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| "Mr. Starkey! Are you paying attention?" Richards maths teacher shouted at him. Well, actually he wasn't. He was discussing whether he and his friend John Lennon should go 'bird watching' after school, or start the band they had been planning for the last 3 years.
"Er, yes Miss Stratford, I was, sort of." he stuttered.
"You better have been, because, if I catch you slacking off again, you and John will be in serious trouble." she all but screamed.
"Yes Miss." said Richard. Just then, John slipped him a note. He unfolded it. It read:
HEY RICH, I HAVE A GEAR NEW NAME
FOR YOU. HOW ABOUT WE CALL YOU
'RINGO'? BECAUSE YOU WEAR SO MANY
RINGS? GEAR, HUH?
'Ringo' wrote, "Ok" on the back of the note and handed it back to John.
"Mr. Starkey, I saw that young man! Detention for you and Mr. Lennon after school, room 16!" cried the teacher. "Damn it!" John whispered next to Ringo.
"Tell me about it." Ringo whispered back.
As soon as class was over, John slung his guitar strap over his shoulder and Ringo picked up his backpack. Then they both walked over to room 16 as they often did after school for detention. John opened the door. There were about 8 students scattered around the room. But at the back, 2 boys were jamming together with their guitars. They both looked several years younger that they, but were both very good.
John and Ringo went over and sat next to them. The one who was playing left handed said, "Hello." and then when back to concentrating on the chords. The other boy stopped, then pointed to John's guitar and said, "You play?"
"Yep." John answered and pulled his acoustic out of it's case. He strummed a few chords and launched into a song called 'Twenty Flight Rock'. The lefty stopped playing and listened to John. When he has finished, he pointed out that John had gotten a lot of the words wrong.
"I don't care. What's yer name anyway?" he asked.
"I'm Paul McCartney and this is George Harrison." Paul said as an introduction.
"I'm Richard Starkey, but he calls me Ringo, and 'he' is John Lennon." said Ringo
"Ringo sounds better than Richard, no offence intended or anything" said George. Paul was showing John where he had gone wrong in the song.
"What year are you in?" asked George.
"Year 10, I'm 16 in July. What are you in?"
"Year 8, I turned 13 in February and Paul is in year 9, he's 14 in June"
"How long 'ave you bin playin'?"
"A coupla months. Why?"
"Because me an' John 'ave bin tryin' to start a band for ages. John does rhythm guitar and I play drums." said Ringo "We would 'ave a full band."
"Yeh, so you wanna start 1? We can practice at my place, my Aunt Mimi won't mind." said John breaking into the conversation.
"Sure. Let's do it, y'know, after detention." said Paul.
"Ok, I'm in, but yer aunt will mind, y'know." said Ringo.
"What ever. Let's go back to my place after school, detention, what ever, and practice."
* * *
They all caught the bus over to John's house, which George and Paul were surprised to find was actually quite a posh place. They all walked in the front door, but as they entered the living room, they were confronted by John's Aunt Mimi.
"John, what are you doing home so late? Did you have detention again?"
"Yes Mimi, but the teacher-"
"John, I don't care about the teacher! You are getting into far to much trouble at school young man. And who are these boys?" she cried.
"Mimi, you know Ring-, er Richard, and this is Paul McCartney and George Harrison. We're gonna start a band." said John.
"Well, you are not going to practice in my house. I need some quiet time." said Mimi, with a look even John didn't dare cross. She left the room and the boys look at each other.
"Fine, we can go to my 'ouse, Mum an' 'Arry won't mind." Ringo said.
They all left John's house and set off to the bus stop to get to Ringo's They were on the bus for what seemed like ages, and this prompted George to ask, "Where do you live Ringo?"
"In the Dingle." he replied. No-one said anything about that.
By the time they got there, it was getting dark, and Paul was worrying that he would get in trouble with his Dad for being late, like John, but they all went in anyway.
"Hello Richard, how was school?" asked his mother from the kitchen.
"Good, is Harry home yet?"
"No." she replied, walking out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a tea-towel.
"Uh, these are me friends from school, we're gonna start a band."
"Oh, well, I'm Elsie, Richards mother, please make yourself at home." she said, with a warm smile. "I'm Paul McCartney, pleased to meet you Madam." said Paul, turning on the Macca charm.
"And I'm George Harrison, pleased to make your acquaintance, Ma'am."
