Welcome to the Quarrymen’s Official Website

In collaboration with music journalist Colin Hall, who by coincidence is also the curator of “Mendips”, John Lennon’s former home, our drummer, Colin Hanton wrote his memoirs a couple of years ago. Mark Bentley, an attorney in Florida and a big Beatles fan, happened to read Colin’s book and decided that it would make a great documentary. Under the direction of filmmaker Todd Thompson of Stars North Films and with the support of Doug Schwab of Liverpool West Productions Inc. the movie is almost complete. Audiences were given a sneak peek “first look” at PRE-FAB! on Friday, April 8th where it was selected to be the prestigious Opening Night Film at the Florida Film Festival.

Sadly Colin was unable to be present, having been unlucky enough to have tested positive for Covid the day before he was due to fly to the USA. However his co- author, Colin Hall, was 100% OK and did make the trip. The “first look” screening on Opening Night was a great success and we can’t wait for the film to be shown here in the UK. As well as telling drummer Colin’s own story, how he played from 1956 to 1959 in the pre-Beatle days, with John, Paul and George, the film also features appearances by Billy Bragg, Peter Asher, Bob Harris and Mark Lewisohn. This is the story of the Quarrymen, the band that gave birth to the Beatles, and serves to bookend the story of the Fab Four in conjunction with Peter Jackson’s “Get Back”.

Here is a link to the trailer!:             https://vimeo.com/413192805/

and this is a link to Stars North, the company who made the film, where you can also find the trailer:    https://www.starsnorth.com 

• Click here to find out how to buy an autographed copy of Colin’s book:

Colin Hanton was extremely disappointed not to be at the Opening Night Screening but entrusted Colin Hall to continue as his representative at the show. He told Colin ”I know I can rely on you.” It had been an honour and a privilege for Colin Hall to be asked to write “PreFab!” with Col Hanton in the first place, but now he felt an even greater sense of responsibility!

The Festival had even hired a Skiffle Group to greet people to the theatre.... they played a marvellous version of “Rock Island Line” in honour of Col Hanton & the Quarrymen.

Sylvia and Colin Hall, pictured with Mark Bentley from Tampa, Florida, who was so inspired when he read Colin Hanton’s story that he decided to turn it into a documentary....and so the movie was born. He enlisted the services of ace film-maker, Todd Thompson (at the end in this photo) and so the journey from page to screen began in 2018.