The Quarrymen

The Quarrymen

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1956 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Founder	John Lennon
Headquarters	Liverpool , United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, live performances

The Quarrymen (occasionally spelled "the Quarry Men") were a British band specializing in skiffle and rock and roll, established in Liverpool by John Lennon in 1956. By 1960, this ensemble had transformed into the Beatles. The original lineup featured Lennon along with his schoolmates, and the band's name was derived from a phrase in their school anthem at Quarry Bank High School. Lennon's mother, Julia, played a pivotal role by teaching him banjo and instructing both him and Eric Griffiths on guitar tuning, as well as fundamental chords and songs.

Lennon created the skiffle band with his close companion Pete Shotton, and after assembling additional members, they adopted the name Quarrymen. Their early performances took place at social gatherings such as parties, school dances, cinemas, and amateur competitions before Paul McCartney became part of the group in July 1957. Subsequently, George Harrison, introduced by McCartney, joined in early 1958 despite Lennon’s initial doubts about his age. Both McCartney and Harrison were students at the Liverpool Institute.

In 1958, the group recorded amateur versions of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and "In Spite of All the Danger", the latter co-written by McCartney and Harrison. As they gravitated toward rock and roll, several founding members departed, leaving Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison to perform under various names including Johnny and the Moondogs, Japage 3, and Long John and the Silver Beatles. They eventually returned to using the Quarrymen name in 1959. By 1960, they adopted "the Beatles" as their new moniker—reflecting a clever double entendre while paying homage to Buddy Holly’s band, "the Crickets".

In 1997, four surviving original (non-Beatles) members reunited to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the garden fête where Lennon first encountered McCartney. From 1998 onward, they have toured globally and produced four albums. Presently, three original members remain active performing as the Quarrymen.

Formation and early performances

During the mid-1950s in the United Kingdom, a resurgence of skiffle—a musical genre rooted in American traditions—triggered a wave of teenage bands due to its affordability and simple instrumentation. The Quarrymen’s initial song selections featured works by Lonnie Donegan, a prominent figure in British skiffle music. Lennon and his schoolmate Griffiths briefly attended guitar lessons before learning chords and numbers such as Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame" under the guidance of Lennon's mother. Their rehearsals took place at Lennon's aunt’s residence as well as Griffiths’ home, gradually incorporating Donegan’s popular tunes alongside early hits from Elvis Presley.

In November 1956, Lennon and Griffiths formed a skiffle group comprising Lennon, Griffiths, Pete Shotton (washboard), and Bill Smith (tea-chest bass). The name "Quarrymen" was inspired by a line within their school’s song. Shortly thereafter, Smith was replaced by Nigel Walley, Ivan Vaughan, and Len Garry; additional members Colin Hanton (drums) and Rod Davis (banjo) joined to solidify the earliest stable lineup.

Due to noise complaints, rehearsals shifted from Shotton's house to quieter venues. The band broadened their musical influences by adding rock and roll songs from artists like Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent. Walley assumed managerial duties, promoting the group through flyers and posters designed by Lennon himself. This led to paid gigs including performances at The Cavern Club—a venue primarily dedicated to jazz that tolerated their skiffle but resisted their rock and roll selections.

In July 1957 at a Liverpool talent show organized by Canadian promoter Carroll Levis, the Quarrymen performed Donegan's "Worried Man Blues," earning positive audience reactions but ultimately being outshone by Wales’ Sunnyside Skiffle Group. Although both groups tied on audience applause measured by a clap-o-meter, the Quarrymen narrowly lost following a second round of judging.

Paul McCartney becomes part of the band

On 6 July 1957, The Quarrymen took the stage at the Rose Queen garden fête held at St. Peter's Church in Woolton. Their performance began atop a moving flatbed lorry within a procession of floats and continued later on a platform behind the church. During their rendition of "Come Go with Me", Paul McCartney arrived and was introduced to John Lennon by Ivan Vaughan in the Scout hut following the set. McCartney showcased his guitar tuning skills and performed songs by artists such as Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Little Richard.

