In the late 1950s, Paul McCartney watched John Lennon’s band, the Quarrymen, perform at a festival. He was so enamored with the group that he introduced himself afterward — and tried to impress them with his own guitar playing. It worked, and a thoroughly impressed Lennon invited McCartney to join the band. In his first performance, though, he messed up so spectacularly that his new bandmates felt humiliated.
Paul McCartney flubbed a guitar solo when playing his first show with the Quarrymen
The Quarrymen were McCartney’s first-ever band, and he worked hard to ensure his guitar playing sounded good for performances. He began “practicing relentlessly,” even in the car with friends.
“Every damn minute, he would be picking at it until we threatened to toss him and the guitar out of the car,” his friend Charles Roberts said, per the book The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz.
He...
Paul McCartney flubbed a guitar solo when playing his first show with the Quarrymen
The Quarrymen were McCartney’s first-ever band, and he worked hard to ensure his guitar playing sounded good for performances. He began “practicing relentlessly,” even in the car with friends.
“Every damn minute, he would be picking at it until we threatened to toss him and the guitar out of the car,” his friend Charles Roberts said, per the book The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz.
He...
- 7/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There were many important moments in The Beatles‘ history. Without one of them, the Fab Four’s course would’ve changed drastically. For this list, we kept out the moments when the band earned their hits and released their albums. Instead, we stuck to the moments that truly shaped and defined the group. Here are 10 of the most critical moments in Beatledom.
The Beatles | John Downing/Getty Images 10. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957
The official starting point of The Beatles happened on July 6, 1957. Ivan Vaughan introduced his friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon to each other at a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. John’s band, The Quarry Men, performed at the event, and they impressed Paul. Once they met, Paul played for John and impressed him. A week later, John had another bandmate ask Paul to join the band.
The Beatles | John Downing/Getty Images 10. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957
The official starting point of The Beatles happened on July 6, 1957. Ivan Vaughan introduced his friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon to each other at a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. John’s band, The Quarry Men, performed at the event, and they impressed Paul. Once they met, Paul played for John and impressed him. A week later, John had another bandmate ask Paul to join the band.
- 4/2/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney never hid his bossy side while with The Beatles. He dominated the making of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The film-album project Magical Mystery Tour was his baby, as were the Get Back / Let it Be sessions. He said he was scared of being The Beatles’ boss, but Paul’s pushy side emerged years before the Fab Four formed, and we can understand why he was that way.
Beatles bassist Paul McCartney | Fiona Adams/Redferns Paul McCartney displayed his bossy side before The Beatles formed
When Paul met John Lennon, he found they had more in common than just the shared tragedy of their mother’’ deaths. They both loved the same music — the first wave of early rock ‘n’ roll coming from the United States.
John invited Paul to join his band, the Quarrymen, as a guitar player. And Paul soon put his bossy side on display,...
Beatles bassist Paul McCartney | Fiona Adams/Redferns Paul McCartney displayed his bossy side before The Beatles formed
When Paul met John Lennon, he found they had more in common than just the shared tragedy of their mother’’ deaths. They both loved the same music — the first wave of early rock ‘n’ roll coming from the United States.
John invited Paul to join his band, the Quarrymen, as a guitar player. And Paul soon put his bossy side on display,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles recorded their first-ever song, “In Spite of All the Danger,” on July 14, 1958, a day before John Lennon‘s mother, Julia, died. She was struck by a car.
John Lennon and The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beatles recorded their first song on July 14, 1958
In the summer of 1958, The Beatles were called The Quarry Men. The band consisted of John Lennon, Paul, George Harrison, drummer Colin Hanton, and Paul’s school friend, piano player John “Duff” Lowe. The Quarry Men decided they wanted to record their first-ever song.
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and the band went to a little recording studio owned by Percy Phillips in Kensington, Liverpool. Recording something on shellac cost only five pounds, and they split the money.
They rehearsed once and had only one shot recording the single. They chose a cover of Buddy Holly...
John Lennon and The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beatles recorded their first song on July 14, 1958
In the summer of 1958, The Beatles were called The Quarry Men. The band consisted of John Lennon, Paul, George Harrison, drummer Colin Hanton, and Paul’s school friend, piano player John “Duff” Lowe. The Quarry Men decided they wanted to record their first-ever song.
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and the band went to a little recording studio owned by Percy Phillips in Kensington, Liverpool. Recording something on shellac cost only five pounds, and they split the money.
They rehearsed once and had only one shot recording the single. They chose a cover of Buddy Holly...
- 3/12/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ first-ever recording is one of the most valuable records on the planet, and Paul McCartney only got it back in 1981. The little shellac disc contains a cover of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” and their own “In Spite of All the Danger.” It doesn’t seem like much. However, it embodies The Beatles’ early days. The single recording was integral to their transformation into one of the best rock ‘n’ roll bands.
The Beatles | Keystone-France/Getty Images How The Beatles’ first-ever recording came to be
In the summer of 1958, The Beatles were called The Quarry Men. It was John Lennon, Paul, George Harrison, drummer Colin Hanton, and Paul’s school friend, piano player John “Duff” Lowe. The Quarry Men, who would become The Beatles in four years, wanted to make their first-ever recording.
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and...
