1957 J
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Sunday 9 June Empire Theatre, Lime St, Liverpool
This local qualifying audition for "Mr Star-Maker", Carroll Levis, marked the first official engagement of the Quarry Men. Levis ran these "TV Star Search" shows all over Britain, providing not only low-budget theatre entertainment (grateful t Or the opportunity, artists did not generally receive a fee) but also a steady source of acts for his season of television shows on ATV: ventriloquists, budgerigars, jugglers, musical-saw players and, especially in 1957, skiffle hopefuls. The Quarry Men did not even qualify from this 3.00 pm preliminary audition, won by the Sunnyside Skiffle Group, a Speke combo which featured a 19-year-old 4ft 6in Nicky Cuff on vocals and tea-chest bass. Literally, because Cuff stood on the tea-chest while playing it. The twice-nightly finals were held at the Empire, without the Quarry Men, between 17 and 23 June.
Right: this is how Paul McCartney first saw John Lennon: the Quarry Men performing at Woolton Parish Church Fete, 6 July 1957, a photo taken by Quarry Bank schoolboy Geoff Rhind and reproduced here from the original negative. L to R: Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanton, Rod Davis, John, Pete Shotton, Len Garry.
Saturday 6 July Garden Fête, St Peter's Church, Church Rd, Woolton, Liverpool
A truly historic date. The Quarry Men played during the afternoon on a makeshift stage in the field behind the church, and also – with the exception of Colin Hanton – at the evening dance in the church hall over the road (commencing at 8.00 pm, admission two shillings 110p]), alternating with the more traditional George Edwards Band. It was while the Quarry Men were setting up their instruments in the hall during the early evening that occasional tea-chest bass Quarry Man Ivan Vaughan introduced to John and the others his classmate from Liverpool Institute, 15-year-old Paul McCartney.
Saturday 22 June Rosebery St, Liverpool
An unusual engagement, even by Quarry Men standards, playing from the back of a stationary coal lorry in the afternoon and evening during street celebrations for the 750th anniversary of King John issuing a Royal Charter "inviting settlers to take up burgages or building plots in Liverpool, and promising them all the privileges enjoyed by free boroughs on the sea". The party was a typical community effort. Mrs Marjorie Roberts, at number 84, was principal organiser, and her son Charles, who was a friend of Colin Hanton (it was Roberts who designed the group's logo on Hanton's bass drum), invited the Quarry Men along to play, although they did not live locally. The lorry from which they played was supplied by the man at number 76, who also ran the microphone lead through his front-room window. The only blemish on the occasion was when a group of louts from neighbouring Hatherley Street threatened to heat up the group, and in particular "that Lennon", so as soon as their spot finished the musicians wasted little time in diving for the sanctuary of Mrs Roberts' house, where she served them tea until the danger had passed. The Liverpool Post and Echo newspaper group awarded Rosebery Street the prize for the bestdecorated street outside of the city centre, so the residents celebrated with
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a second party, at which the more prestigious Merseysippi Jazz Band performed. The Quarry Men were not invited back.
Wednesday 7 August Cavern Club, Mathew St, Liverpool
The Cavern Club, named after Le Caveau Francais Jazz Club in Paris, had been officially opened by the Earl of Wharncliffe on Wednesday 16 January 1957. The owner,