The greatest, and definitely most successful, example of a Rocker group is the Beatles. All of the members of the Beatles came from Liverpool, England, a port on the Mersey Sea. The Mersey sound was to become fairly popular, and the town's knowledge of rock music was due to the fact that the records arrived along with the sailors and American ships that came into the harbour. The Beatles were, despite the disputes of many McCartney fans, founded by John Lennon. It was John's group, the Quarrymen, that originally accepted Paul as a guitarist, and it was John who approved the addition of George Harrison to the group. John Lennon came himself from a working-class family, having been abandoned by his father and mother at an early age and raised by his Aunt Mimi. John was certainly not an honest, upright youngster, and was constantly getting into trouble at school. He joined a rocker gang and his mischief increased in both frequency and seriousness, much to his Aunt's dismay. He fashioned himself after the Ted's of the 50's, although he said he never really intended to be an actual Ted, just to imitate them. John met Paul McCartney when he was approached by Paul's desire to enter the band. Paul was also a Rocker, and also came from a working-class family (his father was a cotton salesman and he lived in a half house), as was the young electrician apprentice that he introduced to John, George Harrison. When John's group disbanded, these three, along with John's close friend Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best, formed Johnny and the Moondogs, then the Silver Beatles, and finally, the Beatles. They became famous for their performances at the Cavern, a local Liverpool club, but their original act and Rocker image was perfected during their stay in Hamburg, Germany.
Hamburg was another European city to have been influenced by rock, and their were plenty of positions available for young bands in the local bars and clubs. Plenty of positions, provided you didn't mind the working conditions: loud, jeering, drunken crowds of motorcycle gangs, small pay, crowded living conditions, and long, irregular hours that would, as John said, "leave you dead on your feet." These hours became so horrible that the Beatles had to turn to barbiturates to keep them alert and provide them with the energy need for their show. Their show had gone from a simple rock act to a group of artists wearing leather jackets, cowboy shirts, and pointed cowboy boots. They were encouraged by the club's owner to "Mach Shau", and they did so enthusiastically. Their outfits were not without their influences, however, as they intended to represent the American rockabilly sound. Although they were all influenced by Bill Haley and his Comets, they really took after Elvis. "Elvis was the first real teenager for me," said Ringo Starr. "Bill Haley reminded me of me dad." ""Nothing really affected me until Elvis," added John Lennon. "I had no idea about doing music as a way of life until rock 'n' roll hit me. It was Rock Around the Clock, I think. I enjoyed Bill Haley, but I wasn't overwhelmed by him. It wasn't until 'Heartbreak Hotel' that I really got into it." Their road manager, Malcolm Evans, remembers that their early performances at the Cavern reminded him of Elvis.
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