here Description of Litherland: Author interviews with Tony Kenny, 2/8/98; Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97; and Tony and Mary Kenny, 4/21/98.
The four boys, riding… like astronauts: Author interview with Chas Newby, 5/21/98.
“We thought we were the best”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 62.
The word around town: “There was [no band] worse than the Beatles.” Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97. “Although the Beatles had charisma, you couldn’t say they were good.” Author interview with Sam Leach, 10/6/97.
“We sure didn’t know them”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“They were so bad”: Ted “Kingsize” Taylor, 9/2/85, AGA.
Paul McCartney had squandered: Alan Durband, quoted in Salewicz, McCartney, p. 69.
George Harrison, who regarded school: “George did go back and sit, but he failed everything.” Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
Thrilled by performing, Pete Best: Best & Doncaster, Beatle!, p. 13.
“a gang of scruffs”: “We looked like a gang.” Paul McCartney in Shepherd, True Story of the Beatles, p. 52.
“They’re fantastic”: Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
Litherland had a great many shops: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
But before he got their name out: “I remember Wooler telling us to begin as soon as the curtains opened, but Paul started singing ‘Long Tall Sally’ before…” Author interview with Chas Newby, 5/21/98.
The band’s physical appearance: “We went and bought these leather jackets [together]…. We all bought cowboy boots as well. Mine and John’s were Twin Eagles.” Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“I’d never seen any band look like this”: Author interview with Dave Foreshaw, 10/31/97. Bob Wooler says: “The overriding feeling was, ‘Who the hell are they?’ ” Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“It was just so different”: Author interview with Billy J. Kramer, 12/16/97.
“get your knickers down!”: Salewicz, McCartney, p. 104; confirmed by Chas Newby in author interview, 5/21/98.
“Gateway to the British Empire”: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
“Scousers”: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97; first citation of scouse in Oxford English Dictionary, dated 1945. But Jonathon Green dates nautical use to the nineteenth century, author interview with Jonathan Green, 7/3/98.
“Scousers have a fierce… patriotism”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“stout little ships”: W. F. Machin, “A Short History of Liverpool Cotton Market” (typescript, 1957), p. 2.
an elaborate Grecian influence: Picton, Architectural History of Liverpool, p. 65.
the richest city in Britain: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
“surpasses the pyramid of Cheops”: Picton, Memorials of Liverpool, p. 660.
“a real old sea sailor”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
Julia, nicknamed Judy: “Everybody called her Judy.” Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
Their first child was a boy: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
Penny Lane: “Penny Lane is not only a street, it’s a district.” Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 130.
“Those women were fantastic”: Ibid., p. 136.
“She was born with a keen sense”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“She had a great sense”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“I had no intention of getting married”: Mimi Smith, AGA (undated).
“Grandfather made it impossible”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“That’s long enough!”: Ibid.
Julia, George Stanley’s favorite: “Judy was his favorite.” Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“perfect profile”: Davies, Beatles, p. 6.
“I soon forgot my father”: Ibid., p. 12.
“They wanted nothing to do with him”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“we knew he would be no use”: Davies, Beatles, p. 6.
“very intelligent… a clever boy”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“Anywhere Freddie turned up”: Ibid.
“As I walked past her”: Davies, Beatles, p. 5.
“she would get a joke”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
Men ogled her: “Everybody would wink at her, but she laughed, she enjoyed it.” Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“Judy was very feminine”: Ibid.
Instead of working: “He and Julia used to take me out for long walks in the park.” Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
allegedly at George Stanley’s behest: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 29.
Entire neighborhoods… “just gone”: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
but Freddie was gone: Author interview with Charles Lennon, 10/2/97.
“Mrs. Lennon has just had a boy”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 24.
“I was dodging in doorways”: Davies, Beatles, p. 25.
“Mary would, on occasion”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“she would have always had a fellow”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“pain… of not being wanted”: John Lennon, 1971 interview, in Anthology, p. 7.
“I said to her, there’s a war on”: Davies, Beatles, p. 8.
he set out on the Sammex: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 30.
“She claimed that she was raped”: Author interview with Charles Lennon, 10/2/97.
“she was told quite categorically”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“She was a beautiful baby”: Anne Cadwallader, 9/84, AGA.
a Norwegian Salvation Army captain: Ibid.
“would always wink at [Julia]”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
Spiv: “So we, as kids, just named him Spiv… and it stuck”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“a nervous cough and… thinning… hair”: John Lennon, 1979 interview, in Anthology, p. 10.
“He was certainly earning good money”: Stanley Parkes, 1/19/85, AGA.
“He had a very short fuse”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/11/98.
“my mother came to see us”: John Lennon, 1967 interview, in Anthology, p. 10.
“It confused him”: Albert Goldman, from handwritten notes, 1985.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake”: Leila Harvey, 2/4/85, AGA.
“You are not fit”: Ibid., 10/84.
“disagree with the way she was living”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“A little bit of tea”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
John’s unofficial guardian: “She said she couldn’t refuse.” Davies, Beatles, p. 8.
“intending never to come back”: Ibid.
five years of indifference: “Of not being wanted,” John Lennon, 1971 interview, in Anthology, p. 7.
“She said no”: Davies, Beatles, pp. 8–9.
“He had to decide”: Ibid., p. 9.
a decision “was forced” on Julia: “It was Mimi and Julia’s father that demanded Julia give John up.” Leila Harvey, 2/3/85, AGA.
“My mother… couldn’t cope”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 136.
“a proper upbringing”: “Mary would be strict and give him a proper upbringing.” Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
no-nonsense, if “difficult,” housewife: “Mary can be quite difficult.” Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“Mimi was a sensible, dignified lady”: Ibid.
“merciless disciplinarian”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“she wanted John”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
Wind in the Willows: “It was passed from me to Leila, from Leila to John.” Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
Mimi’s morning room was always filled: Ibid.
“a quiet and jolly man”: Stanley Parkes, 1/19/85, AGA.
“Uncle George absolutely adored John”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
“I had no time”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 27.
Mimi shelved “twenty volumes”: Ibid., p. 26.
“My mother had a .22”: Stanley Parkes, 2/3/85, AGA.
