When John met Paul

The Beatles for English language learners http://esolepacks.com/beatles//

On 6 July, 1957, a chance meeting between two teenagers begins the most successful songwriting partnership in popular music

A church fete trousers. But all the girls seem to be with It is late afternoon. In a other boys. church hall in a suburb of The band isn’t too good, either. But Liverpool a summer fete is there’s something about John Lennon that coming to an end. A group of gets Paul’s attention: school friends is playing music on the stage. They call their band, The Quarrymen, after their school Quarry Grammar. A tall, very thin sixteen-year-old young man sings and plays guitar. He is clearly the leader of the band. Because of his very poor eyesight he stands very close to the microphone and stares out into the ‘There was a guy up on the stage audience. It makes him look angry and wearing a checked shirt,’ he remembers aggressive. many years later. ’He was singing a song I ‘Who is that boy?’ people whisper. loved, the Del-Vikings' Come Go With Me. I His name is John Lennon. thought he was singing well.’ Looking for girls McCartney begins to listen more Fifteen-year old Paul McCartney is in the closely. He notices that Lennon’s guitar is audience. He is only there because his out of tune. friend has promised, ‘there’ll be lots of ‘What do you play?’ girls.’ That’s why Paul is wearing his best The Quarrymen finish playing and come clothes: white jacket and drainpipe down from the stage. A mutual friend

1 Lennon is the leader of the group. At sixteen he is already a charismatic figure on stage. In the photograph he is the one we look at. The alcohol on Lennon’s breath points to another side of Lennon’s character. He drinks a lot and later takes drugs. People see him as ‘wild’.

Unlikely Partners Lennon quickly spots something in McCartney. He notices musical talent but introduces Paul to John. They don’t shake is a little jealous, too. McCartney is a rival hands but nod to each other. as well as a partner. They begin to talk about music. McCartney also Lennon smells of beer but is friendly to the reveals a lot of his younger boy. character and ‘What do you play?’ he asks. personality. He is a ‘Guitar,’ says McCartney. natural musician ‘Show me then,’ said the older boy. and technically ‘Do you want to join my band?’ better than Lennon. He is confident The left-handed McCartney plays Lennon’s enough to play guitar for the older boy. right-handed guitar. He plays songs by Another key to McCartney is the way Eddie Cochrane, Little Richard and Gene he delays the invitation to join the group. Vincent.The quality of his playing He likes Lennon but notices his ‘wild’ side. impresses Lennon. And the younger boy He thinks carefully before joining the knows the chords one of John’s favourite group. songs, Twenty Flight Rock. Some (including the other Beatles at McCartney then shows Lennon a new times) find this calculating side of way to tune his guitar. McCartney unattractive. It is, however, ‘Do you want to join my band?’ asked essential to their success. Lennon. ‘I’ll think about it,’ said Paul. McCartney goes on holiday to the Lake District. When he returns he agrees to join The Quarrymen. An important moment This meeting tells us a lot about the relationship between Lennon and McCartney. The boys are very different but they interest each other. Each admires the other. There is rivalry, too.

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