Customer Reviews

John, Paul & Me-Before the Beatles: The True Story of the Very Early Days with CD (Audio)

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I've always been interested in the Beatles early days so this book was a must. Fellow (Quarrymen)bandmate Len Gerry does a good job documenting the first gigs, run-ins with Teddy Boy gangs, and the significance of Penny Lane. I could have done with less of Garry's personal biography, but I mourned along with him as he told of the loss of his friend John Lennon.

I loved this book because I found it to be a wonderful look at John and Paul as young teens prior to and during the early Quarrymen years. And the story is told by someone who was there and who has no axe to grind. (Not that I won't accept criticism of the Beatles, but neither do I require it to find an account worthwhile.) And to be clear, ithis is not a hero-worshiping, sycophantic load of treacle, either.

Another reviewer objected to Len's personal and family history being too prominent, but, after all, it is entitled, "Joh, Paul, and Me," with the "Me" being Len. I didn't mind that because I find information on the history of Liverpool, particularly that of the 40s, 50s, and early 60s, to be quite relevant to the understanding of the origins of the Beatles.

What did bother me was the inferior nature of the editing--particularly the proofreading! The book comes across as a rather amateur production and there's really no excuse for that. Even if he didn't have much in the way of a budget, surely Len Garry has enough friends and family that he could have found free help with the typos/errors, if not with the overall layout and construction of the book--neither of which are of the highest quality.

Still, the inside look at the Liverpool, with some nice pictures and a Quarrymen related map or two, in which the Beatles grew up, is something a die-hard fan of the group should not miss.

The CD with Pete Shotton and Len visiting Mendips in Liverpool back when it was owned by the second guy after Mimi left (the one who bought it from her only stayed a year or so before splitting his family by running off with his secretary or some such cliche)is worth a listen. In addition to the at time humorous or touching reminiscing, I enjoyed the fact that Len has a voice (not just the accent) very similar to John's.

As much as I love this book, however, I'm sure glad I bought it before the best you could do on the price was nearly $30 for merely "good" condition or a library version (on both I especially worry that the CD might be scratched or otherwise in less than ideal playback condition) and at least nearly $74 with shipping for one I'd feel pretty confident would please me condition-wise.