“fit in”: “Anyone who had anything didn’t fit in.” John Lennon, 1969 interview, in Anthology, p. 9.
“in a trance for twenty years”: John Lennon, 1980 interview, in Anthology, p. 9.
“very deprived”: Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 166.
“This image of me being the orphan”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 136.
“There was always a bad reception”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/2/97.
He was known to “behave distractedly”: Account of Lennon’s ritual, author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“That’s the music that brought me”: John Lennon, 1975 interview, in Anthology, p. 11.
“We savored the pleasure”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“It was the first indication”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
Earlier in the year: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“with the thick lads”: Davies, Beatles, p. 17.
“but eventually… he just drifted off”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“I was obviously very musical”: Davies, Beatles, p. 18.
Having given up any pretense: “We’d given up all hope by that stage.” Author interview with Pete Shotton, 7/16/98.
“Daily Howl”/Ivan Vaughan: “Ivan started the Daily Howl much earlier at the Institute, as a number of sheets just clipped together. Later, when John got involved, some of it would be his, but we always saw it in Ivan’s handwriting.” Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“He was his own man”: Ibid.
“It was so smooth”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
Radio Luxembourg had played: Radio Luxembourg archives.
“When I heard it… it was the end”: John Lennon, 1971 interview, in Anthology, p. 11.
“Nothing really affected me”: Davies, Beatles, p. 19.
“Heartbreak Hotel” “was the most exciting thing”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“That was him”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 22.
The uniform, in particular: Description of teddy boy chic drawn from Steele-Perkins & Smith, The Teds, pp. 3–5.
born Tommy Hicks: Actually, Larry Parnes had seen Steele perform three months earlier at a small supper club called the Gyre and Gimble. Rogan, Starmakers & Svengalis, p. 23.
“he had enormous presence”: Melly, Revolt Into Style, p. 26.
the influence of country-and-western music: “Country-and-western was so popular here because of the connection through the American sailors.” Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“the Nashville of the North”: “Because it was the biggest [source] in Europe for country music.” Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
It wasn’t long before: Liverpool City Council, Leisure Services Directorate.
“Rock ’n roll was beyond”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
Even before he got a guitar: “He would stand in front of his bedroom mirror with the guitar pretending to be that man Elvis Presley.” Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 63; also author interview with Pete Shotton, 7/10/98.
She wouldn’t hear of it: “Her attitude was that guitar playing and rock ’n roll was really nasty stuff. It was dirty music, just below her.” Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“Perhaps next year”: Ibid., 1/18/98.
“guaranteed not to split”: Davies, Beatles, p. 20; also Coleman, Lennon, p. 57.
“It was a bit crummy”: John Lennon, 1963 interview, in Anthology, p. 11.
“began chatting about music in earnest”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“she retuned our guitar strings”: Ibid.
“tuned the bottom three strings”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“It took me about two years”: John Lennon, 1971 interview, in Anthology, p. 11.
Fats Domino’s first hit: Whitburn, Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, p. 91.
Hunter Davies maintains: It wasn’t released on the Brunswick label until May. Ward, Rock of Ages, pp. 153–54.
“John was a born performer”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“Should we start a band”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“Don’t be silly—I can’t play”: “I have no musical genes. It was a joke to me.” Ibid.
Bessie… contributed a washboard: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 7/10/98.
“I took it to school”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
Right away, Lennon took control: “He was the front man and basically what he said went.” Ibid.
“I remember being very impressed”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
they gathered at Mendips: “We were in John’s house… so we had a mini-brainstorm.” Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
defection of Bill Smith: “Bill Smith didn’t turn up for rehearsals, so [he] discharged himself [from the group].” Ibid.
“liberated” the tea-chest bass: “We did break into Bill Smith’s kitchen.” Author interview with Pete Shotton, 7/16/98.
A rarity in Liverpool: “It was pretty rare for someone to have a full set of drums.” Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“I didn’t know the first thing”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
Business cards: Author interview with Charles Roberts, 7/25/98.
“The tea-chest bass and my drums”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“Julia was unlike anyone”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“She had loads of records”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“In fact, we discovered Gene Vincent”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“They once came and played”: Author interview with Mike Rice, 7/27/98.
By John’s own admission: “John used to say how much an audience meant to him; it made him feel like this wasn’t just a lark.” Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
contest/“no pay”: “We entered all the contests where you never got paid.” Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“People actually preferred the theater”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“They had a coach”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“This is an unusual situation”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“We were robbed”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“We got a lesson in showmanship”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“I was just drifting”: John Lennon, 1965 interview, in Anthology, p. 12.
“who was crazy for jazz”: “It was owned by Alan Sytner, who was crazy for jazz.” Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
Called the Cavern: Harry, Encyclopedia of Beatles People, p. 310.
Since its official launch: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 14.
“sophisticated skiffle”: “We played what one guy called sophisticated stiffle, which was traditional jazz and blues with a jazzy rhythm section.” Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
“Can you bring them down”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
“as though we were playing the Palladium”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“a slight tension”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“John was very witty”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
a Quarry Bank school dance: “The Quarry Men played for at least one school dance. People would be doing quick-steps to the George Edwards Band, but they would jive in the intervals.” Author interview with Rod Davis, 7/22/98.
“the jungle”: Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 100.
His legwork eventually led: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 7/11/98.
“[Mike] said he’s got this record”: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 63.
“some things just didn’t click”: “I’m not even sure that John was as much of an Elvis fan as everyone makes him out to be.” Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“We started doing even more numbers”: “John was quite taken with Elvis. For a while, it was all he was interested in.” Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“would-be intellectual” clientele: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“Rock and roll is a monstrous threat”: Melody Maker, 5/5/56.
“By this time, John thought”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“What do you think you’re doing?”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“Cut out the bloody rock”: This has been reported in almost every version of the Beatles’ story and was confirmed in author interviews with Rod Davis, Colin Hanton, and Pete Shotton.
“The sound of it got to me”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
Jet plane travel idled: Author interview with Robin Morgan, 6/18/97.
“Indeed, let us be frank”: The Times (London), 7/21/57.
“slave to fate”: Donne, Holy Sonnets, no. 10, 1.9 (1612).
