Difference between revisions of "Charles Roberts and The Quarrymen"

Revision as of 10:15, 9 November 2013

Interview with Charlie Roberts....

Tell us about your background, Charlie

I was brought up in Liverpool 8 (Toxteth) when, during the 40s, 50s and 60s, it was very depressed, although at the time it seemed quite normal to those of us who were born during or just after the second World War. Liverpool was heavily bombed, especially the docks and the surrounding areas. Although they were strictly out of bounds, we used to climb in and around the bombed buildings which were a source of adventure albeit very dangerous. I am pleased to say that Liverpool has made great strides in recent years and is now a major tourist destination in the UK.

I attended Granby Street School then progressed to the Liverpool Junior School of Art which was situated on the opposite side to the main College of Art. Bill Harry, who founded the great Merseybeat magazine was an acquaintance who was a form higher than me. What he doesn't know about the Mersey scene is not worth knowing.

Did you know John Lennon at Quarry Bank?

I never knew John when he was at Quarry Bank School and didn't meet him until early '57. By the way, many say that the name 'Quarrymen' came from the school, but I would dispute that. At the time, we all thought that Woolton Quarry was the source of the name. Colin Hanton [the Quarrymen's drummer] also believes that. There is a public footpath that leads from Quarry Street, over the quarry and onto Church Road, where we used to walk on occasions and enjoy the views over Woolton and the surrounding area. John would take the path whenever he was going into the village.

When did you meet John?

I went to a practice session with Colin Hanton early in 1957 and that is when I met John and the rest of the Quarrymen. There were many such sessions with additional 'members' in various places that year and nothing was taken very seriously. John, who was often witty and sarcastic, would often mimic characters from "The Goon Show," which was a popular comedy radio show at the time.

Colin used to take practice sessions seriously, and it was always an effort to turn up with his drum kit which he used to bring on a bus. Colin was always practicing and could be heard clearly when nearing his house off Kings Drive, Woolton. Practice sessions continued to be an opportunity for fun and larking about, and, I believe, was the main reason that Colin eventually left the Quarrymen.

A big fan and mutual friend, Arthur Wong, was given a brand new 'Vauxhall Cresta' for his 17th birthday in July '57. It was a two-tone pink and blue car, the nearest thing to an American style in the UK and we used to parade around Woolton in it. It was a real head turner as there were not many cars of modern style around at that time. John and Paul would sit in the back and Paul would practice stuff like 'Raunchy' as we cruised around Menlove Avenue into Woolton Village. A couple of weeks later somebody closed a passenger door and the window shattered everywhere. Obviously it was a faulty window, but we never got to ride in the car again.

Arthur also had a Grundig tape recorder and so some sessions took place at his home in Mossley Hill where he taped the lads. Sadly, none of the tapes survived. Sometime in 1958 the lads clubbed together to produce a vinyl record which was passed around for anyone to listen to. I took it to work at Littlewoods in Crosby where it was played every day over the canteen Tannoy [speaker] system for a couple of weeks. Eventually I brought it home and after a while I returned it to the Quarrymen who really didn't seem too interested at the time. What became of it after I don't know, except that Paul bought it back in later years.

Tell us about the Rosebery Street party on June 22, 1957 where you took the photos.

We had perfect weather for our street party and everyone had a great afternoon, with all the usual fun and games. Then the Quarrymen arrived and the crowd were in awe, most having never seen the like before. A primitive mic was connected up from number 76 and placed on the flat-backed wagon. The Quarrymen performed the first session in the afternoon which was fine, but the loud evening session attracted crowds from the other streets including a local gang who did not like Lennon flirting with their girlfriends. When trouble looked likely, the lads jumped off the flat back wagon and ran into my mums house at 84 Rosebery Street, where they all had tea. Meanwhile, the wagon, tea chest and all was driven around the block and the gear was then brought into the back of my mum's house.

The gang were still hanging around waiting for the Quarrymen to appear and the police were called. The lads were escorted to the bus stop at the top of Rosebery Street, where they caught a number 73 bus to get home.

Liverpool Council awarded us another party on the following Saturday for having the best decorated street. Understandably, the Quarrymen were not too keen on another appearance and we had the Merseysippi Jazz Band instead. A week or so later John was to meet Paul at St. Peters church Hall in Woolton.

I only have 3 photo's left of the Rosebery Street party, some were 'lost' many years ago at a chemists who also developed photographs. A couple more were lost when a local Beatles exhibition who I had leant my photo's to, allowed the exhibition to be shipped to Dallas USA including many other loan items without the owners permission. Thanks to local musician Mike Byrne (who created the Beatles Story at Albert Dock) who saved the remaining 3 prints.

What else do you recall from those early Quarrymen days?

During '57 and '58 there were so many gigs, practice sessions and parties it is difficult all these years later to remember details. The Quarrymen had a few bookings at St Barnabas Church when they used to play during the interval. It was mainly ballroom dancing but when the lads took to the stage it quickly became rock 'n' roll with some skiffle and with Paul doing his Little Richard numbers.

On these nights we would usually meet up beforehand at the Rose of Mossley, the local pub. I think I was the only one who didn't like to drink "black velvets," a drink that was originally a mix of champagne and Guinness, but for us working class it had to be cider and Guinness which is quite a potent mix. After "Barney's" and other local events some of us would end up at the Old Dutch Cafe near Penny Lane on Smithdown Road. Dutchy's was one of the rare venues in those days where we could get something to eat and drink in the early hours. The cafe is no longer and is now a plumbing and bathroom shop called York and Young. They have retained the original Dutch windmill sign which can be clearly seen above the shop.

The Quarrymen played at Wilson Hall (now demolished) in Garston a few times, and on one occasion they were chased by a gang of Teddy Boys because John had been flirting with girls in the audience again! I suspect that it was their final gig at Wilson Hall.

I got the lads to attend a party one Friday night in a place called Ford on the outskirts of Liverpool. We all travelled on a double-decker Crosville bus which was empty upstairs, so we had the top deck to ourselves. I don't recall the lads playing too much at the party, though, as the record player was booming out most of the night.

It was around 2am when John and Paul went out looking for a cigarette machine and when they returned John was carrying what was known as a "cocky watchmans lamp" which was used in the dark to warn of roadworks. At around 8am we attempted to leave the long-dead party, but the front-door mortice lock had been blocked with cement. I am quite sure John cemented the mortice lock — he could be mischievous — and likely got some cement from the roadworks when he and Paul went out. Paul was very quiet compared to John at the time, and I am sure it wasn't him. Anyway, we all left via the back door, and with John denying any knowledge of the cement, and caught a bus back to town.

When we reached town John asked if I would go with him to collect a new guitar from Frank Hessy's, a famous Liverpool guitar shop in Whitechapel. The guitar was a Hofner that John had been paying off for some time, and he was really excited at his purchase. Hessy's was one of the few shops that would take payments off equipment in those days.