Before the evening show, Vaughan and McCartney departed; that later performance was disrupted by a thunderstorm that caused a power failure. A fellow student recorded part of this session using a portable tape recorder, capturing tracks including "Puttin' On the Style" and "Baby Let's Play House". Although this tape was presented to Lennon in 1963, it was ultimately not utilized.

Afterwards, Lennon considered inviting McCartney to join The Quarrymen. Two weeks later, Shotton relayed this proposal to McCartney, who accepted after attending Scout camp and a family vacation. Subsequently, Shotton and Davis exited the group as it transitioned from skiffle to rock music. Upon returning, McCartney practiced with the band, quickly mastering songs that Lennon had found challenging.

McCartney’s first appearance with The Quarrymen occurred on 18 October 1957 at a social event held by the Conservative Club in Liverpool’s Norris Green district. Lennon and McCartney wore cream-colored sports jackets funded collectively by the band; other members donned matching attire. McCartney’s repeated rehearsing of the lead guitar introduction to "Raunchy" reportedly caused some irritation among fellow members.

During autumn 1957, The Quarrymen primarily performed local shows organized by Charlie McBain. They largely abandoned skiffle in favor of rock and roll covers from artists like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, and Larry Williams. Their sound increasingly incorporated harmony vocals between Lennon and McCartney. Deeply influenced by Buddy Holly and his band the Crickets, both began composing original songs—Lennon’s "Hello Little Girl" and McCartney’s "I Lost My Little Girl"—and admired each other’s work, marking the beginning of their songwriting collaboration.

George Harrison joins and first recordings

After an unsatisfactory lead guitar effort by McCartney, he suggested his school friend George Harrison join the band to better suit their evolving rock style. Harrison first witnessed the group’s performance on 6 February 1958 and auditioned in March at Rory Storm’s Morgue Skiffle Club. Although Lennon initially hesitated due to Harrison’s young age (15), McCartney arranged another audition aboard a Liverpool bus where Harrison impressed by playing "Raunchy." This convinced Lennon to accept him as lead guitarist, signaling a departure from skiffle and banjo chord arrangements. Around this period, John Duff Lowe joined on piano.

With four guitarists now part of the ensemble, Lennon and McCartney encouraged Rod Davis to switch to bass guitar; however, he declined due to expense concerns. They persuaded manager Nigel Walley to dismiss Davis, which led Walley to gradually step away from managing the group. Meanwhile, Len Garry contracted tubercular meningitis and was hospitalized for seven months, ending his participation. Colin Hanton remained as the last original member from Quarry Bank school in the lineup. In March, McCartney acquired an Elpico amplifier featuring two inputs; he and Harrison fitted pickups onto their guitars, granting The Quarrymen their initial electric sound.

Phillips' Sound Recording Services at 38 Kensington, Liverpool—a modest studio primarily used for recording actors’ monologues—was operated by Percy Phillips. Harrison learned about this studio through guitarist Johnny Byrne. The Quarrymen booked a session there on 12 July 1958, recording live directly onto disc with one microphone. Lennon suggested muffling the snare drum with a scarf to achieve better sound balance. They recorded "In Spite of All the Danger," an original credited jointly to McCartney/Harrison, followed by Buddy Holly’s "That’ll Be the Day," both featuring Lennon on lead vocals. Phillips provided them with a fragile 78rpm record that circulated among band members before being misplaced; it was rediscovered in 1981 and eventually sold back to McCartney. These tracks were later included on the Beatles’ Anthology 1 album.

"The rhythm's in the guitars"

Shortly after a recording session, Hanton departed from the band due to a disagreement, and Lowe lost touch after leaving Liverpool Institute, leaving the Quarrymen as a trio: Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison. Lennon faced a profound personal tragedy when his mother passed away in a car accident on 15 July 1958. The group was largely inactive over the summer; Lennon took employment at Liverpool Airport, while McCartney and Harrison traveled by hitchhiking through Wales, performing with a local skiffle group called The Vikings. Despite their strong bond, the three performed only sparingly toward the end of 1958, often attributing their lack of a drummer or bassist by stating, "The rhythm's in the guitars."

