Paul McCartney: The Journey from Liverpool Lad to Beatlemania

Paul McCartney was born at Walton General Hospital on 18th June 1942 to Jim and Mary McCartney. Jim was a cotton broker and Mary was a midwife. His brother Michael was born 18 months later on 7th January 1944 to complete the family dynamic.

They moved to a number of addresses in Liverpool during their early years due to Mary's occupation as she was the main source of family income. They lived in Everton Valley before moving to a brand new council estate in Speke where they lived very close to George Harrison's family although Paul and George would not meet until a number of years later.

In 1953, at the age of 11, Paul passed the 11-plus exam which allowed him to attend the prestigious Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, a grammar school that would go on to shape his education and creativity.

By 1956, the McCartney family had left Speke when Mary was offered a new home in the more up-market borough of Allerton. They settled into 20 Forthlin Rd, a marked improvement from their previous addresses and it spelled a new beginning for the McCartney family but unfortunately within 6 months of moving in, Paul's mother died of an aneurysm whilst treating breast cancer. Paul was 14yrs old. He later recalled a conversation with his father at the time whereby Paul asked how they would cope without her income.

This was understandably a traumatic event for Paul and it deeply influenced much of his songwriting, later inspiring songs like 'Let It Be' and 'Yesterday' which both make reference to his memories of his mother.

It was during the two hour long journey to school and back that Paul eventually met another pupil of Liverpool Institute, George Harrison, who had also passed the 11-plus, albeit in the year below Paul. They bonded over their common interest in Rock n Roll and playing guitar which initially brought them together.

On the 6th July 1957, at the age of 15, Paul met a 16 year old John Lennon at St Peters church where 'The Quarrymen', a local skiffle group, were performing at Woolton village fete. Paul was introduced to John by a mutual friend called Ivan Vaughan. Paul impressed John and the other members of the band by playing a medley of songs on guitar and piano, most notably 'Twenty Flight Rock' by Eddie Cochran. Not only could Paul play and sing but he also knew all the words. After the impromptu audition, Paul was invited to join 'The Quarrymen', the band that would later evolve into The Beatles.

By early 1958, the line up of The Quarrymen had frequently changed and they were short of a lead guitarist. Paul suggested that they audition his school friend George Harrison. But at the age of 14, John initially thought George was far too young. Not to be disturbed, George began to follow Paul and John around, popping up at their gigs with his guitar in the hope that he would be given an opportunity to fill-in. Eventually Lennon relented and is quoted at the time as saying to Paul that if 'The Kid' could play that well, they would be a better band with him in it, and at 15 years old George Harrison joined The Quarrymen, solidifying the band's early line-up.

After two tears of writing songs and playing local gigs, often without a drummer, The Beatles (as they were now called) were offered their first tour of Hamburg Germany. Paul was now 18 but George was only 17 which made him ineligible to play the 'adult- only' venues there. In an attempt to fool the authorities and not miss-out on the opportunity, George forged his passport to make out he was 18 although he was later found out and deported before the end of their engagements. The Beatles played exhausting club gigs in the infamous Reeperbahn red light district of Hamburg, where

the pressure to entertain drunken sailors and 'ladies of the night' helped them develop as a professional band.

In 1961, at the age of 19, Paul and the band met Brian Epstein, a local businessman and record shop owner after Brian had attended one of their many lunch-time performances at The Cavern. Brian was immediately struck by their onstage presence, their comradery and their style of music, offering to be their manager and take them to the next stage of their musical career. Brian's involvement transformed them from a local band into international stars within two short years.

By 1962, at the age of 20, Paul and the band signed a recording contract with music producer George Martin of Parlophone records, a subsidiary of EMI, and recorded their first single 'Love Me Do' which reached no:17 in the UK top 40 singles chart.

By the following year, 1963, at the age of 21, Paul and The Beatles had scored their first No. 1 hit 'Please Please Me' and Beatlemania had officially begun, changing McCartney’s life and those of The Beatles'. forever!

Blog written by Damion Ewing - Tour Guide and Driver at The Beats Tours