The Beatles | Keystone-France/Getty Images How The Beatles’ first-ever recording came to be
In the summer of 1958, The Beatles were called The Quarry Men. It was John Lennon, Paul, George Harrison, drummer Colin Hanton, and Paul’s school friend, piano player John “Duff” Lowe. The Quarry Men, who would become The Beatles in four years, wanted to make their first-ever recording.
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and...
- 3/11/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney took a week to decide whether or not he wanted to join The Quarry Men, later The Beatles. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be in a band yet or specifically that group. Thankfully, he joined in the end.
Paul McCartney | Keystone/Getty Images John Lennon had someone else ask Paul McCartney to join The Quarry Men
Paul first saw The Quarry Men perform at the Woolton Village Fête at St Peter’s Church on a hot July day in 1957. His friend Ivan Vaughan had invited him to see the band perform. In The Beatles Anthology, Paul remembered that he landed eyes on John immediately as he came to the church’s field. The frontman seemed “cool,” wearing his checkered shirt and playing a guitar “guaranteed not to crack.”
John was the only interesting thing about The Quarry Men. They played The Del-Vikings’ “Come Go With Me.
Paul McCartney | Keystone/Getty Images John Lennon had someone else ask Paul McCartney to join The Quarry Men
Paul first saw The Quarry Men perform at the Woolton Village Fête at St Peter’s Church on a hot July day in 1957. His friend Ivan Vaughan had invited him to see the band perform. In The Beatles Anthology, Paul remembered that he landed eyes on John immediately as he came to the church’s field. The frontman seemed “cool,” wearing his checkered shirt and playing a guitar “guaranteed not to crack.”
John was the only interesting thing about The Quarry Men. They played The Del-Vikings’ “Come Go With Me.
- 3/5/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the late 1950s, before The Quarry Men became The Beatles, and years before Ringo Starr joined the band, completing what would become the Fab Four, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Colin Hanton, and John “Duff” Lowe recorded their first-ever recording.
Although some might think “In Spite of All the Danger” is an early John song, Paul initiated it with George’s help. Therefore, it is the only song with a “McCartney-Harrison” writing credit.
The Beatles | Hulton Archive/Getty Images How The Quarry Men formed
In the late 1950s, John formed a skiffle group called The Quarry Men, named after his school, Quarry Bank High School. Later, in July 1957, the band performed at the Woolton Village Fête at St Peter’s Church. They were playing The Del-Vikings‘ “Come Go With Me” when Paul arrived.
Eric Griffiths was on the guitar, Colin Hanton played the drums, Rod Davies a banjo,...
Although some might think “In Spite of All the Danger” is an early John song, Paul initiated it with George’s help. Therefore, it is the only song with a “McCartney-Harrison” writing credit.
The Beatles | Hulton Archive/Getty Images How The Quarry Men formed
In the late 1950s, John formed a skiffle group called The Quarry Men, named after his school, Quarry Bank High School. Later, in July 1957, the band performed at the Woolton Village Fête at St Peter’s Church. They were playing The Del-Vikings‘ “Come Go With Me” when Paul arrived.
Eric Griffiths was on the guitar, Colin Hanton played the drums, Rod Davies a banjo,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney thought John Lennon was “ingenious” the first time he saw him performing with The Quarry Men. There was something about John that Paul instantly connected with, and they became bandmates soon after.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Gab Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney had seen John Lennon around before they officially met
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he’d seen John around Liverpool before they officially met in 1957. Paul said he thought John looked cool, but he doesn’t know if they’d have started talking to each other.
“I’d seen him a couple of times and thought, ‘Wow, you know, he’s an interesting looking guy,'” Paul told John’s youngest son Sean Ono Lennon during a BBC Radio 2 special commemorating what would have been John’s 80th birthday.
Then, Paul saw John at a fish and chips shop and...
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Gab Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney had seen John Lennon around before they officially met
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he’d seen John around Liverpool before they officially met in 1957. Paul said he thought John looked cool, but he doesn’t know if they’d have started talking to each other.
“I’d seen him a couple of times and thought, ‘Wow, you know, he’s an interesting looking guy,'” Paul told John’s youngest son Sean Ono Lennon during a BBC Radio 2 special commemorating what would have been John’s 80th birthday.
Then, Paul saw John at a fish and chips shop and...
- 2/18/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney said it was typical that John Lennon had someone else tell him he could join The Quarry Men. The future songwriting partners met in 1957 and instantly connected.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon met at a village fete in 1957
On a hot summer’s day in 1957, Paul and his school friend, Ivan Vaughan, attended a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. When they arrived, they saw a band performing, John’s skiffle group, The Quarry Men.
During an interview for Beatles Anthology, Paul remembered that he landed eyes on John immediately as he came to the church’s field. He seemed “cool,” wearing his checkered shirt and playing a guitar “guaranteed not to crack.”
Eric Griffiths played the guitar, Colin Hanton played the drums, Rod Davies a banjo, Pete Shotton a washboard,...
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon met at a village fete in 1957
On a hot summer’s day in 1957, Paul and his school friend, Ivan Vaughan, attended a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. When they arrived, they saw a band performing, John’s skiffle group, The Quarry Men.
During an interview for Beatles Anthology, Paul remembered that he landed eyes on John immediately as he came to the church’s field. He seemed “cool,” wearing his checkered shirt and playing a guitar “guaranteed not to crack.”
Eric Griffiths played the guitar, Colin Hanton played the drums, Rod Davies a banjo, Pete Shotton a washboard,...
- 1/26/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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