“There was neither an affiliation”: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
“one of nature’s true gentlemen”: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much (unnumbered).
terrace house at 3 Solva: Kelly’s Directories, 1905–39.
the Margaret Street Baths: Author interview with Joan Murray, 1/6/99.
“a place to aspire to”: Author interview with Marie Crawford, 1/5/99.
“a suburb of which Liverpool”: Picton, Architectural History of Liverpool, p. 59.
“a healthy place to live”: Liverpool Housing Authority.
“never really excelled”: Author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/11/98.
“Joe put all his faith”: Ibid.
“the donkey work”—running along: Author interview with William Newton, 10/31/97.
Joe loved opera: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much (unnumbered).
He had a brittle, choppy style: Author interview with Shelagh Johnson, 10/29/97.
“My father learned his music”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 23.
“the swingman of Solva Street”: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much; confirmed by author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/11/98.
“rakish” black facecloths: Salewicz, McCartney, p. 10.
“Eloise”: Author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/12/98.
“a born salesman”: Author interview with William Newton, 10/31/97.
she spoke “posh”: Miles, Paul McCartney, pp. 6, 10.
she enrolled in a three-year general program: Author interview with Myfanwy Butler, 12/18/98.
“Mary was so career-conscious”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/98.
“We were so immersed”: “We simply loved our careers. No one had time to consider families.” Author interview with Myfanwy Butler, 12/18/98.
“wasn’t at all musical”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/98.
“utterly charming and uncomplicated”: Ibid.
Rose was a witch: Author interview with John Mohin, 12/12/98.
“Mary went to nursing school”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/98.
the Royal Cotton Commission: Author interview with William Newton, 10/31/97.
“Medical personnel were being recruited”: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
It was the “austere side”: “Uncle Jim had two sides to him… a pretending-to-be-austere side, and then winking at you, as if [to say], ‘I don’t really mean it.’ ” Author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/11/98.
Ungrudgingly, Jim labored there: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/98.
at Town Hall on April 8, 1941: City of Liverpool, Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Personnel and Administrative Directorate.
On June 18, 1942: Ibid.
“teardrop eyes, high forehead”: Author interview with Shelagh Johnson, 10/29/97.
lime from nearby mass graves: Salewicz, McCartney, p. 14.
“Everton… was a place to leave”: Author interview with Shelagh Johnson, 10/29/97.
“drab part”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/98.
The building… [was] decent enough: Ibid.
“much like the parish priest”: Author interview with Shelagh Johnson, 10/29/97.
a deadly cigarette habit: “Both my parents smoked.” Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 35.
Fairway Street: Author interview with Shelagh Johnson, 10/29/97.
“The rot had set in”: Author interview with William Newton, 10/31/97.
here Jim’s salary: “If Jim could take home £6 at the end of a hard week’s work, he was doing well.” Salewicz, McCartney, p. 19; higher figure as a result of research conducted at Liverpool Cotton Association, 10/30/97.
They’d “never be wealthy”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/97.
“asked [her bosses] for a move”: Ibid.
“a new model town”: Author interview with Mark Julius, Liverpool Corporation, Housing Services, 11/4/97.
Speke functioned as a one-class: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
“we were always on the edge”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 5.
“Oh, I’ve been poorly”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/97.
“duly bashed”: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much (unnumbered).
“Jim and Mary never smacked the boys”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/97.
“The McCartney boys were like a circus”: Author interview with John Mohin, 12/12/97.
“followed him like a puppy”: Ibid.
“charm the skin off a snake”: Author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/12/98.
In photographs: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much (unnumbered).
“quiet diplomacy”: Davies, Beatles, p. 24.
“super spy”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 10.
“This is where my love”: Ibid.
“He was a great conversationalist”: Author interview with John Mohin, 12/12/97.
“He was very into crosswords”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 12.
“Mary was very keen”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/97.
model curriculum: Salewicz, McCartney, p. 25.
In Paul’s class: Joseph Williams Primary School records.
“It was too big a cutoff”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
Founded… in 1825: Liverpool Institute handbook, 1958.
“a gentleman’s school”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/3/97.
twenty of the fifty-two faculty members: Ibid.
school motto: Liverpool Institute archives.
On Monday, September 8: Ibid.
Liverpool Institute uniform: Description confirmed by Colin Manley, 10/3/97.
Nearly a thousand boys: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“We were eleven”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/3/97.
“The first year, I was pretty lost”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
“He had a real talent”: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“I always [made] my own Christmas cards”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
“work on these massive, great canvases”: Ibid.
students never “stayed with art”: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“that they paint and we don’t”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
“I remember walking along the art room”: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“reasonably academic”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
“had a lot of music in him”: Ibid.
“sing-along stuff”: “My main roots are in sing-along stuff, like ‘When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-bob-bobbin’ Along’ and ‘Carolina Moon.’ ” Leigh, Speaking Words of Wisdom, p. 6.
“Greensleeves” and “Let Me Go Lover”: BBC archives.
“very northern”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 24.
“We made the mistake”: Davies, Beatles, p. 29.
Paul considered it “a revelation”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 22.
Zenith guitar: Anthology (video), part 1.
“The minute he got that guitar”: Davies, Beatles, p. 31.
“have a little go”: “My mom, Bett, who is left-handed and played guitar, used to babysit [Paul]. She had a ukulele and would say, ‘Come on, have a little go.’ ” Author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/11/98.
“all rather inexact”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 21.
“Physically, she wasn’t able”: Author interview with Dill Mohin, 12/16/97.
“I always thought of the area”: Author interview with Dot Rhone Becker, 11/19/98.
“there was blood on the sheets”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 20.
“The big shock in my teenage years”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 19.
“I was determined not to let it affect”: Ibid.
“There was no one better suited”: Author interview with Kate Robbins, 1/11/98.
The boys were understandably ecstatic: “We were quite proud to be involved. We were the only skiffle band, and it was the first time one was featured.” Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“the biggest social event”: “Half the village took part in it, and the other half went to watch.” Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/16/97.
The band clambered onto a flatbed truck: St. Peter’s Garden Fete program, 1957; descriptions also from author interviews with Rod Davis, Eric Griffiths, Nigel Walley, Colin Hanton, Pete Shotton.
