Rod Davis
Little is known that one of the original Quarrymen, Rod Davis, actually was on an official 45 “release” earlier than the Beatles were. After Rod had left the Quarrymen he played banjo on this 1961 recording. Rod was on this record by The Trad Grads.
He signed the slipcase sleeve for this 45 as shown below for this Decca 45 release.
Buzz
Learn More About The Quarrymen
Just Like Starting Over: John Lennon and The Quarrymen
When John Lennon and his group The Quarrymen stepped onto the back of a wagon in Rosebery Street on 22nd June 1957, Charlie Roberts borrowed a camera and took a few photos of the event. It was just a group of friends having fun at a street party.
What Charlie didn’t know at the time was that he was capturing a piece of Beatles history. This was the first time that John Lennon had been photographed performing with his group. Skiffle was the new music and soon, John would meet Paul McCartney who would then introduce George Harrison to John.
I played bass guitar with the Quarrymen at a Beatles festival in Berlin at the Estrel hotel. I think it was in 2002. I saw Rod briefly at the Concert for George at the Albert Hall. I thought that the Quarrymen should have been on the venue.
I have the honour of being the permanent bass player with the Quarrymen since last year – such an honour. They are great guys.
I agree that it would have been good to have them at that concert.
David
Wow! Did not know that! I just met Rod last August 2022 at the Adelphi during the Beatleweek convention!
Rod is a great guy who helped to organize the task of me being able to obtain a photo signed by the person (Geoff Rhind) that took the famous photo of John performing that day in July of 1957 at the Woolton Village Fete. Thank you, Rod!