Beatles Early History & Reading Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, figures, bands, dates, and locations from chapters 3 to 14 of the reading notes on the early history of the Beatles.

The Kingfishers

A skiffle group formed at Quarry Bank High School.

The Bluebirds

A competing band created by George Lee after John Lennon and Eric Griffiths dismissed his initial skiffle band idea as a temporary whim.

The Blackjacks

The original intended name for John Lennon's band before discovering it was taken, later formed by Ken Brown and Pete Best.

Quarry Men

John Lennon's skiffle group, named in mock reference to their school's song line: 'Quarrymen, strong before our birth.'

Julia Lennon

John Lennon's mother who taught John and Eric Griffiths how to play chords (G, C, D7) by re-tuning their guitars to mirror a banjo.

Ain't That a Shame

A song by Fats Domino that served as the Quarry Men's first practice song.

Pete Shotton

A close friend invited by John Lennon to join the Quarry Men to play the tea chest or washboard.

Liverpool College of Art

The art school attended by John Lennon, housed in a limestone building connected to the Liverpool Institute by a shared courtyard.

Liverpool Institute

The secondary school attended by Paul McCartney, adjacent to the Liverpool College of Art.

Mary McCartney

Paul McCartney's mother who passed away from breast cancer when Paul was 14 years old.

Bessie Shotton

Pete Shotton's mother who convinced the Church Committee to book the Quarry Men for the St. Peter's Church garden fete.

Ivan Vaughan

A mutual friend who introduced Paul McCartney to John Lennon at the St. Peter's Church garden fete on July 6, 1957.

Twenty Flight Rock

An Eddie Cochran song performed by Paul McCartney in the key of G to impress John Lennon during their initial meeting.

William Pobjoy

John Lennon's headmaster at Quarry Bank who wrote a letter securing John an interview at the Liverpool College of Art.

Arthur Ballard

John Lennon's art school tutor who recognized his raw potential, endorsed his admission, and helped him avoid expulsion.

Stuart Sutcliffe

A bright art student and close friend of John Lennon who sold his paintings to buy a bass guitar and join the group.

Bill Harry

An art school friend of John Lennon who founded the Liverpool music newspaper Mersey Beat on July 6, 1961.

Charlie McBain

A local music promoter at Wilson Hall who paid each band member for their performances.

Rock Island Line

A Lonnie Donegan song that inspired George Harrison to purchase his first 3/4-size Egmond guitar for £3 10s.

The Rebels

A skiffle group started by George Harrison alongside his friend Arthur Kelly and his brother Pete Harrison.

Guitar Boogie Shuffle

An instrumental song played by George Harrison to impress Paul McCartney and John Lennon during his initial audition.

I Lost My Little Girl

Paul McCartney's first original song, which acted as a major catalyst for John Lennon to start writing songs.

In Spite of All the Danger

The first song recorded by the Quarry Men at Percy Phillips Studio in 1958.

Percy Phillips Studio

A professional tape and disc recording service in Liverpool where the Quarry Men recorded their first single for 17 shillings and 6 pence.

Nigel Walley

The Quarry Men's band manager who witnessed the fatal car accident of John Lennon's mother, Julia Lennon.

The College Band

An informal name used by John, Paul, and George while performing at Liverpool Art College basement dances after Colin Hanton left.

Jacaranda Coffee Bar

A central bohemian hangout for art school and university students, owned by Allan Williams.

Allan Williams

The owner of the Jacaranda Coffee Bar who became the band's first formal promoter and manager.

Cynthia Powell

John Lennon's art college classmate from lettering class who began dating him in late 1958 and provided stability in his life.

Casbah Coffee Club

A music venue opened by Mona Best in the cellar of her 15-room Victorian house at 8 Hayman's Green in West Derby.

Mona Best

Pete Best's mother who founded and managed the Casbah Coffee Club.

Ken Brown

A guitarist who helped Mona Best decorate the Casbah cellar in exchange for an opening residency, later forming The Blackjacks with Pete Best.

Johnny and the Moondogs

A temporary stage name adopted by John, Paul, and George to enter Carroll Levis's Star Search Competition.

3 Gambier Terrace

A large Georgian flat across from the art college rented by Stuart Sutcliffe, where the band rehearsed and slept.

Silver Beetles

An early stage name derived from 'beat music' and inspired by Buddy Holly's band, The Crickets.

Tommy Moore

A 36-year-old forklift driver recruited as a drummer for the Silver Beetles who quit after a turbulent Scottish tour.

Larry Parnes

A music promoter who hired the Silver Beetles to back singer Johnny Gentle on a 10-day tour of Scotland in 1960.

Top Ten Club

A venue on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg's red-light district where the Beatles played long residency sets.

Peter Eckhorn

The owner of the Top Ten Club who obtained work permits for the Beatles and booked them to play 7 hours a night.

Horst Fascher

The head waiter at Hamburg's Top Ten Club known for his violent security enforcement.

Tony Sheridan

A popular UK singer whom the Beatles backed in Hamburg for Bert Kaempfert's Polydor Records recording sessions.

The Beat Brothers

A pseudonym used on Polydor recordings because 'Beatles' sounded too close to 'peedles,' German slang for tiny dicks.

Cry for a Shadow

The first instrumental track written and recorded by John Lennon and George Harrison.

Astrid Kirchherr

Stuart Sutcliffe's girlfriend in Hamburg who styled Stuart's hair into a soft fringe ('French cut'), establishing the original Beatles haircut.

Preludin

Amphetamines provided by Tony Sheridan that the Beatles took to stay awake during 7-hour sets in Hamburg.

Bob Wooler

A Cavern Club DJ who heavily promoted the import single 'My Bonnie' in Liverpool.

Brian Epstein

The manager of NEMS record department on Whitechapel who saw the Beatles live on November 9, 1961, and became their manager.

NEMS

North End Music Stores, a major Liverpool record retailer managed by Brian Epstein.

Mr. X

A pseudonym used by the local press to protect Brian Epstein's identity during a blackmail police sting.

Jürgen Vollmer

A friend living in Paris who cut John Lennon and Paul McCartney's hair into fringes in October 1961.