First published 2013
Mark Lewisohn opens the first volume of his biographical trilogy by examining the early lives of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Drawing from extensive archival research and hundreds of fresh interviews, he traces their family backgrounds, childhoods, and teenage years in Liverpool. The author documents their fascination with American music and their formative experiences performing in Hamburg's clubs. He captures their nights at the Cavern Club and their freedom to move about before celebrity changed everything. The narrative concludes at the end of 1962, with "Love Me Do" already released and "Please Please Me" ready to launch. The band stands at the threshold of unprecedented success, with their first album session scheduled and American conquest on the horizon. This decade-long research project reveals the lesser-known pre-fame period when four young musicians were becoming the Beatles.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, non-fiction, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Hamburg, Liverpool
Period: 1962, Early Lives
944 pages · Hardcover · Crown Archetype