In autumn 1958, the band auditioned once more for Carroll Levis under the name Johnny and the Moondogs. Lennon was without a guitar due to a recent breakage. They succeeded in the initial round in Liverpool and were invited to compete in the finals held in Manchester, where they played Buddy Holly’s "Think It Over" to favorable feedback. Nevertheless, they departed before the results were announced. Afterward, Lennon took an electric cutaway guitar from the stage door, describing the experience as "not a total loss."

Following this audition, Johnny and the Moondogs changed their name to Japage 3 (derived from John, Paul, and George). Lennon brought on his art school acquaintance Derek Hodkin as manager and recording technician; Mike McGear (McCartney’s brother) joined as drummer. Despite Hodkin’s efforts managing the group, their bookings diminished. Harrison became part of the Les Stewart Quartet as rhythm guitarist with steady club performances. By May, Japage 3 had disbanded, though Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison stayed socially connected with Lennon and McCartney continuing their songwriting partnership.

The Casbah Club and name change to the Beatles

In mid-1959, Mona Best launched a club in her cellar and offered the Les Stewart Quartet a residency if they assisted with its setup. After Harrison and guitarist Ken Brown missed one performance, Stewart cancelled the residency and dismissed them. To support Best, Harrison enlisted Lennon and McCartney, and they resumed using the name Quarrymen. This four-guitarist formation—Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Brown—held the opening night at the Casbah Coffee Club on 29 August 1959. Despite the cellar’s warmth, approximately 300 local youths attended. Utilizing Brown’s three-input amplifier along with McCartney’s Elpico amp, all four guitarists played electric guitars while singing into a single microphone connected to the venue’s modest PA system.

The group maintained their Casbah residency for four months into 1960 while occasionally securing additional gigs. When Brown became ill in January and missed a performance, Best insisted he still be compensated; Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison refused this demand, resulting in losing their residency and Brown leaving the band. Shortly thereafter, Lennon persuaded art school student Stuart Sutcliffe to purchase a bass guitar and join them. With no gigs lined up, they dedicated themselves to rehearsing intensively to help Sutcliffe improve.

In early 1960, the Quarrymen recorded Lennon’s original "One After 909" at Phillips' Sound Recording Services, although this recording has since been lost. Around this time, Lennon, McCartney, and Sutcliffe made a rehearsal tape featuring jams and originals such as McCartney’s instrumental "Cayenne"; Harrison was absent due to his apprenticeship commitments. With few gigs available, they frequently wrote letters requesting bookings. Discontent with the Quarrymen name, they experimented with alternatives like Los Paranoias. By March 1960, Lennon and Sutcliffe adopted the name The Beatles. Following lineup changes including adding Mona’s son Pete Best on drums, The Beatles performed extensively across Liverpool and Hamburg before securing a contract with Parlophone Records in 1962.

Reformations: 1994–present

Following the dissolution of the Beatles in 1970 and the tragic death of John Lennon in 1980, the Quarrymen have come together on several occasions. Between 1994 and 1995, Rod Davis and John Lowe collaborated with studio musicians to produce an album, which was issued in 1995 as Open for Engagements under the Quarrymen banner.

In 1997, the original surviving members from the 1957 lineup reunited to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their performance at the Woolton village fete—the historic event where Lennon and McCartney first crossed paths. The five remaining members—Pete Shotton, Rod Davis, Len Garry, Eric Griffiths, and Colin Hanton—performed together and embarked on international tours encompassing countries such as the UK, United States, Germany, Japan, Russia, and Cuba. Their setlists predominantly showcase skiffle and early rock and roll tunes, reflecting a roots rock approach that highlights American roots music's impact on the Beatles.

In 2000, Beatles scholar Martin Lewis facilitated a recording by the group of the Del-Vikings' "Come Go with Me" for inclusion on the soundtrack of Two of Us, a film depicting Lennon and McCartney’s final encounter in 1976.

Eric Griffiths passed away in 2005; Pete Shotton withdrew from performing due to health issues and died in 2017. By 2016, Davis, Garry, and Hanton remained active worldwide, with Lowe making occasional appearances. In late 2010, the band toured across the United States in honor of John Lennon's 70th birthday and took part in an Amnesty International benefit concert held in New York City.

