Before Ringo Starr joined The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison worked with a different drummer. Pete Best traveled to Germany with The Beatles when they played in Hamburg. Best never reaped the prolific benefits of the band’s success, though. They fired him just before hitting it big, which McCartney described as one of the most difficult things they ever had to do.
Paul McCartney said The Beatles had to make a difficult decision
In 1962, The Beatles auditioned for producer George Martin. While Martin saw potential in the band, he didn’t see a path forward for them with Best. He asked them to consider finding a new drummer.
“He agreed to audition us, and we had a not-very powerful audition in which he was not very pleased with Pete Best,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “George Martin was used to drummers being very ‘in time,...
Paul McCartney said The Beatles had to make a difficult decision
In 1962, The Beatles auditioned for producer George Martin. While Martin saw potential in the band, he didn’t see a path forward for them with Best. He asked them to consider finding a new drummer.
“He agreed to audition us, and we had a not-very powerful audition in which he was not very pleased with Pete Best,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “George Martin was used to drummers being very ‘in time,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Pop music phenoms come and go, fall in and out of favor and sometimes fade into total obscurity. Very few remain relevant a decade removed from their initial success, and you can count on maybe two hands the number of artists who can knock out a new song or reissue and top the Billboard charts 50-plus years after their debut.
And then there's The Beatles.
From the moment they scored their first number one hit in the U.K. with 1963's "From Me to You," The Beatles drew on their multitude of musical influences — blues, country, rockabilly, and the sui generis soul sounds pulsating out of Motown — to create perfectly constructed, infectiously catchy singles that earwormed their way into the fabric of your being. Within three years of breaking big in the U.S., they released the pioneering folk-rock LP "Rubber Soul," flirted with psychedelia and raga on the expansive "Revolver,...
And then there's The Beatles.
From the moment they scored their first number one hit in the U.K. with 1963's "From Me to You," The Beatles drew on their multitude of musical influences — blues, country, rockabilly, and the sui generis soul sounds pulsating out of Motown — to create perfectly constructed, infectiously catchy singles that earwormed their way into the fabric of your being. Within three years of breaking big in the U.S., they released the pioneering folk-rock LP "Rubber Soul," flirted with psychedelia and raga on the expansive "Revolver,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
John Lennon brought a connection to former Beatles‘ drummer Pete Best to the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. While Paul McCartney and George Harrison adorned their costumes with their MBEs, Lennon did not want to do this. Instead, he reached out to Best’s family several years after unceremoniously firing him from the group. Here’s how he got a hold of his grandfather’s medals.
John Lennon requested to wear Pete Best’s grandfather’s medals on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover
In 1962, The Beatles fired their drummer, Best, and hired Ringo Starr. They were too afraid to tell Best themselves, so they had their manager, Brian Epstein, let him go. Lennon admitted this was cowardly.
“We were cowards when we sacked him,” he said, per The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies. “We made Brian do it. But if we told Pete to his face,...
John Lennon requested to wear Pete Best’s grandfather’s medals on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover
In 1962, The Beatles fired their drummer, Best, and hired Ringo Starr. They were too afraid to tell Best themselves, so they had their manager, Brian Epstein, let him go. Lennon admitted this was cowardly.
“We were cowards when we sacked him,” he said, per The Beatles: The Authorized Biography by Hunter Davies. “We made Brian do it. But if we told Pete to his face,...
- 2/13/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and the rest of The Beatles grew tremendously as musicians while performing in Hamburg. While they all acknowledged that the experience shaped them into better performers, it wasn’t always easy. McCartney said that his father could hardly believe his appearance when he returned home to Liverpool. His time in Hamburg had reduced him to a skeleton.
Paul McCartney admitted The Beatles were not in good shape when they left Germany
Though Hamburg was a valuable learning experience for The Beatles, it was also an exhausting one. They slept in cramped, uncomfortable quarters and played onstage for hours each night. John Lennon admitted he used to get so tired he would fall asleep onstage.
“My voice began to hurt with the pain of singing. But we learnt from the Germans that you could stay awake by eating slimming pills so we did that,” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology.
Paul McCartney admitted The Beatles were not in good shape when they left Germany
Though Hamburg was a valuable learning experience for The Beatles, it was also an exhausting one. They slept in cramped, uncomfortable quarters and played onstage for hours each night. John Lennon admitted he used to get so tired he would fall asleep onstage.
