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Ever found yourself in a heated debate about the original name of the Beatles?
I remember once, at a family barbecue, my uncle swore blind it was ‘The Beetles’ (like the bug). Here’s a spoiler: it wasn’t!
With so many alternate names floating around, it’s no surprise that many of us get tangled up in the band’s early history.
As a huge Beatles fan, I’ve been to Liverpool over 30 times now, visiting both of the city’s Beatles museums more times than I care to count and embarking on almost every Beatles tour of the city!
So, it’s fair to say that I know my stuff when it comes to the Beatles and their early days, if I do say so myself.
By the end of this post, you’ll be the go-to Beatles historian in your circle, ready to clear the air with confidence.
Let’s get started!
The Black Jacks
Many people think that the original name of the Beatles was The Quarrymen, but they’re not actually correct!
The first name of the group that later went on to become the Beatles was actually The Black Jacks – a name that the group kept for little more than a week before moving on to The Quarrymen.
In March 1957, after John Lennon acquired his first guitar, he kicked off his own teenage skiffle band with his schoolmate Pete Shotton.
Skiffle was the musical craze sweeping Liverpool by storm at the time, thanks to the low barrier to entry. You could play anything in a skiffle band – even a washboard!
So – John Lennon was the founder of the Beatles.
The Quarrymen
Just a week or so after starting The Black Jacks, the group changed their name to The Quarrymen. This is widely believed to be the original name of the Beatles, since it’s the most famous and lasted the longest.
Looking for a more “respectable” band name, John decided to name the band The Quarrymen after the name of his school: Quarry Bank.
The school anthem included the line “Quarry Men, old before our birth”, which we think John used as inspiration for the band’s name. This is one of my favourite fun facts about Liverpool!
The original lineup for The Quarrymen was John Lennon and Eric Griffiths on guitar, Pete Shotton on the washboard, and Bill Smith on the tea-chest bass.
Smith was only briefly in the band before moving on. Soon after, the band saw a series of quick switches: Nigel Walley, John Lowe then Ivan Vaughan, and shortly after, Len Garry, all played in the band during the transition from 1956 to 1957.
As the band’s rhythm began to solidify, drummer Colin Hanton and banjo enthusiast Rod Davis joined the ranks. With Lennon, Griffiths, Shotton, Garry, Hanton, and Davis in the mix, the group found its initial stable foundation.
It was when the band performed at St Peter’s Church, one of the most important Beatles sites in Liverpool, on 6 July 1957, that Paul McCartney was first introduced to John Lennon. He joined the band just a couple of weeks later.
George Harrison joined the band in early 1958 when he was just 14, and then, with a huge amount of band members, people needed to either be cut or leave.
After recording their first single, “In Spite of All the Danger”, the band’s lineup settled to just Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.
Johnny and the Moondogs
In the autumn of 1958 the group had the opportunity to audition for a Canadian talent scout at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, one of the city’s top landmarks.
In advance of the audition, the group changed their name to Johnny and the Moondogs.
It made sense – John wasn’t even a student at Quarry Bank school anymore, and his schoolmates were no longer part of the band.
Japage 3
Following the audition, the group changed their name again to Japage 3, signing on to a manager. The name was a blend of their three names – John, Paul, and George.
However, bookings for the band dried up, and the three decided to break up the band.
It wasn’t over, though – John, Paul and George still saw each other socially and John and Paul continued to write songs together. George hadn’t started writing songs at this point.
The Silver Beetles
In the summer of 1959, the Casbah Coffee Club opened its doors and needed performers.
George Harrison was in the original lineup with a new band he played with at the time.
However, once that band got fired for missing a performance, George had an idea: he called his old bandmates John and Paul, and the band returned to calling themselves The Quarrymen.
Then, John Lennon’s art college friend Stuart Sutcliffe joined the band on bass, and friend Pete Best joined on the drums, and the band renamed themselves The Silver Beetles in early July 1960.
The Beatles
The band finally settled on “The Beatles” in mid-August 1960, although it’s not clear whether it was John Lennon or Stuart Sutcliffe who came up with the “ea” spelling.
And, with that, The Beatles found their name!
Fun fact: all of this happened before Ringo joined the band! By the time Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best as the bands’ drummer, they were already firmly calling themselves the Beatles.
FAQs About The Original Name of The Beatles
Why did the Beatles change their name?
The Beatles evolved their name in tandem with shifts in lineup and musical direction. Starting as “The Quarrymen,” they explored different identities like “Johnny and the Moondogs” and “The Silver Beetles.” Ultimately, they settled on “The Beatles”
How many names did the Beatles have?
The Beatles had five names during their formative years. The Beatles went through several names before solidifying their iconic identity. They began as “The Quarrymen,” transitioned to “Johnny and the Moondogs,” and then briefly adopted “Japage 3” and “The Silver Beetles.” Finally, they settled on “The Beatles.”
What were the Beatles’ other names?
Before settling on “The Beatles,” the band underwent several name changes. They started as “The Quarrymen”, later experimented with “Johnny and the Moondogs” and “Japage 3”, and then briefly became “The Silver Beetles”. Each name reflects a stage in their evolving identity before they became the iconic “The Beatles” we know today.
Why did the Quarrymen become the Beatles?
The Quarrymen evolved in both members and musical style, leading to a search for a fresh identity. Inspired by Buddy Holly’s “The Crickets”, they experimented with bug-themed names, briefly becoming “The Silver Beetles”. This eventually transformed into “The Beatles”, symbolising their evolution from skiffle to rock ‘n’ roll.
Was George Harrison in the Quarrymen?
Yes, George Harrison was a member of “The Quarrymen.” After being introduced to the group by school friend Paul McCartney, George joined the band playing the guitar. The Quarrymen was the precursor to what would later become the world-famous “The Beatles.”
Who did Johnny and the Moondogs become?
“Johnny and the Moondogs” was an early name for the band that would go on to achieve global fame as “The Beatles.” After several name changes, including “The Quarrymen” and “The Silver Beetles”, they ultimately settled on “The Beatles” as their defining name.
What were the Beatles called before the Beatles?
Before adopting the iconic name “The Beatles”, the group initially went by “The Quarrymen”, named after Quarry Bank School which John Lennon attended. As they evolved musically, they briefly became “Johnny and the Moondogs”, “Japage 3” and “The Silver Beetles” before finally settling on the name “The Beatles”, which they kept until the band broke up.
Why were the Beatles called the Silver Beatles?
The Beatles briefly adopted the name “The Silver Beetles” as a homage to Buddy Holly’s band, “The Crickets”. They played with the idea of a bug-themed name, adding “Silver” for a touch of flair. However, this name was short-lived, and they soon simplified it to “The Beatles”, which resonated more with their evolving identity.
Conclusion: What Was The Original Name of The Beatles?
So, as we can see, the original name of The Beatles was The Quarrymen, but the band had a whole host of other names throughout the years.
Want to learn more about The Beatles?
I’ve got you covered! You can read all about why the Beatles didn’t perform at Woodstock, whether or not the Beatles spoke Spanish, and why people thought the Beatles were American right here on the site.
Happy reading!
