ONE of the original members of John Lennon's first group, the Quarrymen, has died of cancer.

Eric Griffiths, 64, died just two weeks after the band finally released their debut album, half a century after they formed.

As a teenager, he became a guitarist with the Quarrymen, the skiffle-influenced group Lennon played in before the Beatles.

When Lennon invited a young Paul McCartney to play along with the Quarrymen the legend of the Beatles was about to begin.

Mr Griffiths was originally from Denbigh, in North Wales, but had lived in Liverpool's Woolton Village since the age of 10.

The Quarrymen took their name from Quarry Bank High School, in Mossley Hill, where a teenage Mr Griffiths became friends with Lennon and fellow band members

Pete Shotton and Rod Davis. He played with the band from 1956 until 1958, sharing a stage with both Lennon and McCartney.

After leaving the band in 1958 and joining the Merchant Navy as a cadet navigating officer, Mr Griffiths never lost his interest in the band.

The Cavern Club's 40th anniversary in 1997 brought the guitarist and the band back together and the Quarrymen were revived.

The band finally recorded their debut Quarrymen album, titled Songs We Remember, which was launched at the Liverpool Beatles Convention in August last year and finally released on January 17.