1960
(Undated) The group goes through a succession of names changes this year. They start the year as the Quarrymen. John and Paul perform by themselves as the Nurk Twins. Other names used are the Silver Beetles, Long John and the Silver Beatles, the Silver Beats, and even the Beatals. Finally, sometime before heading to Hamburg in August, they become, simply, the Beatles.
January: Stu Sutcliffe, a friend of John, joins as bass player, though he doesn’t really know how to play. Sutcliffe later quits the group to become a full-time artist, and dies in 1962 from a brain hemorrage.
May: Allan Williams is hired as the Beatles’ first manager. Years later, Williams writes a book about his relationship with the group, calling himself, "The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away."
Aug. 17-Oct. 3: The Beatles make their first trip to Hamburg with new drummer Pete Best to play the Indra Club and "mak shau" (make show) for 4 1/2 hours a night and six hours on weekends. Their Hamburg stage show is punctuated by insults directed at the audience and antics that include Lennon performing with a toilet seat around his neck.
Oct. 4-Nov. 30: The Beatles’ engagement is moved to the Kaiserkellar after the Indra is closed by police. During this gig, they meet Richard Starkey (Ringo Starr), the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
Oct. 15: John, Paul, George, Ringo and Wally? That’s who assembles in a studio to record George Gershwin’s "Summertime." Wally is Lou Walters, a member of the Hurricanes. Also recorded by Wally and Ringo alone are "Fever" and "September Song." None have been released.
November: The Beatles begin appearing at the rival Top Ten Club, while still under contract to the Kaiserkellar. On Nov. 21, the group is deported from Germany after it’s discovered that George Harrison is underage.