EDGEWAYS TO FAME

EPILOGUE

(Brian, Ringo, George, John and Paul’s pov)

 

BRIAN’S POV

My boys will always be the most important people in my life, besides my beloved mother Queenie and brother Clive. Yes, I have so many others in my stable that I love but they will always be the light of my life. Everyone thought me crazy, saying they’d be the next Elvis. I had the last laugh on them all. Look what we’ve accomplished in just two short years! They are popular enough to shake Col. Tom Parker, even sending telegrams I can read right through them. Elvis is shaking more then his hips because of my boys. This tour went by fast with a minimum of problems. Only, the Canada problem with Richard seemed the only urgent problem.

 

 I enjoyed the days off with the boys, in the sun, boating and just relaxing in their company. Although it was short, the holiday revitalized them and myself for the next leg of the tour. With my various flights back to London on business, I made it back as soon as I could to be with them on their tour. Once back in London, they will have a day or so to allow for jet lag. Then it will be off again, shows, the Telly, their radio shows and recording.

 

 

The movie excited them and me. Richard Lester was perfect for them as Allan Owen was. I could actually see them doing and saying the things he wrote. Although, none are actors they did quite well for them selves. I must say Richard had the talent for acting more then the rest, but they held their own.

 

The reception in Liverpool was gratifying and most grand. I think the whole town showed up to see their hero’s. My dear mum was so proud of me; my father, brother and her seem glad that I had finally found my nitch in life.  The boys were quite please to say the least with the show up from their beloved town.

 

 Now, there is talk of a new movie and each boy wants to travel somewhere they have never been. I pity the writer for this movie, although I know it will be a smash hit. I know Richard Lester will be with us again as he now understands and appreciates the lads as I do.

 

I sit here thinking over the last few years; from rags to riches we all seemed to go. The climb was slow at first and then it shot off like a rocket, which brings us to this moment.

I sit here in my suite writing in my journal, as I am not yet tired. One day they will look at these entries as a piece of history. Tomorrow, we leave for home, London England and a grand reception from the fans as four tired boys drag home and the rest of us behind them. All and all this has been an exciting tour for us as well as an important one.. We made it! The first English group to hit it big in America; that in it’s self is a feat. I am proud of my boys, all four separate parts of them that make the Beatles a whole.

 

I must stop writing now as I feel my eyes closing and slumber calling. I will write more in this with each new experience we have. No one but my closest staff knows of this book, not even the boys. I hope some day this will be looked back on as the beginning of the most famous Pop group in history for years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

RINGO’S  POV

 

 

Who would have guessed that a scruffy scouser from the Dingle would have made it this big! Me mum always knew I had something but I didn’t.  I never would have guessed when I met The Beatles in Hamburg that they would change my life forever. I remember playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricane’s, drumming away and them watching me. We hit it off straight away. I would listen to their sets, impressed by their harmonies, charm and tightness. I was the one who sat in the back , dead pissed yelling for them to play a slow song as they cussed me over the PA system.

 

We soon became fans of each other, often hanging about the dreary streets of Hamburg. We spent many a night having a laugh together. When Pete, their drummer didn’t show for gigs I would sit in. I learned their style quickly. When Paul took over the bass, we made such rhythms the two of us, holding the band together. John’s steady rhythm guitar glided on with his, Paul and George’s incredible voices belting out the rock n roll we had loved as much as the Germans. George’s sweet leads just wove around us as the harmonies filled out the songs. I always love sitting in with them, I felt so alive.

 

Back in England I was surprised but not shocked when they sacked Pete Best. He was never one of them . He never quite fit in. I was chuffed when they wanted me to drum for them; especially after they just had gotten a recording contract. I was disappointed when Andy White played drums on Love me Do , but that soon changed after Mr. Martin heard me gel with the lads.

 

I was an only child and now I had 3 brothers, mates and it felt good to be apart of something we all knew would be big. I loved the togetherness, that I hadn’t ever had in me life. I had to admit I was nervous the first few times I played the Cavern with them. Hearing the chants…… “Pete Forever Ringo Never!”  I pounded on my skins and won them over. Poor George took a black eye for me, I always felt bad for that.

 

The tours started slowly, somewhere on the bill. We’d ride in our van with Neil or Mal driving us about. Some nights would get colder then a freezer full of the butcher’s freshest. We would share a bottle and huddle, one on top of the other and switch when the top one was to frozen to feel his hand grasp the bottle. Those days were fun and the sparseness of not having, fueled us on. More tours , more rides in our ever moving van, going to the next town, for the next show. We were lucky to start riding on the buses with big acts that we never thought we’d meet and then we finally got top bill. We couldn’t believe that!