Sally Wright/Susan Dixon: Liverpool Echo, 7/7/57; Liverpool Weekly News, 7/10/57.
“John packed it in”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/16/97.
literally dozens of such stalls: O’Donnell, Day John Met Paul, p. 87; and “You could throw hoops over things, there would be cake stalls, lemonade.” Author interview with Rod Davis, 9/30/97.
“John wasn’t drinking”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97; also author interviews with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98; Pete Shotton, 1/19/98; and Nigel Walley, 3/11/98.
David Birch: David Birch, 3/85, AGA.
“a simple soul”: “The vicar was a simple soul… a really nice guy.” Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“The singing got raunchier”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/11/98.
“It was the first day I did ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’ ”: John Lennon, 1975 interview, in Anthology, p. 12.
“Come Go with Me”: Norman, Shout!, p. 43.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off him”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 65.
Shortly before they were finished: “I remember it as clear as day. They were standing below us, stage left… Ivan and Paul.” Author interviews with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98, and Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
Afterward, in the Scout hut: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“a bit of a stony atmosphere”: Len Garry, “The Quarrymen [sic]: Eric, Colin, Rod, John, Pete, and Len,” Q, 3/95, p. 55.
“notoriously wary of strangers”: Ibid.
a white sport coat: Miles, Paul McCartney, pp. 26–27.
“He played with a cool… touch”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/11/98.
“Right off, I could see”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
It impressed John: Rod Davis, in “The Quarrymen,” Q, 3/95, p. 55.
“It was uncanny”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“Afterwards… John and Paul circled each other”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“I half thought to myself”: Davies, Beatles, p. 33.
“What did you think of that kid”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“The whole point of grammar school”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 7/22/98.
He was “disappointed”: Davies, Beatles, p. 18.
“Paul had made a huge impression”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“Was it better to have a guy”: Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 160.
Ivan Vaughan solved part of the problem: “Pete Shotton seems to believe that he asked Paul to join the band, but that is not true. I know for a fact that Ivan asked him several days before that, at the institute, before school let out. Then they told Pete, who talked to John.” Author interview with Nigel Walley, 11/30/98.
“John was very laid-back”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
Scout camp/Butlins: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 29.
“Rod took everything too seriously”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 11/30/98.
“He asked me if I could… play drums”: Author interview with Rod Davis, 7/22/98.
John and Nigel Walley procured: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/11/98.
No nephew of hers: Mimi Smith, AGA (undated).
Pobjoy recommended: Coleman, Lennon, p. 68; and Davies, Beatles, p. 47.
John had gone there for an interview: Davies, Beatles, p. 47.
Ballard’s exploits: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
“Arthur could see right through John”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
And yet, on a deeper level: “The painting teacher liked me, he got me in.” Davies, Beatles, p. 47. “Arthur felt there was talent there.” Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
When Mimi received the… acceptance letter: Mimi Smith, AGA (undated).
“I was [going] there”: Davies, Beatles, p. 47.
“a rather nasty little boy”: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA.
“So I learned [the chords] upside down”: John Lennon, 1980 interview, in Anthology, p. 12.
“Paul was a showman”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“To us, they were all dilettantes”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
stuck out “like a sore thumb”: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
baby-blue Edwardian jacket: Author interviews with Ann Mason, 10/8/97, and Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
103–104 “There was total and utter freedom”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“intimidating air”/“so over the top”: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“I imitated Teddy boys”: John Lennon, 1973 interview, in Anthology, p. 13.
“He was quite a sight”: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“Ah—he’s the unconventional one”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
“marvelous art portfolio”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
he had no Scouse accent: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
“More often than not”: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
“Stuart was obsessed with Kierkegaard”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/3/97.
If anyone was more conspicuous than John: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“stand the system on its head”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“do as you please” policy: Ibid.
“John was absolutely untalented”: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
here John’s cartoons: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“besotted” with Cézanne: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“He was painting like the American painters”: Ibid.
“very aggressive… with dark, moody colors”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“I remember John being dragged out of class”: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
New Clubmoor Hall: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 15.
“a posh neighborhood”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 11/30/98.
“They started talking about white jackets”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“practicing relentlessly”: Author interview with Charles Roberts, 7/25/98.
“At first we were embarrassed”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“You could have your ass kicked”: Author interview with Mike Rice, 7/27/98.
“The bus station was literally”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
Out from under Mimi’s watchful eye: “We’d go up to John’s room and we’d sit on the bed and play records.” Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 46.
“We spent hours just listening”: Shepherd, True Story of the Beatles, p. 16.
“very diverse little record collection”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 81.
“have [had] quite as an identifiable voice”: John Lennon in WNEW-FM radio interview, 2/13/75.
“They were on the same indefinite path”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“The band quickly became John and Paul”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“the only claim he had”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 11/27/97.
“a particularly attractive character”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 46.
“After a while, they’d finish each other’s sentences”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“The rest of us hadn’t a clue”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“John and Paul were inseparable”: Author interview with Charles Roberts, 7/25/98.
“He had a way of just banging out”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“We could barely switch chords”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“blended in with the scenery”: Author interview with Tony Bramwell, 8/6/97.
115–16 “a quieter, more taciturn”: Iain Taylor in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 26.
“They’d yell at each other”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/11/98.
a “blood”: Ibid.
“a refugee from a Tarzan”: Ibid.
“being dictated to”/“schizophrenic jerk[s]”: Davies, Beatles, p. 38.
“From about the age of thirteen”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
Music in some form: Louise Harrison in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 17.
“shocked” a visitor: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
splendid rosewood gramophone: Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 17.
“loads and loads of records”: Davies, Beatles, p. 18.
Ted Heath and Hoagy Carmichael: Giuliano, Dark Horse, pp. 16–17.
“just seemed made for me”: Davies, Beatles, p. 42.
Sitting in the front mezzanine: Irene Harrison in G. Harrison & D. Taylor, I, Me, Mine, p. 26.
Later, fanzine writers: Harry, Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia, p. 204.
“By the end of the afternoon”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“a crappy old piece”: Ibid.
the unlikely price of £3 10s.: Anthology (video), part 1.