Starting in 2016, former Beatles bassist Chas Newby joined performances until his passing in May 2023; John Lowe died in February 2024.

Since reforming in 1994, the Quarrymen have produced four studio albums primarily featuring covers from the 1950s rock and skiffle genres. Following Open for Engagements (1994), they released Get Back – Together (1997), Songs We Remember (2004), and Grey Album (2012). These albums include tracks from their early days alongside Beatles material. Titles like Get Back – Together and Grey Album draw inspiration from Beatles songs and albums, emphasizing their enduring historical link.

Current members

The current lineup consists of:

• Colin Hanton – drums (1956–1958, 1997–present)
• Rod Davis – banjo (1957); guitar and vocals (1994–1995, 1997–present)
• David Bedford – bass guitar (2024–present)
• Henry Duff Lowe – keyboards (Son of John Duff Lowe; 2024–present)
• Len Garry – tea-chest bass (1957–1958); vocals and guitar (1997–present)

Former members

Previous members include:

• John Lennon – vocals and guitar (1956–1960; deceased 1980)
• Eric Griffiths – guitar (1956–1958, 1997–2005; deceased)
• Pete Shotton – washboard (1956–1957, 1997–2000; deceased 2017); tea-chest bass (1997–2000)
• Bill Smith – tea-chest bass (1956)
• Nigel Walley – tea-chest bass and manager (1956; manager from 1956 to 1958)
• Ivan Vaughan – tea-chest bass (1956–1957; deceased 1993)
• Paul McCartney – vocals and guitar (1957–1960)
• George Harrison – lead guitar and vocals (1958–1960; deceased 2001)
• John Duff Lowe – piano, keyboards, vocals (1958, 1994–1995; guest appearances 2005–2017; deceased 2024)
• Ken Brown – guitar (1959–1960; deceased 2010)
• Stuart Sutcliffe – bass guitar (1960; deceased 1962)
• Chas Newby – bass guitar (2016–2023; deceased. Briefly played bass with the Beatles in 1960)

Studio albums

• Open for Engagements (1994)
• Get Back – Together (1997)
• Songs We Remember (2004)
• Grey Album (2012)

Live albums

• Live at the Halfmoon Pub Putney (2005)
• The Quarrymen Live! In Penny Lane (2020)

DVD

• The Band That Started the Beatles (2009)

Additional recordings

• The tracks "That'll Be the Day" and "In Spite of All the Danger" from 1958 are included on the Beatles compilation Anthology 1 (1995).
• Early rehearsal sessions at home featuring Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Sutcliffe have been partially issued on Anthology 1 and various unofficial releases.
• A rendition of "Come Go with Me" recorded in 2000 was featured in the movie Two of Us.
• An unreleased version of "Maggie May" appeared in the documentary film Looking for Lennon (2018).

Beat Archive Germany / Saxonia Vinyl Editions

• The 10-inch vinyl EP titled "50 Years Later" was released on August 28, 2006, playing at 33rpm. It includes "Down by the Riverside" performed by Quarrymen members Rod Davis, Len Garry, Colin Hanton, and John Duff Lowe. This recording took place on June 3, 2006, at Hinterglauchau Castle and was pressed by the German Beat Archive.

• On December 8, 2015, a one-sided color vinyl EP featuring three tracks was issued. It contained "Down by the Riverside" performed by the same lineup of Quarrymen musicians. The session occurred at St. Peter's Church Hall in Liverpool. This release was also pressed by the German Beat Archive.

• The single "Lost John", featuring Rod Davis alongside Chas Newby, was released on January 1, 2022. The recording date was October 3, 2020, at Glauchau Municipal Theater and it was produced by the German Beat Archive.

• On June 1, 2025, the single "Midnight Special" with Rod Davis was issued. It was recorded earlier on February 6, 2009, in Berlin and pressed under the German Beat Archive label.

See also

• Outline of the Beatles
• The Beatles timeline

External links

• Official website of The Quarrymen
• Concert listings
• Catherine E. Doyle: "From Blackjacks to Beatles: How the Fab Four Evolved"
• The Quarrymen’s earliest recordings