 

Then the news of our songs hitting big and when we went to number one in America, none of us could believe it! Brian had told us we’d be bigger then Elvis and we saw this as we went nervously to America. The Sullivan shows did it for us and Elvis was put to the chase, as we became the first English group to be so big in America or even the world.

 

Now, on our way home from our second visit to America, we’re so tired but pumped up Knowing we’re riding high. For how long I don’t know; but I can assure you I am here for the whole entire ride and I bet no one will ever see the likes of this again.

 

 

 

 

GEORGE’S POV

 

My mum had gotten me the guitar I had been wanting, teaching myself how to play until me fingers bled and me mum encouraging me to keep going. Mum, she always had faith in me. Paul never had that, his mum died before he picked up his guitar, I think that’s what drove him to it as well as his love for rock n roll and it was that love we shared. Paul and I were just kids riding on me dad’s bus to the institute. He was a year older but we got on. When we both saw that we played it was non-stop from there. I was either at his house or he at mine. We played back and forth, showing each other things we eagerly learnt. He ended up stringing his guitar upside down after realizing the trouble he was having was because he was a lefty.

 

Later on Paul met this older boy named John Lennon. I didn’t realize, as I am sure they didn’t, just how important this would be for all of us. Me at the time felt that twang of jealousy over sharing Paul. He always went on about this John character and how he wanted me to meet him.  Paul had joined his band the Quarrymen and I was feeling a bit left out in the dark. We still got together but by now Paul was writing songs and he was pushing for John to write as well. I didn’t want to share and was afraid to meet this older kid.  Finely, Paul told me how he had a brag on bout me and I had to now meet Lennon.

 

I remember it clearly, I had met him a few times and he regarded me as a kid. I was only one year younger then Paul for Christ sakes. I nervously took my precious guitar with me as Paul had told me to. We were riding the bus home, on the top , Paul nudged me . He told me to play Raunchy for John. This was a big song back then and I played it quite good. Like I said I was so lurgy over playing this song that came natural to me. I finally did after Paul wouldn’t give. John made me play it again and I played the sodding thing, loud and with out any mistakes.  I didn’t hear from him for a few days as Paul said he wasn’t sure because of me age. He relented and let me join, saying my playing couldn’t be ignored.  So now I was a Quarrymen, I was chuffed to say the least.

 

We played together from that time on. Members came and went but the three of us knew we had a sound. We would practice every chance we could , even over at John’s Art College on our breaks. We played at Paul’s and my flat since our parents didn’t mind so much. John’s aunt Mimi scared us all , so we only went there when she was out visiting .

 

 

Then John’s mum died and he turned to an even worse lout then before. We knew it was because of Julia. Nice lady she was, always loved listening to us and encouraging us, not like Mimi.  John began to drink heavier and practices with him went on hold for a bit. Paul and me we still practiced and Paul with knowing how it felt tried to help Johnny through this. After some encouragement from me mum I too tried to save John. I talked to him and although it didn’t help , I think when he came back he had more respect for me.

 

Like the sun bursting through the storm clouds , Johnny came on like a furry with the music. We started getting gigs and then when I was 17 went off to Hamburg. A dank city, that was, but I had my first shag. John made sure of that one. They watched , making sure I didn’t run off. After that I couldn’t get enough sex , drink and rock n roll.

 

I was deported and felt I let them all down, even took on a job for a short time. Then Paul and Pete came back followed by John and Stu, John’s friend from Art College who could hardly play a note on the bass but he had one and that was the important thing.

 

We soon started playing again and when I was 18 returned to Hamburg. This time we started to get a following. The exis, as they called themselves, and some others , would come to here us. We met a bloke named Ringo at that time. He played with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes; another Liverpool group. They were all coming over to play. We would play for hours and with drink we’d just crap out. Then one of the ladies, Rosie, introduced us to this magic pill. Prellies , we called them.  We could play , drink and go on forever on those.

 

Somewhere along the way Stu quit the band , much to Paul’s relief but not John’s. Paul hated that Stu couldn’t play nor wanted to learn it. He said that it sounded like crap with Stu and John and him would have horrid rows over it. I liked Stu but had to agree with Paul, although I wasn’t brave enough to stand up to my older idol.  So Stu left, intending on staying in Germany with Astrid, a German girl he fell in love with and continue his art.

 

When we went back to Liverpool, we all of a sudden had a following. They billed us as coming straight from Germany and were surprised when we all had English accents. We played at Pete’s mum’s place, the Cavern and any hall we could. Now, Neil , a friend of Pete’s drove us around for a share of our earnings.

