Before they were stars, the Beatles were essentially a "leather-clad" bar band playing marathon sets in Germany.
: The stint ended abruptly when George Harrison was deported for being underage after a club owner, Bruno, reported him to the police. Deconstructing the Birth of the Beatles
The core of the band began when a 16-year-old , playing with his skiffle group The Quarrymen , met 15-year-old Paul McCartney at the St. Peter’s Church Woolton Garden Fête. Before they were stars, the Beatles were essentially
: The "birth" era culminated in 1964 with their landmark performance on The Ed Sullivan Show , which launched "Beatlemania" in the United States. DECONSTRUCTING THE BEATLES - Birth of The Beatles Peter’s Church Woolton Garden Fête
: At George Martin's suggestion, the band replaced original drummer Pete Best with Ringo Starr , formerly of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, completing the "classic foursome". The Launch to Superstardom