It is undeniable that The Beatles completely changed the musical landscape in the United Kingdom and around the world. The band is inextricably linked with the city and the surrounding area, and many Liverpudlians are immensely proud of the city’s connection to the band. Almost everywhere that you go in Liverpool will have some sort of association with The Beatles or individual band members.
Before the Beatles
John Lennon was born in the Liverpool Maternity Hospital in 1940. His father was away most of the time, due to his career as a merchant seaman, and his mother Julie struggled to raise him.
John spent most of his childhood living with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George at their house, Mendips, in the Woolton area of the city. His mother visited regularly and introduced him to a lot of different musical styles. She encouraged him to develop his talents as a musician and bought him his first guitar. After passing his 11-plus exam, he attended the Quarry Bank High School, although he did not continue to be academically successful. Much of John’s inspiration was drawn from his unconventional childhood.
Paul McCartney was born at the Walton hospital in Liverpool on 18 June 1942. He passed his 11-plus exam and was accepted into the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys. His family lived at 20 Forthlin Road in the Allerton area until 1964.
When Paul was 14 years old, his mother died of an embolism. The shared experiences of grief later helped him to bond with John Lennon. Paul’s father, who was an accomplished pianist and trumpet player, encouraged Paul to take up music and song writing.
George Harrison was born on 25 February 1943. During childhood he lived in the Wavertree and Speke areas of the city. Having also passed his 11-plus, he won a place at the Liverpool Institute; where he went on to meet Paul McCartney.
George’s mother was a very strong influence on his musical abilities. She enjoyed many different types of music, and she loved to sing at the top of her voice. Whilst she was pregnant with George, she regularly listened to the Radio India broadcast, which would showcase Indian music and culture. She believed this style of music would calm him down, and it may have had an influence on his future creative style.
Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) was born on 7th July 1940 at his family home in the Dingle area of Liverpool. His parents were avid fans of singing and dancing before the birth of their son, and were regulars on the Liverpool ballroom circuit. His parents separated whilst he was still young.
Ringo suffered two serious illnesses during childhood which required long stays in the Myrtle Street Children’s Hospital. Having missed a lot of school, Ringo was unable to sit his 11-plus and went on to attend Dingle Vale Secondary Modern. Having had little luck holding on to gainful employment in Liverpool, Ringo was lucky to secure a spot working with the Beatles once they had already got a recording contract.
The Beginnings of the Band
John Lennon formed the first incarnation of the band in March 1957 whilst attending Quarry Bank school in the Allerton area. The group, known as The Quarrymen, initially consisted of Lennon and friends from the school. Within a year, Paul McCartney and George Harrison had joined the group, and by 1959, Lennon’s Quarry Bank friends had moved on. During 1960, the band had started to tour, with Stuart Sutcliffe as an additional guitarist. Pete Best also joined the band as the drummer, and the group began performing as a 5 piece. After performing under several different names, the group finally settled on The Beatles in August 1960.
Rising to Fame in Liverpool
After a couple of stints doing residencies at clubs in Hamburg, Germany, the Beatles began to find fame back in Liverpool. In 1961, the group began to make regular appearances at The Cavern Club in Mathew Street. Whilst performing at the club on 9th November 1961, the Beatles met local music producer Brian Epstein. During their rise to fame, the Beatles made 292 appearances in The Cavern Club, with the last appearance taking place on 3 August 1963. Having earned their success in Liverpool, then band then went on to conquer the world.
Leave a Reply