On October 19, 1957, Paul McCartney and John Lennon performed together for the first time as The Quarrymen at a social club in Liverpool called The Conservative Club. This historic meeting would lay the foundation for one of the most influential and successful musical acts of all time, The Beatles.
John Lennon had formed The Quarrymen in 1956, named after his high school, Quarry Bank High School. Paul McCartney, who was a classmate of Lennon's, had seen the band perform and was impressed by Lennon's vocals and guitar playing. A mutual friend introduced the two, and McCartney soon joined the band as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist.
At the time of their first performance together, Lennon was 17 years old, and McCartney was only 15. The two quickly formed a close friendship and songwriting partnership that would become the core of The Beatles' success. Their complementary personalities and musical talents – Lennon's biting wit and edgy rock and roll sensibilities, and McCartney's melodic instincts and pop craftsmanship – would create a dynamic that propelled the band to unprecedented heights.
The setlist for that fateful first performance included a mix of rock and roll covers, such as "Come Go With Me" by The Del-Vikings and "Twenty Flight Rock" by Eddie Cochran. McCartney also impressed Lennon with his ability to tune a guitar, something Lennon had trouble with.
From these humble beginnings, Lennon and McCartney would go on to write some of the most beloved and enduring songs in popular music history, such as "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," and "Yesterday." The Beatles would become a global phenomenon, revolutionizing music and popular culture in the 1960s and beyond.
The meeting of John Lennon and Paul McCartney on October 19, 1957, was a pivotal moment in music history, setting in motion a creative partnership that would change the face of music forever.