartney The Quarryman could now take pieces in their repertoire, which they were not previously able to play, such as Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley All Shook Up. On October 18, 1957 the Quarrymen played their first concert with participation of McCartney at a meeting of the Conservative Party. Since the London Borough of Norris Green was considered a posh area, Lennon and McCartney decided to occur by a noble uniform as a uniform group. Eventually, however, contributed only these two are the cream-colored suits; the rest of the group used for financial reasons rather simple T -shirts.
The concert, in which Lennon, McCartney announced at the beginning as a new member of the band, however, ran contrary to expectations: McCartney had previously rehearsed solos and played wrong notes, but Lennon reacted remarkably calmly.
Recording of George Harrison
At the beginning of 1958, the school bus was the first encounter between McCartney and George Harrison. They discovered their common musical tastes and, therefore, met several times to make music together. On 6 February the same year, The Quarrymen appeared in the Wilson Hall, where Harrison was also present. Presumably he played after the appearance before Lennon ago.
On March 12, it was in a basement in West Oakhill Park to another - arranged by McCartney - Meeting between Harrison and the band. Harrison played again before, including Guitar Boogie Shuffle, and was able to convince the music:
"He played his guitar excellent - better than any of us with an instrument could handle - so I had no problem with inviting him to come over. "
But unlike Hanton Lennon was reluctant to make the Harrison band member. So McCartney arranged a renewed meeting of the group with Harrison. This third prelude Harrisons took place on the roof of a Liverpool bus. Harrison played several tracks - including the American rock 'n' roll hit Raunchy - and was able to convince again, so he was admitted as a member in the group. However, Lennon was not very happy with the situation, he said, but a few days later:
" George was just too young ... [ He] Looked even younger than Paul, and Paul Looked about ten, with his baby face. "
" George was just too young ... He looked even younger than Paul, and Paul was like ten, with his baby face. "
Another career
In 1958, the group took a sound recording on which the two title 'll Be the Day by Buddy Holly and The Crickets, and the original composition contained In Spite of All the Danger, of which only one copy was made, which is now located in the owned by Paul McCartney is. Both tracks later appeared on the album Anthology 1 by the Beatles.
Colin Hanton left shortly after this recording the group after it had come in connection to a concert of a dispute.
In May 1960, the Quarrymen were transferred to The Silver Beatles, from which arose in August 1960, the Beatles.
On the 40th anniversary of the first meeting of Lennon and McCartney 's band the Quarrymen six former members of Griffiths, Shotton, Davis, Garry, Hanton and Lowe was refounded. Since then, three albums were released.