The Beatles Timeline is a Blog for Community Members to document the Beatles Timeline, and how it intersected their lives.

1940 – July 7 – Ringo Born
1940 – October 9 – John Born
1942 – June 18 – Paul Born
1943 – February 25 – George Born

From the Beginning…

1926 – January 3 – George Martin Born
1934 – September 19 – Brian Samuel Epstein Born
1940 – June 23 – Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe Born
1940 – July 7 – Richard Starkey Born
1940 – October 9 – John Winston Lennon Born
1941 – November 24 – Randolph Peter Best Born
1942 – June 18 – James Paul McCartney Born
1943 – February 25 – George Harrison Born

The Band Forms…

1957 – July 6 – John and Paul Meet

1958 – February – Paul Introduces George to John
1958 – March – George Harrison joins the Band
1960 – January – Stu Sutcliffe joins the Band

1960 – January – Stu suggests changing name to The Beatals.
1960 – May – Name changed to Silver Beetles
1960 – July – Name changed to Silver Beatles

1960 – August – Name changed to The Beatles
1960 – August 15 – Pete Best joins the Band

Hamburg…

1960 – August 16-17 – First trip to Hamburg

**Photographed in Arnhem en route to Hamburg, August 16, 1960.**

**Alan Williams van being loaded onto Ferry, August 16, 1960.**

The Beatle arrived in Hamburg early on the morning of August 17, 1960 after an arduous road trip. Alan William’s Austin J4 Minivan was filled with all their equipment and 10 people including:

John Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Stu Sutcliffe
Pete Best
Alan Williams (the band’s Booking Agent)
Beryl Williams (Alan’s Wife)
Barry Chang (Beryl’s Brother)
Lord Woodbine
George Sterner (Translator)

1960 – August 16 – John Lennon steals Harmonica in Arnhem

It is on this first trip to Hamburg that John Lennon allegedly stole a Harmonica from a Music Shop in Arnhem, The Netherlands. That Hohner Harmonica in C is used on Love Me Do and other early recordings.

The group eventually made their wat to the Indra Club in the early hours on August 17, and found the club was closed. Arrangements were made with another club owner to open the Indra Club and the group was able to sleep on the couches in the alcove of the club. The Beatles would play that night.

1960 – August 17 – First performance in Hamburg

**The Beatles at the Indra Club in Hamburg, August 17, 1960**

On the morning of August 17, 1960 the Beatles’ entourage woke up in the alcove of the Indra club in Hamburg where they would play that night for the first of 48 consecutive nights.

Pete Best had joined the Band 2 days earlier in order to go to Hamburg. You can see in these photo’s that he’s the only one without a matching jacket.

**The Beatles’ schedule at the Indra Club, 1960.**

Eventually they found that their cloth jackets would not stand up to the long sets and soon purchased the trademark leather pants and jackets seen in the Astrid Kirchherr Photos.

1960 – October 3 – Final performance at the Indra Club

The Cavern Club…

1961 – February 21 – First appearance at the Cavern Club

1962 – January 1 – Decca Sessions

1962 – August 16 – Pete Best Fired and Ringo hired by Brian Epstein

1962 – August 18 – Ringo’s Debut with the Band

1962 – December 31 – Final performance of 5th Trip to Hamburg

Beatlemania

Touring

The Studio…