 

One of those days at the Cavern, a man from Nems records came to hear us play. We didn’t think anything of it. He met us and seemed a bit posh and proper. I asked him “What brings the famous Mr. Epstein here?” He said he loved our sound and something about a record we did with Tony Sheridan in Germany called My Bonnie. I guess he was surprised to hear it was from Germany.

 

Our next meeting with the famous Brian Epstein came when he announced he wanted to manage us and that he had connections. He said he had never done this before but felt he could do us some justice.

 

It took a few meetings before we were dead keen on the idea. John was the one who said, “Manage us then Brian, where do I sign?”

Had to admire him for it , taking us on and spending his money until we brought in our proper share. The contracts were signed and then we started getting more gigs.

 

Another trip to Germany, we had a contract for one more tour there. It was a sad one though. When we got there we found out that Stu had died the day before. John, never taking death to well and losing so many people to it throughout his life, didn’t take it very well.  We forged on in Stu’s name, John said bitterly.

 

 We had cleaned up our act. Brian put us in suits and told us no swearing, eating, smoking or fighting on stage. Very professional he was, he taught us how to bow together after each song. A demo was finally made of our songs. John and Paul by this time had written a lot of songs together. When we finally got Mr. George Martin to record us , he wanted us to do a different song. Paul and John would have none of that one. It was agreed Love Me Do would be the first song. Mr. Martin didn’t like Pete’s drumming and we didn’t quite care for the likes of Pete anymore so we told Brian to sack him.

 

That’s when we got Ringo. The fans went potty over it and I got me a black eye over it. The chanting stopped once they saw how much better we sounded with Ringo. We were finally in the proper order that we should be. Off we went. Number one in England, Europe and finally the biggest of all…….America!!!!!

 

I Want To Hold Your Hand was number one in the States. Never had an English band have a number one song across the pond. We were thrilled and ready to go. I had been the only one that had ever been to the States , since my sister Louise lived there. John brought his wife with him, Brian insisting they keep it quiet that they were married. To late it came out on the Ed Sullivan show.

 

I was sick that trip and the other three did the photo shoot as I rested for the show and Lou took care of me.  I made it and we were a smash hit. We had made it , our dream to succeed in the States and in the world.

 

I could be thick and say we will last for years but it could be only a little bit. Whilst we do I will sit back and enjoy the freedom of the success. I only ever wanted to play my guitar and now I was doing it professionally.  I didn’t understand all the fuss , but none of us did.

This last tour in America made it even more clear how we were getting bigger and bigger. I didn’t mind some of it but there were parts I hated, as did the others. I guess there are things in life we must sacrifice to achieve what we want and at this point I am. Who knows how long we’ll be on top of it all. Movies, albums, concerts, photo shots, Telly and radio shows that’s our lives now, with little privacy. I’ll take it as it comes, enjoy what I can and put up with what I can’t until the Beatle train stops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOHN’S POV

 

 

I never understood who I was. I was a ball, bounced from place to place and person to person. God love , auntie Mimi, she and Uncle George were the only constancy I had ever had in my young life. When Uncle George died it nearly kilt me. Now, left with only Mimi, to be both parental figures to me I rebelled and I did it hard. I ran from things in my life. I hid inside myself, using a wall I created as a defense and that wall was cruel, hard humor.  I gave my poor Mimi a God- awful time of it. She tried her hardest to save her only nephew from himself, but even she couldn’t save what couldn’t be saved.

 

My humor got me into trouble in classes, often having my poor Mimi begging for my stay. Oh what would the boy do if not in school to learn a trade? So I stayed in school as plans lean towards art. I had convinced Mimi to buy me a guitar. She did, anything to save me from myself, although I think she soon regretted it.

 

I loved that American rock n roll and when I could I would get the 45’s from the dock men that came from America with all the latest. At night I would tune my radio to the Luxemburg station. Some nights it would be clear others crackling, but I didn’t care as I listened to Jerry Lee , Elvis, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry and the rest of the lot. The craze stirred me, moved me to no end. I ate and slept rock n roll . When I wasn’t listening to it I worked to learn it.

 

It was about this time that I found my sweet , carefree , joyous Julia; the mother that left me to the care of me auntie and uncle. She knew the banjo and learnt me everything she knew. I again practiced more on the chords then my studies. Auntie yellin to me to study that a guitar is all well and good but I’d never make a proper living with it. Little did either of us know.

