No Ivan Vaughan, No Beatles? What If?

In their new book, David Bedford and Andrew Phillips discuss 70 key moments in Beatles history on which history could have changed.

Ivan Vaughan

The key What If moment that started this whole process was the whole coincidence of how John Lennon was introduced to Paul McCartney. Ivan Vaughan, John’s childhood friend from the age of 5, was one of John’s best friends, but Ivan’s parents weren’t keen on their son attending the same High School as “That Lennon”, so instead of him attending Quarry Bank with his friends, Ivan was sent to the Liverpool Institute. He ends up in the same class as Paul McCartney, and they become friends. They were even born on the same day!

It was this coincidence that meant that Ivan brought his new friend Paul McCartney to meet his childhood friend, John Lennon. Without Ivan, John and Paul would not have met and we would not have The Beatles.

But what about these “What If?’ scenarios?

There are 4 possible outcomes discussed in the book:

1. If the outcome would have ended up finishing The Beatles career – “The End”
2. If The Beatles would have continued, but it would have made a huge change in the outcome, it is “Tomorrow Never Knows”
3. If they did something, but managed to get away with it, it is “You Can’t Do That”.
4. If events would have meant a change, yet the outcome was the same, it is “Let It Be”.

The Beatles: What If?

1. What if they didn’t meet Allan Williams and Lord Woodbine?
2. What if they don’t go to Hamburg?
3. What if The Beatles don’t record “My Bonnie”, the record that brings them to the attention of Brian Epstein?
4. What if they don’t meet Brian Epstein?
5. What if they passed The Decca Audition?

These are just a few of the many scenarios discussed in the book, and you also have the chance to disagree with us! That is fine!

What if there was No Beatles? Not worth thinking about, is it?

But what if the history of The Beatles had changed in any of these 70 scenarios?

Get your copy of the book here. The Beatles: What If?