“put it away in the cupboard”: Davies, Beatles, p. 42.
“a bloke who lived round the corner”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“nicked off an American group”: Ibid.
decorated with gnomes: George Harrison in Giuliano, Dark Horse, p. 19.
British Legion gig: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/11/98.
“Although George delivered meat”: Author interview with Tony Bramwell, 8/6/97.
here Stealing records at Lewis’s: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/11/98.
“He knew how to color”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/2/97.
Smokers Corner: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“I’d met Paul on the bus”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 27.
Paul mentioned to his protégé: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 16.
He had traveled alone: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
The so-called official version: Davies, Beatles, p. 44.
“Charlie McBain wouldn’t have permitted”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
Caldwell raised enough money: Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/30/97.
Marjorie Thompson’s mother: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/7/97.
“It was a dump”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
Ultraviolet skeletons: Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/30/97.
a wall fan pumped: Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 58.
first kisses: Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/30/97.
Hofner Senator: Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 58.
“He was a very tiny teddy boy”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“The lads were very impressed”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“George was just too young”: Davies, Beatles, pp. 44–45.
“I don’t know what I felt”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 29.
“George idolized John”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
Griff “took it badly”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“I said to him, ‘Don’t feel so bad’ ”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
Len Garry: Garry, John, Paul & Me, p. 191.
“like cracking code”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“nothing but a Wham-O”: Who Put the Bomp, 1971.
here Kelly, McBain, et al.: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
Most wore matching suits: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“John refused to behave”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 10/30/98.
“student joint”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
These bands, which became the vanguard: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
“I Lost My Little Girl”: “I must have played it to John when we met.” Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 34.
John was… “floored”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“You can’t be that hungry twice”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 120.
“Don’t copy the swimming teacher”: Riley, Tell Me Why, p. 17.
“idols”: Paul McCartney in Somach, Ticket to Ride, p. 145.
“I’d be Phil”: Ibid.
“That’s where I picked up”: Author interview with Eric Griffiths, 7/16/98.
“We sat around for an entire afternoon”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“People these days take it for granted”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 22.
“John and I started to write”: Ibid.
The McCartney parlor: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA.
“playing into each other’s noses”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 129.
They would begin by scrawling: Davies, Beatles, p. 57; Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 36.
“anything [they] came up with”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 36.
“We were just writing songs”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 129.
“Lyrics didn’t really count”: Ibid., p. 119.
“It was great,” Paul recalled: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 23.
Their first collaborative efforts: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 36.
“I Call Your Name”: Ibid., p. 46.
“most of them written under two or three hours”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/27/97.
“It was always good practice”: Ibid.
Slouched on the furniture: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA; author interview with Nigel Walley, 10/30/98.
“We’d do some good rhythm”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 36.
the occasional stolen afternoons: “My dad would probably finish at five and be home by about six. That meant we had from two until about five.” Ibid., p. 34.
Weekends were reserved: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 10/30/98.
“Something special was growing”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
To augment their time together: Author interviews with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98; Helen Anderson, 11/4/97; Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“sneaking out”: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
They craved John’s camaraderie: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98; also Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 46.
“lovely little boys”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
Each day, he met his friends: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
beans on toast, with tea: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“you could smoke there”: Ibid.
“whip out a pack”: Ibid.
Johnnie Crosby: Author interviews with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97, and Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“wonderful honey-blond hair”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“swanning about and drooling”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“Hey, John? Have you had her yet?”: Ibid.
“A student’s having sex”: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“too afraid of getting pregnant”: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA.
“proposing to [Barb]”: Ibid.
here Despite Baker’s belief: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98, and confidential source.
The institute had a long-standing practice: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“the noise of an electric guitar”: Ibid.
“such a right swine”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/3/97.
“It was fantastic”: Ibid.
“We couldn’t even get near the door”: Author interview with Don Andrew, 10/4/97.
“just filling in time”: Ibid.
“They began playing in the… canteen”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
“With no backing to speak of”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“We’d share sandwiches”: Ibid.
“Most people had a perilous relationship”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
Ye Cracke/Who Farted?: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“John had an awful lot of intensity”: Arthur Ballard, 2/84, AGA.
“very conservative” director: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
“wallpaper”: Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 164.
“I was different”: Ibid., p. 166.
“All they had was information”: Ibid., p. 164.
“professional tape and disc recording service”: From letterhead, P. F. Phillips Studios, given to author.
rambling, redbrick: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“a theatrical flat”: Carole Higgens (Phillips’s daughter) in Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 27.
George first heard of the studio: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
recorded… “Butterfly” there in June of 1957: John Lowe in Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 28.
As arranged beforehand, they’d met: Ibid., p. 46.
“That’ll Be the Day”: Anthology (audio), disc 1.
A rainstorm materialized: Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 46.
“a naffy old man”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
3s. 6d. each: Percy Phillips in Liverpool Echo, 12/24/77.
“go straight to vinyl”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
John, rather ingeniously, suggested: Ibid.
transposed it to the B-string: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“Then, out of the blue”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“For seventeen and six”: “I clearly remember him getting hot under the collar.” John Lowe in Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 47.
“When we got the record”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 23.
“Charlie got it played daily”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“week after week went by”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/11/98.
by Paul’s own admission: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
St. Barnabas Hall: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA.
“with a smile that lit up the room”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“She couldn’t stop moving”: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA.
Mimi “laying down the law”: Leila Harvey, 10/84, AGA.
She implored her elder sister: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA; also Stanley Parkes, 1/19/85, AGA.
“He was always very open”: Stanley Parkes, 1/19/85, AGA.
“I’d gone around to John’s”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
146–47 “we both went white”: Davies, Beatles, p. 48.
“That’s really fucked everything!”: Ibid.
“He didn’t say anything”: Barbara Baker, 8/84, AGA.
“Now we were both in this”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 49.
“For months [afterward], John”: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 3/7/98.
“went out of him forever”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 7/16/98.
“a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship”: Ibid., 1/19/98.
“I lost [my mother] twice”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 137.
he didn’t go visit his cousin: Stanley Parkes, 1/19/85, AGA.