 

I formed my first band at that time . The Quarrymen, all my friends were in it. We played skiffle , a craze that Lonnie Donegan was noted for. We had me, Pete Shotton, Len Garry, Rod Davis, Eric Griffth, Colin Hanton and both Ivan Vaughan and Nigel Whalley took turns on tea chest when Len didn’t play it. Nigel played manager to our little skiffle band. We’d practice a lot at Julia’s. We failed auditions and had a short play at a sixth form dance. We finally got a proper gig at the St. Peter’s Church garden fete in July of 57. I stood up there playing my banjo chords , muckin up the words as I didn’t know them all.

 

It was that day I met Paul McCartney, a day that I never thought would go down in history and so many people would be interested in hearing about for years to come.

I was stand offish, but he wasn’t shy. He knew how to tune his guitar and knew the right chords instead of the banjo ones me mum had learnt me. He then sang one hell of twenty five flight rock and then wrote down the words to the songs I had changed the words to because I didn’t know them.  I was impressed but would never show it.

 

 

Then next day after talking to Ivan about asking Paul to join our band, Ivan did just that . Paul didn’t say yes right away but close to it.  We were one step closer to our destiny. Paul tried to teach me the chords I needed to know but I found it hard to follow with him being left handed and stringing his guitar that way. I ended up stringing mine that way and turning it around until I had learnt them and then re learnt it, putting the guitar in it’s right position. It was a bloody pain in the arse but I did learn it. Mimi didn’t take to Paul, blaming him for my waywardness; although later she finally took to his charm and after meeting Jim McCartney had a better view of him.  We became close, even though I was older then him; we practiced every chance we had. Time went by with some of the members leaving the band. Paul kept telling me about his mate George Harrison who play a right nice guitar and I should give a listen. I just thought he was too young; I had met him a few times when Paul brought him around.

 

One night on the bus home, we sat on the top as we always did with our guitars in hand and I noticed Paul nudging George. “Go on George show em , play Raunchy.” Now , Paul had been telling me about him and how he played for the longest time. Finally, I heard George play. I was shocked as every note rang out perfectly, he was right the lad had something. So the next piece to the puzzled snapped into place and George was in.

 

After that most of the original Quarry men where gone, except Colin on drums, Eric and Len stayed a bit longer. Soon it was just the four of us. The music kept going forward, pushing on.

 

 

July 15^th 1958 I lost my beloved mum Julia. A drunk off duty copper struck her down like she was nothing to him. Maybe she wasn’t to him but she sure the bloody hell was something to me! I went in to a tailspin, spiraling down ward. Nothing mattered anymore. I was failing miserably in school and I started drinking harder than I ever thought possible. I don’t remember much of those few weeks. I do remember my mates trying to help me . Paul had lost his mum a few years before and the bond tightened even more between us. Although , he didn’t indulge in drink the way I did , he would join me and we’d talk. I became meaner if that was possible. My drinking became worse, drinking in dive pubs, begging for spare change just for a pint. I felt degraded at begging for change and often took it out on innocent people in the most horrifying ways. I intimidated people so much, not one dare throw me out.  Pete and Paul tried to help but I was lost, afraid and hiding behind my cruelty, sometimes I thought I’d end up in the gutter for life.

 

It wasn’t until I met a girl , so different from me self that I began to pick me self up.

Auntie had talked the Art College into giving me another chance. Between her and a teacher who believed in me I was in. There is where I met Miss. Cynthia Powell. She was from across the way and I suspect, never saw the likes of me.  Finally, after dancing around her shyness and me brick wall I asked her to dance at the pub one day.

I had to laugh when she told me she had a boyfriend. I told her I didn’t ask her to marry me , just dance with me. She soon shed her well bread boyfriend for a Ted like me.

She gave me the strength I needed, the encouragement , the figure of not only a girlfriend but a mum.  I needed her and I suppose she needed me in her own way.  I wasn’t the nicest of boyfriends but there were times when I could charm the pants off of her and that’s what I did.

 

Things were looking up and Allan Williams a Welsh bloke who owned a few clubs and acted as a small time manager to some of the Liverpool groups stepped in.  He sent us off to Germany with two additions, Pete Best a drummer and me best mate, a painter name Stu. Stu won a contest, Paul and me talked him into getting a bass, for we needed one and taught him a few notes so as he could play here and there on our songs.

 

Our first trip was a disaster , George was deported and two days later Pete and Paul were too. They accidentally set fire to a room in a club we were moving out of. A condom, stuck to a wall, they lit it for light and the manager thought they were trying to burn the place down. Cold, hungry, broke and dejected I went back to Mimi. She had to pay the taxi and I heard nothing but nagging for days about all the money I was suppose to have made.