"Well, if you lads are going to start a band, you'd better go practice, hadn't you?" she asked, smiling. "Yeh, ok Mum, where gonna go now." said Ringo, shepherding the others to his room. They all sat down, and jammed a bit with their guitars, well Ringo played his drums, and just messed around. After finishing 1 particular song, John said "Something missing."
"Yeh, what is it?" asked Paul.
They all thought for a minute. "It's the bass line! We haven't got a bass!" cried Ringo.
"Oh yeh! Well who's gonna play it?" asked Paul. Then he realized the others were staring at him. "No." he said.
"Well, George can't, and I am not touching the thing." said John. Paul knew he was cornered. "Alright, but I gotta get a bass first."
After a bit, George said, "Well, I'd better go, or me parents'll go spare an' think I ran away on 'em."
"Yeh, me too." said Paul. They both left. John stayed a bit longer and chatted to Ringo about how they had to think of a really good name to make them famous, but then John left to, only, he didn't go home, he went to his mothers.
* * *
They practiced most days after school, always going to Ringo's place so that he didn't have to transport his drum kit anywhere, and because Paul wasn't allowed to bring friends home, George had an older brother who would bug the hell out of him to be allowed to join and John wasn't allowed to play at home, as you already found out. By now Paul had his bass, an old slightly battered acoustic, but it sufficed.
One day, when Paul, George and Ringo were all waiting for John to show up, they started talking about how they still didn't have a name. They wanted to wait until they got a really good name before they gave themselves one. Just the John came running up yelling something about how he had a great name for them.
"Calm down John, what did you say?" asked George.
"I had a dream last night that a man came to mean on a flaming pie and told me that we were going to be the 'Beatles' with an 'a'. So that's our name!" he exclaimed
"Um, John, that is the weirdest way I have ever heard of naming a band." said Ringo.
"Yeh, but it's a gear name, I say go for it." countered Paul.
"Ok, to the Beatles with an 'a'!" Cried John.
"The Beatles with an 'a'!" echoed the others.
* * *
After that they played at a lot of parties, street festivals and one memorable concert that they put on at Paul's' house, when they accidentally destroyed his backyard. Then, one day at the end of 1956, Paul's mother died. They all felt awful for Paul, but he didn't say anything about it. They were all playing in Ringo's cramped bedroom, when John said, "Y'know Paul, I'm really sorry for yeh."
"Yeh, I know John, it's just, she was me mother, an' yeh can't replace yeh mother."
"Well, I never really knew me Dad." said Ringo.
"Yeh, well, I don't live with me Mum, and I haven't seen me Dad since I was 5." said John.
"George is lucky, he's the only 1 who has both his parents." said Paul.
"Yeh, but you aren't the youngest! My sister acts like me Mum when I see 'er so it's like 'avin' 3 parents!" cried George. The all started laughing and went back to practicing their playing.
* * *
One day at school, John announced that he had a gig for them at the Woolton Fete. On the day, they played their best. They were sure it was their best concert ever. More people knew who they were. They got asked to play at more parties and things. Then Paul and John realized they could write good songs together.
"Paul, lets knick off early this afternoon and go write something'!" John said at lunch 1 time. This was in 1957, around October. They sneaked out of school early and went back to Paul's house. They had their guitars and John also had his harmonica.
"I have had this tune stuck in me 'ead for a bit. I think it could make a good song." John told Paul. "Well lets hear it then."
John began playing his guitar to the tune he had in his head. Paul listened and said,
"Yeh, I had some lyrics written down that I think would fit that..."
John flipped through the notebook they had for writing songs. "Is this them?" he asked.
"Yeh, whadaya think?"
"Gear."
The continued writing lyrics and adding to the tune. After a few hours, they had a whole song. They had called it 'Love Me Do', and they knew it was a good song. They would often go home early to write songs, but this was a good one.
* * *
Then, in 1958, tragedy struck, John's mother was run over by a police car. Coloured by the fact that Pauls mother had died only 2 years ago, this was a turning point for John. He addored his 'Mummy' as even he called her. And though the Beatles often practised at Ringo's house, sometimes they would go over to Julia's. She loved rock 'n' roll as much as they lads did. By now, John and Ringo had graduated from high school. John was at art college and Ringo (everyone called him that now) had an apprenticeship as a carpenter.
Paul was doing very well, and George was, well, being George. They occasionally performed at a popular place called the Cavern. They were getting better all the time. John and Paul wrote a lot of songs together. Then, one day after a performance at a place not unlike the cavern, a man approached them.
"Hello, I'm Michael Kelly. Have you boys got a manager?"
"Eh, no." said John.
"A group as good as you without a manager?"
