By David Bedford. When one considers The Beatles’ early history, there are several names that immediately come to mind – Ivan Vaughan, Rod Davis, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best. However, the story of the evolution of The Beatles from The Quarrymen to The Fab Four is about more than just the musicians in those groups. Other people like George Smith, Joe Ankrah, Red Carter, Zancs Logie, Ian James, Marie Maguire, Colin Manley and Arthur Pendleton are all important to the story as well.

These one hundred and four friends, family and musicians get a long overdue credit for their contributions to the musical development of the greatest pop group of all time: The Beatles.

Excerpt: The Beatles from the Quarrymen to The Fab Four

The story of how the group went from being The Quarrymen to The Beatles runs a long and winding road through many different musicians and band members. During this time, they also provided backing for several singers and occasionally had guest musicians join them on stage. Also included in the list are important people who either taught them to play or had a direct influence on their performances. Each one of these 104 people is included in the story.

This is how The Beatles evolved from a group of friends playing skiffle music, calling themselves The Quarrymen (also spelled Quarry Men, and there is no definitive way to spell it) to becoming the biggest band in the annals of popular music. The story begins in the summer of 1956 and takes you through to the end of 1962 when the final piece of the jigsaw, the addition of drummer Ringo Starr, saw The Fab Four completed.

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Featured in The Fab One Hundred and Four are:

• The real influences in their formative years – family members, schoolmates, mentors and musical contemporaries.
• The men and women who helped shape the band from the 1950s to their final lineup in late 1962.
• Profiles of every musician who was a member of the group – from The Quarrymen to The Beatles – from 1956 through 1962. Whether they were in the group for a night, a week, a year, two years or more, they are all mentioned here.
• All of the musicians and performers who shared the stage with the boys as part of a single act.
• The previously unknown school friend who gave John his first guitar.
• Rare interview with Bill Smith, founder member of The Quarrymen.
• The first published photographs of Silver Beatles’ drummer Norman Chapman.
• 400 pages
• Hardcover book with dust jacket
• 245mm x 245mm