It was then we started dreaming of a future in show business. Before that, we hadn't dared to think about one. Unfortunately, though, the Nurk Twins didn't altogether catch on, and we felt we'd do much better in a larger group rather than as a duo. So we started and finished several groups until we got one together that had the beginnings of a new sound.

By then George had joined us, and so had a pal of ours, who is now dead, Stuart Sutcliffe. We began to do well as semi-pros. Then one day our big break came with an offer to appear at The Star Club in Hamburg. This is a kind of super-Cavern, where just about everyone who is anyone on the Liverpool scene has played at some time or another.

On our first visit there, George became very interested in the frauleins, and learned to speak their language in a fantastically quick time. I think by the way Paul's eyes kept flashing, he too liked the German girls, but me, I had different ideas. My girl was at home in Liverpool. I'd met her one day and we'd suddenly fallen in love. A little while later, we were married. I love her. As I'm away such a lot, she lives with Aunt Mimi. I'd like to tell you more about her, but I've this old-fashioned idea that marriage is a private thing, too precious to be publicly discussed. So forgive me and understand.

As I was saying, we appeared at the Star Club three times. The second time, another group were on the same bill, and we were all very taken with the style of their drummer. He had a special feel for his rhythm, and was the greatest drummer we'd ever seen perform. His name of course, was Ringo Starr.

We didn't get to talk to him during that show, and it wasn't until a few months after, back in Liverpool, that we actually met him. After our first visit to Hamburg we came home without Stuart Sutcliffe, because he had decided to stay in Germany permanently. It was a sad blow to us when we heard of his sudden death.

When we were in Germany we thought up the title Beatles, but the Germans couldn't pronounce it, so they called us the Beat Boys and it wasn't until we tied up with Ringo that we officially joined the ranks of the creepy crawlies.