 

Eventually, the band got back together and when George was 18 we were again off to Germany to play another club. We had met some German friends whilst we were there and Stu went and fell for the beautiful Astrid.

 

We worked long hours , drank hard, ate little and dragged arse. That’s when we found our lifeline Prellies. We could drink harder, play harder and babble a mile a minute whilst we frothed at the mouths.  We were crazy on stage, making show for the Germans. We not only sang and played louder then any other band but we did daft things on stage. I sang a set with a toilet sit around me head.

 

Now, Astrid and her friends were big fans. She did photography and took the best pictures of us . Later, her pictures would be worth good money at the rawness and technique she used. She looked at us as subjects but her favorite was Stu. They fell in love just like a storybook.

 

 

Our third trip there we were kings and other Liverpool bands watched us. We ended up playing back and forth with another Liverpool band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Their drummer an older fella , not much old then me named Ringo played drums. We became good friends and he would sit in when Pete decided not to join us on a set.

We’d get pissed together and we’d always know when he was in the back watching us play. He’d yell to us to play a slow song; of course I’d cuss right back at him for it. By this time Stu had decided to leave the band , go back to his art and be with the girl he loved.

 

I was jealous to say the least and when we left to go back to London, he stayed behind, ending up engaged to the blonde beauty that we had all grown to love. When we returned they billed us as an act directly from Hamburg. We had a following bigger then ever. One day Mr. Brian Epstein came to see us. He was posh and a true homosexual. I saw it right away by the way he stared at me and that’s the same stare he still gives me today.

 

He told us he wanted to manage us and we decided to give it a go. I asked him where to sign and it was done. We all sign except him, I never knew exactly why he didn’t sign but we trusted him to take us to the top. Like I always said to the lads. I’d yell “Where we goin fellas” “To the top Johnny” they’d yell back . I’d say “where?’ and they’d answer “ to the topper most of the popper most.” And I ‘d say that’s right. When we were down that was our war cry.

 

Brian smarted us up and even Mimi couldn’t resist his posh ways and charm. He put us in suits, told us what to do and what not to do. He smarted us up to be professionals and told us. “Boys one day you’ll be bigger then Elvis.” I think he believed it.

 

Our last trip to Hamburg was contracted so we had to do it. It wouldn’t be that long and I told Cyn not to worry although she didn’t know what whores we were when we were there, but that didn’t matter as long as she was true to me. I could fuck what I wanted , when I wanted with out her knowing. She on the other hand had to stay true.

 

When we got there I came to find my best mate had dead the day before. Another death , another loss, maybe I was selfish but I couldn’t stand yet another person dying or leaving me. I held it in, as I had learnt to do and drove on with vengeance. I was determine more then ever to make it for the lads , for me and for my dear mate Stu.

 

 

When we came home it was slow going. We didn’t want Pete anymore; we all agreed he didn’t fit in so as our new manager; Brian or Eppy as I fondly called him got the job of sacking him and hiring Ringo.  He fit well and the full circle was complete. The Beatles were now ready for the world. True to his word and with much difficulty, Eppy got us that record deal and our singles made the charts. We’d stop and listen whenever it was on the radio.

 

We still had Neil working for us but now we had Mal Evan’s as well. They got us to all our shows , protected us , broke down the equipment and sometimes nurse a bad drunk or hangover.

 

 

By the time we were on our way my Cynthia got in the family way. Now , I might not be the most correct man around but when you got the girl you loved preggers you married her and that I did. Eppy took care of everything, keeping it all quiet. Mimi didn’t show, said I made my bed now lay in it. I wanted to tell her to bunk off but Mimi was the one person who could put me straight and I loved her for it.

 

 

We toured everywhere with hardly a break. I was on the road when my son Julian was born. I had to put on a disguise to see me own. Then ended up leaving quickly after the nurses realized who I was.

 

Paris is where we found out I Want to Hold Your Hand became number one in the States and we cheered and celebrated all night, along with George Martin and his wife Judy.

Many weeks later off we went to America. My stomach was in knots as were everyone else’s. Cyn had come along , we decided it was a once in a life time trip so she should go. When we arrived we were surprised that Beatlemania had crossed the pond. Beatlemania was a word the press called the reaction we got.  We couldn’t get over the amount of people there were . The press conferences were a lark and we laughed at them, with them and about them afterwards.

 

The Ed Sullivan show is where everyone learnt I was married, it was at the bottom of the screen . God only knows how that got there but Eppy was red. We were a success in the States and around the world.

