The Beatles and the Nearly Men

We can all name the four Beatles easily. John, Paul, George and Ringo. Even though they ceased to be a band nearly 40 years ago their music lives on and is still as popular now as it ever was. Before they became the Beatles they were first known as the Quarry Men (named after the school that John Lennon attended).

Here, we go through the other guys who just didn’t make it all the way to becoming a famous Beatle.

Pete Shotton

Founder member of the Quarry Men (formed in March 1957). Was John Lennon’s best friend but was sacked from the band after Lennon smashed Shotton’s washboard over his head.

Eric Griffiths

Founder member of the Quarry Men, was taught guitar lessons on a banjo by John Lennon’s mother, Julia. Stayed in the group until 1958 and was replaced by George Harrison.

Colin Hanton

Invited into the Quarry Men by Griffiths, who knew he had a drum kit. Played on the recordings of ‘That’ll Be The Day’ and ‘In Spite Of All The Danger’, released on Anthology 1.

Rod Davis

Played the banjo for the Quarry Men but only as he did not have a guitar. Eventually ousted when Paul McCartney joined. When the Beatles first went to Hamburg, Davis was asked if he had a drum kit and wished to join them. He didn’t so he didn’t go.

Ivan Vaughan

Was the man who introduced Paul McCartney to the Quarry Men and briefly played tea chest for the band. He is more famous for a documentary about him in 1984 titled Ivan, after developing Parkinson’s Disease.

Bill Smith

Played the tea-chest bass on a handful of early Quarry Men gigs.

Nigel Whalley

Another tea-chest bass player who decided to become the Quarry Men’s manager. He arranged their first gig at the Cavern but his association with the group ended as the others did not think he should get a fee as manager.

Len Garry

Went to the Liverpool Institute with Ivan Vaughan and Paul McCartney and became the regular tea-chest bass player in the band.

John Duff Lowe

Became a Quarry Men member in 1958 as a piano player but only played when there was a piano at the venue. Like Colin Hanton, he also played on ‘That’ll Be The Day’ and ‘In Spite Of All The Danger’.

Ken Brown

Originally a guitar player in the Les Stewart quartet (that George Harrison also appeared in. Opened the Casbah with John, Paul and George and did six more bookings with the band before an argument saw him leave. (Interestingly, he then started performing in a band featuring Pete Best on drums.)

Arthur Kelly

Famous for playing Monkey Gibbons in Coronation Street was asked by friend George Harrison to buy a bass guitar and join them in Hamburg but he turned the offer down.

Stuart Sutcliffe

A promising artist who played bass for the band. While in Hamburg he fell in love with Astrid Kirchherr and decided to remain in Germany when the others came home. Died from a brain Haemorrhage in 1962.

Tommy Moore

A jazz drummer who joined the group for a tour of Scotland as backing group to Johnny Gentle.

Norman Chapman:

Became drummer after Tommy Moore left. Chapman left the group soon after as he had to serve his National Service.

Pete Best

Joined the Beatles on their first tour of Hamburg and was sacked two years, and over 500 gigs later.

Chas Newby

With Stuart Sutcliffe having stayed behind in Germany, the Beatles were without a bass player so in stepped Chas Newby. After only four gigs (including the famous gig at the Litherland Town Hall on 27th December 1960) he turned down the chance to become a full time Beatle.

So there you have it, after all these people, Paul McCartney switched to bass, Ringo Starr was brought in on drums and the fab four were born. John, Paul, George and Ringo, the band that were to become the biggest band of all time.

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