The Quarrymen were a skiffle group formed in 1956 in Liverpool, England. The band’s lineup included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Colin Hanton, and John “Duff” Lowe. Lennon founded the group and named it after his school, Quarry Bank High School.
The Quarrymen gained prominence in the local music scene, performing at various venues around Liverpool. It was during one of their gigs at St. Peter’s Church garden fete in July 1957 that Paul McCartney first saw the band perform. McCartney was later invited to join the group, and his addition would ultimately lead to the formation of The Beatles.
The Quarrymen played a mix of rock and roll classics, skiffle tunes, and original songs. They recorded a couple of tracks in 1958, including “That’ll Be the Day” and “In Spite of All the Danger.” These recordings are considered to be some of the earliest recordings of the future members of The Beatles.
While The Quarrymen disbanded in 1959, their legacy lives on as the precursor to one of the most influential and successful bands in music history, The Beatles. The Quarrymen’s humble beginnings laid the foundation for the iconic sound and songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney, shaping the course of popular music for decades to come.