“My voice began to hurt with the pain of singing. But we learnt from the Germans that you could stay awake by eating slimming pills so we did that,” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology.
- 1/2/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After The Beatles left Hamburg, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best went their separate ways. While exhilarating, Hamburg had also been an exhausting experience, and they didn’t contact one another for a time. At his father’s urging, McCartney got a job before the band got back together. In order to get him back in the band, Lennon had to convince him to go against his father’s wishes.
John Lennon convinced Paul McCartney to rejoin The Beatles
When The Beatles returned from their time in Hamburg, they avoided one another for several weeks. They were all exhausted, embarrassed, and reconsidering their music careers. McCartney wanted to get back to making music, but he got a job as he waited on his bandmates.
“I started working at a coil-winding factory called Massey and Coggins,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “My dad had told...
John Lennon convinced Paul McCartney to rejoin The Beatles
When The Beatles returned from their time in Hamburg, they avoided one another for several weeks. They were all exhausted, embarrassed, and reconsidering their music careers. McCartney wanted to get back to making music, but he got a job as he waited on his bandmates.
“I started working at a coil-winding factory called Massey and Coggins,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “My dad had told...
- 12/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon left Hamburg, Germany, without the other Beatles. The government had deported George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe remained in Germany with his girlfriend. Lennon did not enjoy his time alone in the city and liked his trip back to England even less. He shared why he felt terrified on the journey.
John Lennon made his way back from Hamburg without the other Beatles
After Harrison, McCartney, and Best left Hamburg, Lennon remained for a brief time.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being stuck in Hamburg with no food money...
John Lennon made his way back from Hamburg without the other Beatles
After Harrison, McCartney, and Best left Hamburg, Lennon remained for a brief time.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being stuck in Hamburg with no food money...
- 12/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One of the founding members of the American country music group Dixie Chicks, Laura Lynch, died in a car crash in West Texas on Friday evening (US Pacific Time), her cousin Michael Lynch told CBS News, according to ‘Variety’.
Lynch, the group’s bassist, shared lead vocal duties on the band now officially known as just The Chicks with co-founder Robin Lynn Macy until Macy’s departure in 1993, at which point she became the sole frontwoman. She was replaced by Natalie Maines in 1995.
Chicks members Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (previously Erwin) issued a joint statement on Lynch’s death: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and travelling together.
“Laura was a bright light … her infectious energy and humour gave...
Lynch, the group’s bassist, shared lead vocal duties on the band now officially known as just The Chicks with co-founder Robin Lynn Macy until Macy’s departure in 1993, at which point she became the sole frontwoman. She was replaced by Natalie Maines in 1995.
Chicks members Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (previously Erwin) issued a joint statement on Lynch’s death: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and travelling together.
“Laura was a bright light … her infectious energy and humour gave...
- 12/24/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
After over half of his band was deported from Germany, John Lennon briefly remained in Hamburg. The Beatles had been playing shows there when authorities deported George Harrison for being too young to work. Almost immediately afterward, Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested and deported for arson. Lennon said he began feeling sorry for himself and withdrew from music afterward.
John Lennon felt torn between two identities after The Beatles performed in Hamburg
After Lennon’s bandmates left Hamburg, he remained for a time, playing with other musicians.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being...
John Lennon felt torn between two identities after The Beatles performed in Hamburg
After Lennon’s bandmates left Hamburg, he remained for a time, playing with other musicians.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being...
- 12/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, bandmates John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe played long concerts on little sleep. They played to excited crowds until early in the morning. Sometimes, the demands from their audiences kept them onstage for hours and hours. Lennon said they sometimes performed for so long that he would fall asleep in the middle of a show.
John Lennon said he used to sleep while his bandmates played music
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, gangsters occasionally came in to watch them. Lennon said that when they did, The Beatles played long shows because they feared for their lives.
“All these gangsters would come in — the local Mafia,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “They’d send a crate of champagne on stage, imitation German champagne, and we had to drink it or they’d kill us. They’d say,...
John Lennon said he used to sleep while his bandmates played music
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, gangsters occasionally came in to watch them. Lennon said that when they did, The Beatles played long shows because they feared for their lives.
