As If Waking From a Dream

December 15, 1961

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best get their first look at a management contract, produced by Brian Epstein, that could legalize their management arrangement with him.  While they agree it is inadequate to their needs, it does become the template which Brian uses as a starting point for writing his own contract with them.  They have agreed in principle that they would sign with him.

Brian starts applying his civilizing influence right away, telling them to lose the leather jackets and jeans all together.  First, Brian gives them a "preppie" look, asking them to wear sweaters and slacks on stage, but there are even bigger image changes in planning.

John Lennon:  "We were in a dream til he came along.  We had no idea what we were doing.  Seeing our marching orders on paper made it all official.  Brian was trying to clean our image up, but at the same time he didn't want us suddenly looking square.  He would tell us jeans were not particularly smart and could we possibly manage to wear proper trousers.  He literally f*ckin' cleaned us up. There were great fights between him and me, over me not wanting to dress up, and he and Paul wanting me to dress up.  In fact, he and Paul had some kind of collusion to keep me straight."  Even after 50 years, that does ring true, doesn't it?

Later on that evening, they appear with the new band first formed by their friend from the recent London adventure, Brian Cassar (Cass and the Cassanovas).  It's yet another Operation Big Beat event at the Tower Ballroom.