- The incredible story of one man, his drums and a culture that gave birth to the band that would become The Beatles.
- John, Paul, George...and Colin? Based on the book of the same name by musician Colin Hanton with Colin Hall-custodian for John Lennon's childhood home-PRE FAB. is the story of one man, his drums, and the teenage John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. Hanton serves as tour guide through this fascinating and highly entertaining chronicle of the rise of "skiffle" music (an acoustic blend of folk, blues, and jazz) and its impact on post-World War II British youth, the influence of American rock 'n' roll, and how a boy named John Lennon rounded up his closest friends to learn music and form a group in 1956 called the Quarry Men that would evolve in just a few years into the biggest and most influential band in music history-The Beatles. PRE FAB. provides incredible insight into not only Colin and John's early musical adventures, but a vivid social history of post-war Liverpool and Britain. Hanton was a Quarry Man when both Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined the group, and he tells the story of these heady and history-in-the-making days with both pride and a tinge of regret. Skillfully combining archival footage, home movies, photographs, film clips, and music of the period, along with interviews with the surviving Quarry Men, Paul McCartney, Mike Pender, Billy Bragg, Peter Asher, family, friends, Liverpool residents and many others, director Todd Thompson (Woman in Motion) has created a joyous and enlightening documentary that will open eyes and bring a smile to your face. Peter Jackson's "Get Back" was the epic and surprising conclusion to the Beatles story; PRE FAB. is where it all began.—Stars North
- PRE FAB! tells the story of Liverpool born Colin Hanton's formative years up to and including his career as the original drummer with John Lennon's skiffle group, The Quarry Men.
PRE FAB! provides an insider's close-up and personal view of John Lennon's formative musical adventures. And Colin Hanton's perspective is a unique one. He is not a commentator, Colin was there alongside John. He lived the stories he tells. Colin was on stage with John when he made his debut at The Cavern. He witnessed John's mother Julia teaching John a song on banjo. Like John, and then later Paul and George, Colin was on the inside looking out.
Along with John, Pete Shotton, Eric Griffiths, Rod Davis and Len Garry, Colin played with The Quarry Men on the day in 1957 when Paul McCartney was first introduced to John. And he was there when George Harrison plugged in to make his on-stage debut with John and Paul with in early 1958.
Over a period of two years Hanton related his memories to Colin Hall. Liverpool born and bred Hall is the acclaimed custodian of John Lennon's former home in Woolton, Liverpool. Meticulously weaving Colin Hanton's memories together with those of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and the other members of the group, Hall has produced a vivid, detailed eye-witness insight not only into Colin's musical career with John Lennon but also of the nascent music scene in Liverpool and the birth of 'beat music' on Merseyside.
As such 'PRE FAB!' is a journey into 'skiffle' music, the British homemade alternative to the burgeoning rock 'n' roll sounds emanating from the USA. While British teens like John Lennon and Paul McCartney may have dreamed of becoming rock 'n' roll stars like Elvis Presley turning that dream into a practical reality was impossible. Cash strapped British youths could simply not afford to import the all-essential electric guitars needed to play rock 'n' roll. Those beautiful shiny guitars also came from the USA and were far too prohibitively expensive to import.
Fortuitously for British teens, if not the entire universe, a homegrown hero (born in Glasgow, Scotland) called Lonnie Donegal provided them with the tools to make a sound all their own. Lonnie struck when Bill Haley was at his zenith and Elvis had not yet breached the UK charts. His record 'Rock Island Line' climbed to number 8 in the UK charts in January 1957 and introduced a new form of rhythm heavy music into British teen consciousness called 'skiffle'. It was 'skiffle' that opened the door through which they could pour in their tens of thousands to make a noise all their own, one of whom was a tearaway teenager from Liverpool called John Lennon.
Skiffle emanated from the USA. It was a kissing cousin of rock 'n' roll but essentially it was not played on electric instruments. Instead it was enthusiastically strummed on acoustic and homemade instruments. Rough, ready, rhythmic and raucous it was a close as British youths could get to rock 'n' roll without plugging in.
Before their parents knew it, kids the length and breadth of the UK were scouring family homes for broom handles, pots, pans, washboards and wooden crates to form skiffle groups. It was a national phenomenon and, like rock 'n' roll, not easily understood by parents but totally embraced by their kids. Almost overnight thousands and thousands of teenagers were performing in youth clubs and coffee bars with their own skiffle groups.
John Lennon's Quarry Men were one such skiffle group. Formed towards the end of 1956 none of the boys in the group could really play. They literally learned as they performed. Living in Woolton, the same south Liverpool middle class suburb as sixteen year old John Lennon, was eighteen year old Colin Hanton. Two years older and already at work Colin had indulged his passion for drums by laying down a deposit for a basic kit bought from Frank Hessy's the legendary music store in Liverpool, (situated just around the Cavern Club which opened a few months later as a jazz club). Introduced by a mutual friend to The Quarry Men, Colin and his shiny new drum kit made a big impression and he was immediately invited to join the fledgling group.
Within months Paul McCartney would be recruited to the ranks of The Quarry Men when he was introduced to them on Saturday 6 July 1957 at the St. Peter's Annual Garden Fete
Colin was a witness to how Paul's arrival within the group almost immediately changed the nature of The Quarry Men from young boys getting together to have some fun, make some music and hopefully meet lots of girls, into something altogether more serious.
In Paul McCartney, John Lennon had found the kindred spirit with whom he could make his rock 'n' roll dreams a reality. Colin Hanton was on hand to see John and Paul's relationship grow ever closer as they enthusiastically embraced their shared musical vision of the future. He witnessed their musical collaboration develop from simply learning 'cover' songs into beginning to write their own tunes.
When, at the tail end of 1957, John and Paul were eager for George Harrison to join The Quarry Men they were also keen to hang on to their drummer (a rare luxury for a skiffle band). Consequently, they went to great lengths to secure Colin's agreement to have George in the group at the expense of original member and Colin's good friend, Eric Griffiths. In telling how this happened Colin captures the very essence of the Lennon - McCartney relationship and how, from the very start, they were looking to take the group forward musically.
And maybe most fascinating of all Colin was there when John, Paul and George made their first professional recording - their version of Buddy Holly's 'That'll Be The Day' backed by a Paul McCartney and George Harrison tune, 'In Spite Of All The Danger'. The latter just happened to be the only song the two ever composed together.
PRE FAB! captures Colin's story of these heady, history in-the-making days with directness and good humor. Packed with detail and a great sense of place, Colin Hanton's memoir is the most focused and insightful of all the stories ever told about the very beginnings of The Beatles because Colin Hanton was actually there with John, Paul and George on stage, in the clubs and pubs, in the studio, at the parties, in their homes and on the buses. For three incredible years Colin Hanton was part of rock music's most fabulous journey.
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