 

This is our second tour of the States and Canada. I am so tired and am glad it’s over. I’ll probably sleep all the way home on the plane and then some at home. The adulation is nice and I have had a fantastic time. There are times I hate and let Eppy know it , like that God awful truck ride, but other times are brilliant and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I never worked so hard in me life. On display for the world in our little portable fish bowl, we swim in circles doing tricks like train seals, that’s the part I hate. The fans, music, experiencing new things and places are some of the better part. I am thankful that now I can finally pay back Mimi for her love and support over the years. See Mimi I can make a living off the guitar………..

 

 

 

 

 

PAUL’S POV

 

 

I remember me da giving me my first guitar to help me over me mums death. I was heartbroken and will never forgive myself for the stupid thing that came out of my mouth when da told us. I asked how we’d get by with out her in come? Stupid sod I was. I cried at night when no one knew and I often heard da do the same. So I threw me self into the guitar.  I practiced and practiced and couldn’t under stand why I couldn’t get the chords until I realized it was because I was a lefty. I re strung the guitar so I could play it lefty and was off.  I learnt so much . I remember finding out the George had been learning the guitar also. We got together as much as we could, practicing and learning everything we could. I would also play for hours in my room. My dad had, had a band in his younger days. The Jim Mac band and they were good but they didn’t make enough to put food on the table. After, we were born he stopped but never did he stop his music. We had an old piano and would often gather around it and sing. It never failed when the McCartney clan got together we always broke into song.

 

 

I stayed strong as I could for my father and brother, burying myself in music. I had fooled around with the trumpet at on time and always played around on the piano, copying dad note for note. Later, I would go on to play a pretty good piano along with other instruments. It was just in me and I could figure it out although I couldn’t read a note on a music sheet.

 

July of 57 I met a bloke who was hard to ignore. His image was strong with a presence I had never felt in someone before. My friend Ivan introduced us at a garden fete. I felt his standoffish behavior and wasn’t put off by it. I had grown very confident in my self; mum and dad always taught us that as long as I can remember. Mum was also big on telling us to do our best and push ourselves, speak the Queen’s English and never give up. She was trying to instill something in us so that we would succeed in life.

 

I tuned , played and sang songs in front of this older bloke. He didn’t show it but I knew he was impressed by the fact that I could do all this and knew all the correct words to the songs we all loved. I ended up writing them down for him before I left.

 

The next day Ivan told me John , the older boy I had met the day before, wanted me to join his band the Quarry men., named after a school he had gone to.  I danced around it not wanting to seem to eager but inside I was thrilled. Yes, I’d join this group and so history began.

 

John and I got to know each other better and the music formed a bond. My da didn’t care for him and his auntie for me. My da was more tolerant and let us practice at my house. I began teaching John guitar chords instead of the banjo ones his mum had taught him. It was hard at first since I was lefty and he played with his right hand. We restrung his guitar and swung it upside down for him to learn , then he swung it back again re learning the chords again. He did it and was quite determined.

 

 

As I got to know him better I introduced him to George. He didn’t like that George was younger then me. He wasn’t keen on my age either, but since I knew so much and we seemed to harmonize so well together he looked past it. George on the other hand had to prove himself. I know he was in awe of John as I was. Nervously he strummed out a song that was popular at the time. John loved it but the age thing was what he didn’t like so George wasn’t in right away. John let him hang about and join in every so often.  I figured he would eventually ask him in as he got used to him. John wasn’t good with strangers and only warmed to me because of how outgoing I was, along with the rest.

 

 

The next July, John hit a tragic point in his life, as if his life hadn’t been tragic enough. His mum died , hit by a car driven by a drunk off duty cop. I felt for him as he hit the bottom of despair, drinking in the most awful dives and begging for change to feed his thirst for the lager that drowned out his feelings.  We all tired to get him together but it didn’t work he needed time. Meanwhile George and I still practiced and he got better everyday.

 

I think what turned John around was a posh bird named Cynthia Powell. Well, whatever it was he hit the music with force. George was asked in and the line up changed. Later we added his friend Stu who had gotten some money for a picture that was sold. We convinced him to by a bass, we needed one and taught him. He knew very little chords and I would often play the bottom line with my guitar to fill in for him.  It’s funny what you can do with drive and determination and I had both.

 

With all the original members gone it was just George , John , Stu and me. We started writing together after I had played him a few songs that I had done on my own. He told me he fancied a go at it and so we did. We worked hard on those songs , getting better and better as time went by. We also sounded better with our harmonizes , now joined with George the three part blended better then we would have thought.

