#beatleweek2016

Beatleweek 2016: The Quarrymen

The Quarrymen playing The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool on 27th August 2016. 

Pics 1 - 3: Nigel Walley introducing The Quarrymen with Beatleweek compere, Neil Brannan. This was Nigel’s first appearance at Beatleweek (and I think, his first at any Beatle festival). 

Nigel Walley was The Quarrymen’s tea-chest bass player when John formed them in 1956, until he lost the tea-chest when he left it at a bus stop after being threatened by two older lads. At John’s request, he then became The Quarrymen’s manager. Nigel Walley was also the person who walked John’s mother, Julia to the bus stop on the day she was sadly killed. Shortly after leaving Nigel, Julia crossed the road and was hit by the car. Nigel Walley remained friends with John throughout his life. 

Pics 4 - 7: The Quarrymen playing. They are from left to right - 

Len Garry (Tea-chest bass player originally, now plays guitar and is the Quarrymen’s lead vocalist since they reformed in 1997) 

John Duff Lowe (On keyboards at the back. He was invited to join the Quarrymen in 1958 by Paul. Known as ‘Duff’, he played on the recording of ‘In Spite Of All The Danger’ and ‘That Will Be The Day’ which appears on Anthology 1.)

“We decided we’d all have it [the record] for a week each. So, John had it for a week, I had it for a week, George had it for a week, and Duff had it for twenty-three years.” [Paul, quoted from memory!]

Rod Davis (Originally the banjo player from 1956 - mid 1957 when he was replaced by Paul. He shares the vocals with Len Garry and plays guitar). 

Colin Hanton (Drummer for the Quarrymen from 1956 - 1959)

Chas Newby (Current bass player, see below) 

Pic 8: Chas Newby (bass) and Colin Hanton (drums). Chas played bass in the Beatles for a few gigs at Christmas 1960, replacing Stu when he decided to stay on in Hamburg with Astrid after the Beatles first visit there. He joined The Quarryman this year. 

Pic 9: (L - R) Len Garry, John Duff Lowe, Colin Hanton, Chas Newby and Rod Davis. 

Pic 10: The Quarrymen in 1957 on 6th July 1957, the day John met Paul. (Next year will be 60 year anniversary of this, there are events planned in Liverpool - a date for your diaries!) Left to right they are - Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanton, Rod Davis, John, Pete Shotton and Len Garry. 

[More from Beatleweek 2016, inc. more pics from this gig x-here-x]