Paul provided the basic structure: There are conflicting accounts. For McCartney’s, see Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 36; for Lennon’s, see Hit Parader. “ ‘Love Me Do’ is Paul’s song. He wrote it when he was a teenager.” Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 129.
“P.S. I Love You”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 38.
in a room at Ye Cracke: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
John was “very entertaining”: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“some blokes… prancing about”: Ian Sharpe, 8/84, AGA.
“John could just as easily”: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“crowded, informal affairs”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“inner bunch”/“anchorman”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
where Julia Lennon had once danced: Stanley Parkes, 1/25/85, AGA.
As Nigel Walley had explained it: Author interview with Nigel Walley, 11/30/98.
“Aside from George”: Author interview with Colin Hanton, 10/6/97.
“By the time we had to go on”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 31.
“peroxide-blond hair”: Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/10/97.
“stripping down to a tiny bikini”: Ibid.
“He would do anything”: Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
“because it had excellent pulling power”: Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/10/97.
“When the lights came up”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“big beat dances”: Liverpool Echo (repeated ads).
“I told him he was too young”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
Mostly, they just rehearsed: Giuliano, Dark Horse, p. 23.
“working-men’s clubs”: Ken Brown in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 21.
“By December, he was completely out of control”: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
“Most of his antics”: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
“he was embarrassingly rude”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“scruffy, dangerous-looking”: “Cynthia Lennon: In Her Own Words,” Hello!, 4/30/94.
“outrageous… a rough sort”: Ibid.
Rodney Begg: Author interview with confidential source.
“It was a skill that required”: Hello!, 4/30/94.
“vague friendship between them”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/3/97.
“into [a] blond bombshell”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“madly in love”: Hello!, 4/30/94.
“He had found someone”: Author interview with Jonathan Hague, 5/21/98.
“Even as a child, she was easygoing”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“bohernia”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“When she took a shine to him”: Author interview with Ann Mason, 10/8/97.
she would duck into “the ladies’ loo”: Ibid.
“It was like all the places”: Author interview with Beryl Williams, 11/2/97.
“in a Greek joint”: Williams, “The Liverpool Scene” (unpublished manuscript).
“submit for his certificate”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“everybody chipped bits of paintings”: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
little “whacker”: “Mimi always said he had a low-Liverpool voice, a real whacker,” Davies, Beatles, p. 45.
“Cyn and I would be going”: Wenner, Playboy Interviews, p. 126.
“[George] would hurriedly catch up”: C. Lennon, A Twist, p. 26.
“didn’t hold a candle to John and Paul”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
Ruth Morrison: Ibid.
she disclosed… a new coffee bar: Guiliano, Dark Horse, p. 23; Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 21.
The house at 8 Hayman’s Green: Bill Harry interview with Pete Best, 3/96.
Ken was more than familiar: “Ken Brown, one of my friends from the Collegiate, my grammar school…” Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 21.
“I went round to see her”: Ken Brown in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 21.
a steady buzz built: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 18.
lights were put in: Pete Best in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 20.
“the perfect house” Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“shoulder to shoulder”: Mona Best in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 23.
“Among the songs we performed”: Ken Brown in ibid., p. 21.
a princely £3: Leigh, Drummed Out!, p. 10.
“None of us dreamed”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/3/97.
“just about hear the band”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“It was a good idea”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“Girls were the main reason”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
Bubbles: Author interview with Dot Rhone Becker, 11/19/98.
“It must have been all over my face”: Ibid.
“the fantastic scenes outside”: Best & Doncaster, Beatle!, p. 22.
the club fees and five-pence admission: “Membership was fixed at half a crown a year (12½ pence) plus a shilling (5 pence) admission fee at the door.” Ibid., p. 20.
Despite the constant crush: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“They didn’t have much”: Mona Best in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 23.
“an immensely likeable guy”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 25.
“Mo decided to pay [Ken]”: Ibid.
“went ballistic”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“She kept Ken’s fifteen bob”: Best & Doncaster, Beatle!, p. 22.
“Right, that’s it, then!”: Ken Brown in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 23.
“back into the business”: Best & Doncaster, Beatle!, p. 23.
“pencils, and later drumsticks”: Ibid.
“knock beats out”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 24.
“Stuart was his last hope”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
remembered being “fascinated”: “Cynthia Lennon: In Her Own Words,” Hello!, 7/7/94.
“Here with no one watching”: Ibid.
“Stuart wore tinted glasses”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“[H]e had a lot of innovative”: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“a tiddler”: “Cynthia Lennon: In Her Own Words,” Hello!, 5/7/94.
“Stuart was not… outwardly forceful”: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“a tremendous energy and intensity”: Hello!, 5/7/94.
Whatever “milk money”: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
“Stuart never let on”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“John did all the things”: Millie Sutcliffe in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, pp. 24–25.
The incipient taste was enshrined: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
Bratby or… de Stael: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
“kipping in [Stuart’s] room”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/7/97.
a “monumental painting”: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“real resonance”: Ibid.
Stuart was ecstatic: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
he’d “failed everything”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“It is very difficult”: Ibid.
“some old fellow chundering on”: Davies, Beatles, p. 40.
“His parents were fairly easygoing”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“singing brilliantly”: Ibid.
“We got there in the morning”: Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
“old tatty piece of junk”: Ibid.
“besotted with each other”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/7/97.
“Paul was furious”: Author interview with Dot Rhone Becker, 11/19/98.
Hillary Mansions: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“ridiculously expensive”: Ibid.
Lucretius’s On the Nature of the Universe: Alan Sharpe, AGA (undated).
cemetery in the Anglican cathedral: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
“Now [that] you’ve got all this money”: Ibid.
According to one version, his father: Norman, Shout!, p. 64.
In fact, using a bit of creative financing: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
“What the bloody hell”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“just thinking about what a good name”: Davies, Beatles, p. 64.
Stuart might have suggested beetles: Ibid., introduction to second edition.
“to make it look like beat music”: Ibid., p. 64.
“John and Stuart came out”: Author interview with Paul McCartney, 3/21/97.
The only gig to speak of: Author interview with Dot Rhone Becker, 11/19/98.
Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent… Liverpool Empire: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97; Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 18; author interview with Hal Carter, 8/14/97.