 

We needed a drummer. Since we had been playing at Mona Best’s place the Casbah Club, we had decided to ask Pete if he’d drum for us. His band fell apart and we were asked to go to Hamburg Germany if we could find a drummer. Pete didn’t know and then after John and I got on him decided why not. We left , off for the first time, away from home. Allen William’s had been booking a lot of Liverpool groups there. We thought we’d make a lot of money and live like kings.

 

What we found we disappointing to say the least. This damp and dreary place called Hamburg had flashing neon lights that stayed open all night. Sex was legal and the girls lined the shop windows so you could see what you were purchasing. That was one thing we liked, the strippers and whores would take pity on us. They love our accents and often did us for free. I had quite the education there and our Georgie lost his virginity, he was proud. We didn’t have the best place, hard used mattresses covered the hard squeaky bunks that we took our kips in. Eating was always a problem, as we didn’t make as much as they promised. We would often eat a the seamen’s wharf, cornflakes and milk didn’t cost much . The problem we had in the beginning was understanding and being understood. I used the little I remembered from German class to get by at first as we learnt the important words we needed. This trip didn’t last to long as they found out that George was under age and deported him. Next Pete and me we needed some light so we could pack and move to a better place. He had a condom, so we stuck it against the brick wall and lit it. We had a laugh but the owner didn’t, as we too were arrested and then deported. It was pretty daft of him, how can a brick wall burn a place down? Still , without us John was forced to go home. On our stay we had met a few Germans who were kind to us Astrid, Klaus and Jurgen.  They help us learn German and we helped them with their English. Stu was quite smitten with the blonde German girl named Astrid and I suspect they were falling in love even then. These friends helped translate and get the charges dropped for Pete and me.

 

 

We ended up going back after George turned 18 and we took Germany by storm. Now, in a better place , we worked until we dropped on the stage. A kindly woman offered us pills to keep us going. All the groups were using then, prellies we called them and we played like the devil. We had so much energy; we could play for hours, drink more and bloody hell did we give them the kind of show that they wanted. Only problem was by the end of the night we were to wired to sleep and would roam the streets looking for sex and more drink. At our young age we couldn’t get enough of it and often went to get the shots to clear up diseases the whores would give us.

 

Not only did we met our German friends , who would bring their friends with them to hear us, we also ran into a lot of the Liverpool groups from home. Hearing an English accent was home to us. We would listen to them and them to us. Sometimes after our sets and wired out of our gourds we’d play along with them. One group was Rory Storm and the Hurricanes; we got along quite well with their drummer Richard Starkey who called himself Ringo Starr

 

 

Our third tour to Germany found us in an even better place and we had a big following. We were having rows quite a bit at that point because of Stu’s playing and he was hopelessly in love by this time. I think John was jealous and would fight to keep him in the band. He would be late or have these headaches that were blinding to him. Now, as John would say, he lived with the SS , but Astrid was good to us. Her mum would feed us and we could take hot showers along with doing wash.

 

Stu had decided to leave the band and John was livid. He didn’t want to hear it. It happened though and I was the new bass player. It was this time we were asked to back up Tony Sheridan on a song called My Bonnie, we were for this record called the Beat brothers. I don’t know why but that’s what they did. We did a few more songs with him for his album. The single was My Bonnie, later would prove to be important.

 

Pete started to either not show up for gigs or come late. Ringo would sit in with us and the sound was so much better with him. We got on well , Pete just wasn’t fitting in , but we didn’t have a choice.

 

When we left, Stu opted to stay behind; he wanted to continue with his art and marry this German girl. I thought Lennon got punched in the gut when he told him. Still , we pushed on. Back home to our girls , who had visited us in Germany. Later I would break up with my girl Dot, I couldn’t be true to her, for the birds were endless. We came home to people who finally wanted to hear us. I don’t know if it was because they billed us straight from Germany or what? I don’t know accept they were shock at our English accents. We became very popular fast and got some good gigs.

 

One gig was a lunchtime show at the Cavern, plus a few nights a week. On one lunchtime gig Brian Epstein came to find out who we were. He had been asked many times about our German record and wanted to know who these Beatles were. He ran the local record shop that we all frequented. Bob announced he was there and he came back to see us. He asked about the record and then seemed to blush at our sarcasm and the fact that we were changing. We all figured at that point he was a homosexual. Not that that bothered us , it’s just we never met one in Liverpool. Over in Germany we had seen all sorts so we were used to these things.

 

He soon asked if he could manage us and we said yes. I think it was John who first said sign us up Eppy. That became his nickname for us.  The contracts drawn up, we all signed accept him; we never knew why but didn’t worry for Eppy wouldn’t cheat us. We all knew he was quite taken by us especially our John. John knew this and after sometime he made play of it.  John always up for a lark he was.

