Liverpool Beat

So much has already been written about the Beatles, here we concentrate on the early days with some new and revealing information about the Fab Four from the start up days of the Quarrymen onto the Silver Beetles and finally the emergence of the band following their tours of the Hamburg clubs and their return to Liverpool, when they were discovered by Brian Epstein.

John Winston Ono Lennon (9.10.1940 – 8.12.1980) was a Liverpool musician, singer-songwriter who rose to fame as the founder member of The Beatles. Together with Paul McCartney, he formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th Century. Lennon was also a peace activist, many of his songs being adopted by the anti-war movement. In a 1987 interview, McCartney said that the other Beatles idolised John: "He was like our own little Elvis ... We all looked up to John. He was older and he was very much the leader; he was the quickest wit and the smartest".

Sir James Paul McCartney MBE (born 18 June 1942) gained world-wide fame as a member of The Beatles, as well being half of one the greatest song-writing partnerships of the 20th century - with John Lennon.

Since the Beatles break-up, Paul McCartney has followed a successful career as a solo artist, as well as forming the band Wings.

George Harrison (25.02.1943 – 29.11.2001) was a Liverpool musician and a singer –songwriter, achieving international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. His compositions include “Here Comes the Sun”, “Something” and “While my Guitar Gently Weeps”. He became an admirer of Indian culture, which he introduced to the other Beatles, as well as their Western audience.

Richard Starkey MBE (born 7 July 1940) is best known by his stage name Ringo Starr. Ringo gained international fame as the drummer for The Beatles, having replaced Pete Best in August 1962. Ringo was originally a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, who were a very popular Merseybeat band of the time.

In 2011, Starr was picked as the fifth-best drummer of all time by Rolling Stones readers. Since the Beatles break-up, Starr has gone on to carve out a successful career as a solo artist.

Pete Best (born 24 November 1941) was the original drummer in the Beatles. His mother, Mona Best, opened The Casbah Coffee Club in the cellar of the Bests' home in Liverpool. It was here that The Beatles (at the time known as the Quarrymen) played some of their first concerts.

Probably the defining moment in Liverpool Beat History was the day Pete Best was sacked from the Beatles. What really happened? Can the stories featured in the books really be trusted? Was Brian Epstein behind it or was it John and Paul?