Imagining the iconic Beatles without the influential George Harrison is a challenging prospect, especially considering the pivotal moments that led to his eventual inclusion in the band. Initially, there was uncertainty about whether he would join, which could have altered the course of music history.

In November of 1956, a young and ambitious John Lennon, only 16 years old, took the first step in his musical journey by forming a skiffle group with his school friends, naming it the Quarrymen. The following summer, fate intervened when Lennon met Paul McCartney at a local gig. McCartney was invited to join the group, which also included Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanson, and Len Garry. At that time, McCartney assumed the role of the lead guitarist, but it soon became evident that this position did not align with his strengths.

Reflecting on his early experiences, McCartney reminisced, “For my first gig, I was given a guitar solo on ‘Guitar Boogie,’” as recounted in The Beatles Anthology. “I could play it easily in rehearsal, so they elected that I should do it as my solo. Things were going well until the moment arrived during the performance; I got sticky fingers and thought, ‘What am I doing here?’ I was overwhelmed by the attention as everyone focused on the guitar player. I simply couldn’t perform.” This moment of vulnerability underscored the need for a more skilled guitarist in the group.

Discovering George Harrison: The Perfect Fit

Fortunately, Paul McCartney already had a promising candidate in mind to replace him. He and George Harrison were both students at the Liverpool Institute and regularly commuted together on the same bus, fostering a budding friendship rooted in their mutual passion for music. Their shared interests laid the groundwork for a lasting collaboration.

READ MORE: Explore the Worst Song From Every George Harrison Album. McCartney recalls, “Paul came round to my house one evening to look at the guitar manual I had, which I could never work out. It was still in the cupboard. We learned a couple of chords from it and managed to play ‘Don’t You Rock Me Daddy O’ with just two chords. We simply played together, not as part of any group, but rather enjoyed the experience and picked up skills from other musicians who were more advanced.”

John Lennon?s Initial Hesitations About Harrison

Despite the promising connection between McCartney and Harrison, John Lennon had reservations. At just 15 years old, Harrison appeared quite youthful, and Lennon, then 17 and immersed in his college life, was hesitant about inviting someone so young into his band. He felt there was a significant gap between high school experiences and college life.

“There is a vast difference between being in high school and being in college,” Lennon shared in a 1980 interview with Playboy. “I was already experiencing adult relationships, drinking, and other activities. George, being much younger, used to follow me and my first girlfriend, Cynthia?who later became my wife. We’d exit art school, and he’d linger around, similar to how kids hover outside the Dakota now.” This dynamic painted a vivid picture of their contrasting life stages.

Regardless of Lennon?s concerns, McCartney enthusiastically encouraged Harrison to audition for the band, which he ultimately did. ?He pulled out his guitar and played ‘Raunchy,’ a rock ‘n’ roll instrumental by Bill Justis,? McCartney recounted in an interview with Uncut in 2008. ?That performance sealed the deal?he was officially in the band. Despite being younger and notably baby-faced, his exceptional talent was undeniable.?

Listen to Bill Justis’ ‘Raunchy’

Harrison?s remarkable musical abilities ultimately won over Lennon, despite the perceived youthful appearance and demeanor. “He was a terribly sarcastic bugger right from day one,” Harrison later noted in The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years. “But I never backed down from him. All that emotional roughness was, in a way, his method of distinguishing the serious musicians from the amateurs. I was never intimidated by him; when he challenged me, I simply responded in kind.”

Listen to the Quarrymen’s ‘In Spite of All the Danger’