“They knew that to get any attention”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
The Student Union had a discretionary fund: Rod Murray, 12/84, AGA.
“troubled”/“distraction”: Author interview with Quentin Hughes, 10/3/97.
“Oh, the skin has come off”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“Art students were inclined to drop in”: Author interview with Beryl Williams, 11/2/97.
“They’d go into a great big huddle”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 69.
“sort of musical revolution”: Ibid., p. 42.
“I began to realise the implications”: Ibid., p. 44.
“In most cases, what attracted Larry”: Author interview with Hal Carter, 8/14/97.
Parnes had a cluster of glittery stars: Clayson, Beat Merchants, p. 40; Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 18.
“Larry was on tour”: Author interview with Hal Carter, 8/14/97.
“immediately fell in love”: Ibid.
“high cheekbones and restless eyes”: Clayson, Beat Merchants, p. 41.
“a very elegant dresser”/“schmatte business”: Author interview with Hal Carter, 8/14/97.
“fee of about £500”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 45.
The show was scheduled for May 3: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 18.
“the tragic death of Eddie Cochran”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 47.
here Details of Cochran’s death: Ward, Rock of Ages, p. 223.
He flushed with guilt: “Momentarily, I was stupefied, then selfish thoughts intruded. I’d been robbed of my two top stars.” Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 47.
To fill the gaping hole: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 19.
“Everyone who was anyone”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/7/97.
“a seminal event”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
“It was [the type of] voice”: Ibid., 8/4/97.
“he had convinced Lennon”: Ibid., 10/4/97.
he was willing to do almost anything: Norman, Shout!, p. 74.
He also had a day job: Harry, Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia, p. 471.
“Tommy Moore was a pro”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
“Cathy’s Clown”: Norman, Shout!, p. 73.
following the Stadium concert: “After the show, we all retired to the Jacaranda.” Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 57.
if Williams represented these bands: Ibid., p. 58.
“But you must have a drummer”: Ibid., p. 61.
Cass was “the prophet”: Ibid., p. 44.
“For these two periods”: Pawlowski, How They Became, p. 12.
The audition had been scheduled: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 19.
Allan Williams had taken a lease: Author interview with Beryl Williams, 11/2/97.
He’d decided to rename it: “I’d seen that smashing film, The Blue Angel, and I’d thought, ‘What a marvellous [sic] name.’ ” Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 143.
“They blew in, rough and tumble”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“sat stone-faced”: Ibid.
John Lennon pressed Billy Fury for an autograph: Pawlowski, How They Became, p. 15 (photo).
“Johnny did and played”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
Only a few pictures… exist: The entire set, taken by Cheniston Roland, appears in Pawlowski, How They Became, pp. 13–22.
“I thought the boys in front were great”: Norman, Shout!, p. 76.
in “a most off-putting style”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 66.
“Quite suddenly,” Allan Williams recalled: Ibid., p. 121.
When Williams brought them the offer: Millie Sutcliffe recalled: “[Stuart] was quite upset, really heartbroken, and he said, ‘Mother, I think I’ve let the boys down.’ ” Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 31.
“Forget it, Stu”: Ibid.
the astounding sum of £90: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 19.
George and Tommy took time off: Compiled from numerous sources, including Norman, Pawlowski, Williams, and Salewicz, McCartney.
The problem of equipment: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/3/97.
Stuart de Stael: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 44.
Paul Ramon: “I thought it sounded really glamorous, sort of Valentinoish.” Davies, Beatles, p. 65.
here Details of the Beatles’ train ride: Author interview with Hal Carter, 8/14/97.
188–89 Johnny Gentle’s background: “I made my guitar before I went out to sea.” Author interview with John Askew, 8/15/97.
“The crowd was lovely”: Ibid.
“They weren’t the normal bunch of kids”: Author interview with Hal Carter, 8/14/97.
“pulled out all the stops”: Author interview with John Askew, 8/15/97.
“Don’t worry about us”: Ibid.
“You listen to me, mate”: Ibid.
“flying crates and beer bottles”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/7/97.
“Hully Gully”: “Every time we did ‘Hully Gully’ there would be a fight.” George Harrison in Anthology, p. 53.
“He was injured”: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
defection of Tommy Moore: “I’d had enough of them all—especially Lennon.” Norman, Shout!, p. 78.
New Cabaret Artistes: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“a moonlight flit”: Author interview with Beryl Williams, 11/2/97.
the “dusky troupe”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene, p. 82.
“come to Germany and stay”: Author interview with Beryl Williams, 11/1/97.
“Hamburg fascinated me”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 86.
they had changed the spelling: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 28.
“dreadfully crummy”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 88.
“the manager of a very famous rock ’n roll group”: Ibid.
“the Smoke”: “We always referred to London as ‘the Smoke.’ ” Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/3/97.
“He was always thinking on his feet”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“What a coincidence!”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 90.
“He was the star”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
“He was unpredictable”: Author interview with Gibson Kemp, 8/12/97.
“Tony was extremely well endowed”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
“[Koschmider] made us an offer”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“When somebody didn’t pay”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 10/4/97.
“Limper was the leader”: Ibid.
199–200 “you had to chase and work at British girls”: Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
“We were going to marry those girls”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“ruin the scene”: Ibid.
“pissing rain”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“like a funeral parlor”: Ibid.
he offered the gig to Rory Storm: Ibid.
“Allan was having plenty”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
“sort of a crappy group”: Allan Williams in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 42.
“reporters from the Empire News”: Rod Murray, 8/84, AGA.
Rod Jones: Ibid.
“Come on, let’s go have a look”: Ibid.
“They got newspapers”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
THIS IS THE BEATNIK HORROR: Sunday People, 7/3/60.
caught the attention of the… residents association: Rod Murray, 8/84, AGA.
“to suck up to the press”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/1/97.
“I wasn’t altogether happy”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 82.
George… had remained in touch: Best & Doncaster, Beatle!, p. 28.
“real pounding rock ’n roll drummer”: Harry Prytherch in Leigh, Drummed Out!, p. 43.
Best told one interviewer: “My mother took a phone call from Paul McCartney. He said that they had an offer to go to Germany and needed a drummer.” Leigh, Let’s Go Down the Cavern, p. 37.
