GEORGE JOINS THE BAND
I remember being very impressed with John’s big thick sideboards and trendy Teddy boy clothes . . . I was never intimidated by him. Whenever he had a go at me I just gave him a little bit of his own right back.
– George Harrison
The Quarrymen were still on the hunt for a lead guitarist. Paul suggested his friend George; he thought he’d be a great addition to the band.
George and Paul lived one bus stop away from each other and had become friends travelling in to the Liverpool Institute, talking about music, recommending records to each other and, later, playing together in the institute where George taught Paul new chords. George was younger than Paul, but self-assured and an obvious rock ’n’ roll fan. He wore coloured shirts, drainpipes and a huge quiff – much to the consternation of his teachers.
John had to be convinced. He had already allowed the baby-faced fifteen-year-old McCartney into his band, and George looked even younger – not ideal for a Ted looking for street cred.
Still, one evening the three of them were on the top deck of an otherwise empty bus, and George, as usual, had his guitar with him. Paul encouraged him to play the instrumental ‘Raunchy’, a lesser known record from Sam Phillips’ Sun Records by Bill Justis. George’s rendition was note-perfect, John was impressed, and George was in.