Which band did Paul McCartney join that later became the Beatles?

Paul McCartney joined The Quarrymen, the skiffle and rock-and-roll group that later evolved into the Beatles.

McCartney met John Lennon at the St Peter’s Church fête in Woolton, Liverpool, on 6 July 1957. Lennon was performing with The Quarrymen, and McCartney’s guitar skills impressed him enough that he was invited to join soon afterward. McCartney became the group’s rhythm guitarist and brought musical knowledge that helped shape its future direction.

George Harrison joined the group in 1958, while Stuart Sutcliffe became its bassist in 1960. The group went through several names and line-up changes before settling on The Beatles. Although McCartney did not join a band already called The Beatles, The Quarrymen is the accepted direct predecessor of the group.

A common mix-up is confusing The Quarrymen with Wings, McCartney’s later post-Beatles band. Wings was formed in 1971 with Linda McCartney and Denny Laine, more than a decade after The Beatles became internationally famous.