 

We had to go back to Germany for the fourth time. Before we did that though we had decided Pete didn’t fit in as a Beatle and we told Brian to sack him. Ringo was asked to join and then the line up was complete the way destiny wanted it. Before we left we had a few shows to do still in Liverpool. Now, I agreed with Brian on professionalism an after some small rows we traded the leather for suits that Brian had special made for us. He told us how we should be on stage to have that professionalism. We did everything he told us. Ringo wasn’t accepted to easily , our fans who had grown in number and would round the building of the cavern to see us where upset about Pete. They chanted and George got a black eye but Ringo soon won them over.

 

 

This trip to Germany would be our last and we were anxious to see our friends. By now we all had the famous Beatle hair cut and boots. Dressed in suits, ties, nice over coats and our boots we walked through the airport. Eppy thought we should now take a plane over which was nice and we were staying in a nice hotel and playing a nice place. The only thing is we found out our friend Stu had passed on the night before. Sadness filled us , but John losing someone else he loved had a bigger chip on his shoulder then before.

 

When we came back I swear John was going to succeed for both him and Stu.

It was then we started the heavy touring with other groups. Our name started on the bottom of the bill and slowly moved up as we got a recording contract. We recorded our tunes and were thrilled when it came on the radio.  Slowly, our name went to the top of the bill.

 

We played the Sunday night at the London Palladium, which tipped us off to how famous we’d become. This was shown to all , on British telly and then the term Beatlemania came about. People , doctors , educators ,psychologists, clergymen and everyone else tried to explain it. We thought it a laugh, until they went so potty they almost got us a few times. After that we played the annual Royal Command Variety Performance and got to meet the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, which was a thrill. After that Beatlemania captured England, then slowly the rest of Europe as we toured with number one hits.

 

The thing was that we couldn’t break over the pond to the States. There were small labels that had our songs and then all of a sudden the DJ’s were playing them. Capital, who had ignored us for so long, couldn’t deny us any longer.

 

We were in Paris on tour when the news came and they told us we were number one in the States with I Wanna Hold Your Hand!!!!!  Well I rode on Mal Evan’s back and Brian rang George and Judy Martin and we celebrated all night. It was great we had three shows on America’s favorite show The Ed Sullivan Show in February.

 

 

We came to the States to pandemonium; thousand were there to see us. We thought the president was fling in.  They loved us and couldn’t get enough of us. Our wit and charm won them over when they were trying to bring us down. It didn’t work. Just as Brian Epstein had told us about two years ago, we were going to be bigger then Elvis. We did receive word from him and the col. He was our idol and we were thrilled. Poor George he was very off color and his sister Lou came to take care of him. We paraded around Central Park as they called it and took pictures and charmed the press even more. George was fine for the show and we were a great success. They said that was the most watched program and that crime had stopped whilst we were on. That’s amazing to think we have that kind of power, but they said we did. Cynthia, John’s wife came along and I think she couldn’t believe how we were always on the go and badgered by the press and photographers. She did love New York, or what we could all see of it anyway. I think we all loved our time off in Florida the most. We had never seen so much sun in our lives. Liverpool is darker and it rains a lot, not like Florida. We only stayed two weeks but it was a good two weeks. We continued to tour, do our telly spots, radio shows, photo shoots , write and record our music.

 

In between this we did a movie, which was rather successful. A Hard Days Night , they called it after one of Ritchie’s strange quotes, but it worked. Richard Lester and Allan Owens did a fabulous job bringing us to life on the screen. Although, none of us were actors, he gave us things to say and do that were totally natural to us. This is how we lived and he saw it spending time with us. Ritchie was about the only one of us that really had a knack for the camera. The premieres went well. It was funny to see ourselves up there on the big screen. The same screen as kids we used to go to see the pictures on. Going home for our premiere was even better, I think every one was there, either inside or out and our families were proud. I think that’s one of my favorite parts, being able to take care of our families and them being proud of us. Even the Lord Mayor was there and we stood on high looking down on the streets we grew up in , marveling at how far we’ve come.

 

We came back here in August and well you know that story. It’s September and the tour is over. We are now on our way back to England, home to us, that’s always nice. I think Brian is right. I think we will be bigger the Elvis. I think we will be a force to be reckoned with. Our lives and music, is on the Edgeways to fame. The dictionary explains Edgeways as:  ON, BY, WITH, OR TOWARDS THE EDGE and that’s how our fame and music is. One day the history books we read in school will mention us in them, as the driving force that changed the history of music forever.