"Yeh."
"Well, allow me to offer my services. I heard you play several times and would like to manages you. I can get some good gigs."
"Alright."
They all agreed. This was a move that would help their career, and would toughen them up for the world or Rock 'n' Roll.
* * *
Hamburg sucked. They had been there for a month. They went over, because, their manager had been sending a few bands over. He managed some others, and when the clubs in Germany wanted musical lad from Liverpool, Michael Kelly complied. They didn't have real place to stay. They all slept in the little gap behind a movie screen in a theatre. But this did save them. With the long hours on stage (usually 8 or more), they had greatly extended their number of 'playable' pieces. George had to be sneaked in to Hamburg, but then they wanted to be on stage. They wanted to be famous. This was heaven and hell. Until George got deported. The officials had found out that he was only 17, but still played in clubs. So, george was shipped back to Liverpool. Ringo and Paul weren't far behind him though. They were in their 'room' and set a condom, which they had hung on a nail in the wall, on fire. John was left in Hamburg. So he packed up what equipment he could carry and went back too.
* * *
Not long after, (well after George turned 18) they went back to Hamburg. They played at a different club, a better one, and had a proper place to stay. They switched every hour at the club they played at with the band 'Rory Storm and the Hurricanes'. (Whos drummer was a man by the name of Pete Best).
"John, what are you gonna do? I mean, what songs are we gonna do?" asked Paul.
"Dunno." They were all sitting backstage, while Rory Storms band performed the're last number.
The're girlfriends, who's names were Laura Treccase, Jessi Moon, Jenny Ashwood and Maggie Werhan, were in the audience. Laura was short, with blue eyes and short brown hair, she was with Ringo. Maggie was TALL, with green eyes and long auburn hair, she was Johns. Jenny was a scouser, with brown hair and eyes, she dated Paul, and Jessi was a blue eyed, brown haired girl to, but she had long, long, long [;)] hair. She was with George.
The Beatles performed for an hour, then the Hurricanes came back on. But when the Beatles came on again, John walked out, with his guitar, only wearing his knickers and a toilet seat around his neck! Maggie was dying of embarrasment, which was only hightned by John yelling out, "Hey everybody! We're the Beatles! And I'd like to say a special 'hello' to Maggie!"
Everybody stared at Maggie. This was gonna be a long night! (And John still only had knickers on!)
* * *
One night, while they were hanging around their small 'home', John was asleep on the couch. Paul picked up a pair of scissors. He started to give John a haircut. It was sort of a bowl shape, with a fringe. John woke up.
"What the hell are yeh doin' to me hair Macca?!" he screached.
"Jus' givin' you a trim. It looks kinda good, yeh know."
John hopped up and ran to the bathroom. He came back with a big smile on his face.
"It looks gear!" He proclaimed.
"Hey, can yeh cut me hair like that to?" asked George.
"Yeh, mine to!" said Ringo.
"Ok, one at a time, though."
Paul gave Ringo and George the haircuts, then they turned on hime and gave him one too.
"We look like mop-heads!" said George, studying himself in the bathroom mirror.
"Yeh! We have moptops!" cried Ringo.
"Gear! We're the 'moptops'!" said John.
"Yeh, and I came up with it." Paul said, smugly.
"Mmmmm..." was John's only reply.
* * *
When they got back to Liverpool, they were asked to back Tony Sheridan on an album called 'My Bonnie'. Of course they agreed. They recorded several songs of their own. One of which was the only song ever credited to Harrison/Lennon, 'Cry For A Shadow'.
Which is what prompted them to dump their manager. They landed the recording deal themselves. Michael Kelly didn't do anything for them, really.
The record actually became quite popular. And a man by the name of Brian Epstein heard of them. He owned a record shop called Northern End Music Stores (NEMS). Several people came into his shop, asking for copies of 'My Bonnie', which he didn't have in stock. He found out the band that did it, which of course are our lovely lads from Liverpool. Brian found out that they played regularly at the Cavern, and went to see them play.
After they finished, he approached them, and asked, "Have you lads got a manager?"
"No, we did 'ave, but... he left." said George.
"Well, I would like to become your manager. I own Northern End Music Stores."
"Yeh, we buy a lot 'o records from you." said John.
"You lads have talent. You could be famous. I would like to help you do that." said Brian.
"Um, ok." said Paul.
* * *
Several weeks later, they had a proper contract, and a promise from Brian (whom John had affectionatly nicknamed 'Eppy'), to try and get them a recording deal.