“I’d always liked them”: Davies, Beatles, p. 70.
“He was absent too much”: Author interview with Helen Anderson, 11/4/97.
“feared the worst”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 116.
Over Jim’s objections: “My dad’s catch phrase was always get a job first… a serious job.” Mike McCartney in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 38.
“I didn’t want to go back”: Davies, Beatles, p. 72.
“buy… lots of things”: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much (unnumbered).
Paul invited Allan Williams: “To stamp the seal of approval on things, Paul brought Alan [sic] Williams to the house.” Ibid.
“a respectable and kind person”: Bill Harry interview with Pauline Sutcliffe (audio), undated.
“Allan didn’t entirely tell… the whole truth”: Ibid.
They’d arrived at dusk: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 84.
“mile of sin”: Insight Guides: Germany, p. 290.
“It was an ‘anything goes’ kind of place”: Author interview with Adrian Barber, 2/29/00.
“was depressing”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 45.
By contract, the Beatles: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 24 (photo).
“You can’t imagine the work”: Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
“were… far too deadpan”: Williams, “Liverpool Scene,” p. 93.
“the sexiest music of all”: Riley, Tell Me Why, p. 59.
“C’mon, boys… make a show”: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 23, and reported variously in almost every book written about the Beatles, including Miles, Coleman, Davies, Best & Harry, and Anthology.
“powerhouse music”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 47.
“After a few weeks”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“possible to pass the whole night”: Jürgen Vollmer, 12/84, AGA.
“Eating wasn’t part of the equation”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“baptism by fire”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
“filthy, dirty, and disgusting”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“the black holes of Calcutta”: Pete Best in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 50.
“It was freezing cold”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“We used to work the hell out of it”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 59.
Rosa Hoffman: “Mutti’s real name was Rosa Hoffman. She was born on April 21, 1900, and died March 15, 1988.” Letter, Erich Weber to Bill Harry, 6/21/97.
“We thought they were a pretty scruffy bunch”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“Crank it up, Pete”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 50.
the “most absurd request”: Author interview with John Frankland, 10/6/97.
“Mr. Showmanship”: Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“crumby”: “Rory Storm and the Hurricanes came out here the other week, and they are crumby.” Letter, George Harrison to Arthur Kelly (undated).
“und the Beatles”: poster, belonging to Johnny Byrne; also John Lowe in Gottfridsson, From Cavern to Star-Club, p. 54 (photo).
By all accounts, they were paid more: Clayson, Straight Man, p. 38.
“blow these guys off the stage”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 53.
Vi Caldwell… kept Paul in cigarettes: Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/10/97.
“the prettiest girl”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/5/97.
“Every night was another… jam”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
216–17 “It was such an incredible number”: Ibid.
“I pay five men!”: Ibid.
“There was a stunned”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 78.
“the guy tried to climb up”: Author interview with Gibson Kemp, 8/12/97.
“like winning the lottery”: Author interview with John Frankland, 10/6/97.
“he fixed [them] up”: Author interview with Howie Casey, 10/27/97.
“German customers would say”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 78.
mobsters “would come in late at night”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 66.
“they were so exhausted”: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 23.
“Once you had a few beers”: Author interview with Ray Ennis, 10/1/97.
“gobbled them down”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 66.
“eating Prellie sandwiches”: Letter, George Harrison to Arthur Kelly (undated).
“was dodgy… you could get a little too wired”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 67.
“We tried any number of crazy things”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“like a waterbed”: Ibid.
“high-class call girls”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 74.
“Nobody really looked at the stage”: Jürgen Vollmer, 12/84, AGA.
“rockers”: “The rockers were exactly like the Beatles—rough.” Ibid.
Eventually, during a break: Norman, Shout!, p. 97.
In fact, Stuart had spotted all three: “They wandered into the club about a week ago and seated themselves at a table near the band, where I soon became aware of them.” Letter, Stuart Sutcliffe to Susan Williams, 10/60.
“typical bohemians”: Ibid.
The three, it turned out: “Stuart, we knew immediately, was one of us.” Jürgen Vollmer, 12/84, AGA.
“The minute she walked into a room”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/5/97.
Neither outwardly personable: “Astrid was always… unsocial, she was always a loner.” Jürgen Vollmer, 8/84, AGA.
“She had a tremendous feel”: Author interview with Gibson Kemp, 8/12/97.
“I had never met anybody like them”: Letter, Stuart Sutcliffe to Susan Williams, 10/60.
“My impression was that Stuart”: Jürgen Vollmer, 12/84, AGA.
“exis”: “ ‘Exis,’ that’s what I called them.” Davies, Beatles, p. 83.
“totally and immediately fascinated”: Jürgen Vollmer, 8/82, AGA.
“It was like a merry-go-round”: Astrid Kirchherr in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 48.
der Dom: Norman, Shout!, p. 97.
“Cocteau phase”: Jürgen Vollmer, 8/82, AGA.
He proved more than capable: “What They Played,” Lewisohn, Chronicle, pp. 361–65.
“a very charming image”: Jürgen Vollmer, 8/82, AGA.
“I was always practical”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 65.
“weak link”: Ibid.
“I have definitely decided to pack in”: Letter, Stuart Sutcliffe to Susan Williams, 10/60.
“He was always kidding”: Jürgen Vollmer, 8/82, AGA.
“But he just seemed to take it”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
occupied by a peep show: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 23.
Sheridan’s repertoire: Author interview with Johnny Frankland, 10/6/97.
“He would play solos”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“He’d get guitar diarrhea”: Author interview with Gibson Kemp, 8/12/97.
“In the end”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
“We suddenly realized”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 82.
along with a clause that forbade: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 10/8/97.
Eckhorn recognized: “They came to me…. I liked them and offered them a contract.” Davies, Beatles, p. 87.
He terminated the Beatles’ contract: Lewisohn, Chronicle, p. 24.
The band was required to make an announcement: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 70.
“So I had to leave”: Davies, Beatles, p. 87.
“This gave us just enough light”: Best & Harry, Best Years, p. 82.
“attempting to burn down”: Ibid., p. 83.
“felt ashamed”: Davies, Beatles, p. 89.