August  29:
The Casbah Club opens in the basement of Pete Best's house on 8 Hayman's Green in West Derby, Liverpool, operated by Pete's mother Mona. The Quarry Men (John, Paul, George and Ken Brown) perform as the house band.

(About this time, Ringo Starr becomes the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.)

October:
Pete Best and Ken Brown form a band called "The Blackjacks", playing the Casbah when the Quarry Men are not performing. 

October 31:
The Quarry Men enter a band competition on Carrol Levis' "Discoveries" talent show and change their name to "Johnny and the Moondogs".

November 15:
The Moondogs flunk out in the Carrol Levis finals.

December:
Stuart Sutcliffe, a friend of John's from Art College, is talked into joining the Quarry Men, because he happens to have enough money to buy a nice guitar, a big Hofner bass.