They had all decided to move to London, and had also decided to share a house, because they were very close friends, they could practice when ever they wanted to, and it would cost less for a house if they all lived together.
They went house shopping in London, but that was a hard task...
"I wanna go look at that house!" cried Ringo, leaning out of the window of the car, which they all partly owned.
"Nah! We are going to look at the one we saw in the newspaper this morning!" said Paul, trying to pull him back in.
"But, but, but! I wanna go get ice-cream Daddy!" howled John, cracking up the others.
"Are we there yet??????" Geroge whined at John (he was the one driving).
"No, but if you're a good little Beatle, you might get extra ice-cream fo tea." said John.
"Yay!" cried George.
They pulled up outside the house they had seen in the newspaper that morning. It was four houses connected together, well, that what it looked like from the outside. From the inside, it was one house. They all entered by the different doors, and went up to the real-estate agent who was talking to the owner of the house.
"Hello, are you interested in buying this house?" she asked pleasanlty (funny, I didn't think real-estate agents could be friendly).
"Er, yeh, but can we 'ave a look around?" asked George.
"Of course, but may I have your names please?"
"Sure, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr." answered John, batting his eye-lashes at her. The lady practically fainted.
"Ok, thats good." she said, writing them down.
(A/N Ringo had changed his last name some time in 1958, in a conversation with John. He said, "Ringo Starkey sounds like such a bad name. I have to change Starkey to summat else."
"How about 'Star', but you could have a double 'r' to make it more original."
"Ringo Starr! Gear! I'm keeping that!")
They inspected the house, and then decided they would buy it. But they had to re-decorate. The whole inside of the house was purple, with purple furnishings.
When they finally moved in, one month later, they had it set up just they way they wanted. Ringo's room was all blue, with vending machines along one wall ("Hey, that means I don't have to go to the kitchen if I'm hungry, I can just go to my wall!")
John's room was all in shades of red, maroon and brown, with a pit in the middle for his bed, with a bookshelf filling one entire wall. ("Well, I like reading, and the pit is gear!" The others just gave him weird looks. "What?")
Paul's room was all white, with an electric organ that came out of the floor. You had to go out a door in the back to get to it, though. (The organ is good! I can practice and it doesn't take up any extra room!)
George's room was all in green, and it had grass on the floor, instead of a carpet. He has also hired a man to mow the lawn, but not with a proper mower, he used chattering teeth, that need to be wound up. ("Well, me name does mean farmer. And I think it's gear!") The farmers name was Arthur.
Not long after they had settled in to their house, they got a call from Brian.
"Hello, John Lennon talkin' to yeh." John said, picking up the phone.
"Hello John."
"Hello Eppy, did you get us a recording deal yet?"
"Yes, I got an audition for you at Parlophone. I went for a good label after you got turned away from Decca."
"Gear. When do we have it?"
"Next week, Tuesday afternoon. It's at 12:30, I'll give you the address later. Please try to dress respectfully."
"Ok, see yeh Brian, hey, d'you wanna talk to the others?"
"Alright." John handed the phone to Paul.
"Hey Eppy, we finally got an audition!"
They chatted for a few more minutes, then Paul said,
"Fab! I'll put George on." George grabbed the phone.
"Hello, yeh, I heared, the others are cheering. We'll be good little Beatles for the audition. Promise. Bye!" he handed the phone to Ringo.
"Hello Brian. Yeh, it's gear. Don't worry, we'll make John behave. Cheerio Brian!" he hung up, then all four fabs started dancing, while George picked up his acoustic that was lying on his bed and started playing 'Twist and Shout'.
* * *
On the day of the audition, the fabs were extremally nervous. They all dressed neatly in the suits that Brian had them don, and they had their moptops neatly combed.
They showed up early, and walked inot the studio. They played some old favourites, then played a Lennon/McCartney original 'Love Me Do'.
The producer, George Martin, seemed to like them, and after the audition said,
"Well, gentlemen, I believe you have talent. That's why I would like to offer you a recording deal."
The four just started at each other. They had done it. They had a deal. They were going to be famous.
"Uh, w w we accept." stuttered George.
"Ok, I expect you back here in 2 weeks time. Have any songs ready that you feel would be recordable." said George Martin.
"Alright."
* * *
2 weeks later, the Beatles were back in the studio, about to perform their first album.
They played fantastically, and it only took them 12 hours to do. They started on a take of the last song they were to record, and they all knew 'this was the one'. When they finished the song, George Martin said over the microphone,
"Congratulations boys, you have just recorded your first number 1 hit!"
THE END
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