“All these gangsters would come in — the local Mafia,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “They’d send a crate of champagne on stage, imitation German champagne, and we had to drink it or they’d kill us. They’d say,...
- 12/3/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When The Beatles played shows in Hamburg, Germany, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe slept in the backs of clubs. These were cramped quarters with very little privacy. As a result, the band members were always aware of what the others were doing. They frequently walked in when a bandmate brought a woman back to the room. Once, when Lennon did this, he cut up all the woman’s clothing.
John Lennon behaved erratically toward Paul McCartney and a woman
The Beatles slept in bunk beds while in Hamburg, meaning they had very little privacy. When they brought women back to the room for sex, they had to hope their bandmates would either clear out or be quiet.
“We kept quiet, kept our faces to the wall and pretended to be asleep,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology about the night Harrison lost his virginity.
John Lennon behaved erratically toward Paul McCartney and a woman
The Beatles slept in bunk beds while in Hamburg, meaning they had very little privacy. When they brought women back to the room for sex, they had to hope their bandmates would either clear out or be quiet.
“We kept quiet, kept our faces to the wall and pretended to be asleep,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology about the night Harrison lost his virginity.
- 11/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before The Beatles were household names, they had several band members who would not stay with the group through their fame. The band fired drummer Pete Best, but they had bigger problems with the skill level of one-time bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. While they didn’t fire him — he was too good of friends with John Lennon — they didn’t want his subpar playing to affect their music. Their solution was rather mean-spirited.
The Beatles didn’t want the audience to hear one band member playing
Sutcliffe was a close friend of Lennon’s who used money he made selling paintings to purchase a bass guitar and new amps. He helped name the band and was one of Lennon’s closest friends. Despite this, he wasn’t much of a musician.
“Stuart was in the band now,” George Harrison said, per The Beatles Anthology. “He wasn’t really a very good musician.
The Beatles didn’t want the audience to hear one band member playing
Sutcliffe was a close friend of Lennon’s who used money he made selling paintings to purchase a bass guitar and new amps. He helped name the band and was one of Lennon’s closest friends. Despite this, he wasn’t much of a musician.
“Stuart was in the band now,” George Harrison said, per The Beatles Anthology. “He wasn’t really a very good musician.
- 11/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Of all The Beatles, Paul McCartney was the most invested on keeping their career on track. He called his bandmates to get them in the studio and kept John Lennon focused. In the band’s earliest days together, he also stood out on the stage. According to another musician who played shows in Hamburg, Germany, with The Beatles, McCartney was clearly the most skilled musician in the group.
Paul McCartney outshone his bandmates in the early days of The Beatles, said another artist
One of the biggest turning points in The Beatles’ early career came when they began playing shows in Hamburg. They grew tremendously as musicians and performers because they had to learn how to keep the audience’s attention.
“They had to be good,” musician Frank Dostall said in the book Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman, “or else the customers just left and went to the...
Paul McCartney outshone his bandmates in the early days of The Beatles, said another artist
One of the biggest turning points in The Beatles’ early career came when they began playing shows in Hamburg. They grew tremendously as musicians and performers because they had to learn how to keep the audience’s attention.
“They had to be good,” musician Frank Dostall said in the book Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman, “or else the customers just left and went to the...
- 11/15/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When the early Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe — were first beginning to see success as performers, they nearly destroyed it. Lennon and McCartney took an impromptu hitchhiking trip together. The rest of the band was so upset to have been left behind that they began looking for other groups to join.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney took a hitchhiking trip without their bandmates
After playing shows in Hamburg, Germany, The Beatles returned to Liverpool triumphant. While they were not yet mainstream successes, they were on their way to fame. This all almost fell apart, though.
Lennon invited McCartney on a hitchhiking trip through France and Spain using his birthday money. To go, they ditched several Beatles gigs and seriously angered their bandmates.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images
“Accordingly the two just took off together, wearing matching bowler hats — the Nerk twins reincarnated,...
John Lennon and Paul McCartney took a hitchhiking trip without their bandmates
After playing shows in Hamburg, Germany, The Beatles returned to Liverpool triumphant. While they were not yet mainstream successes, they were on their way to fame. This all almost fell apart, though.
Lennon invited McCartney on a hitchhiking trip through France and Spain using his birthday money. To go, they ditched several Beatles gigs and seriously angered their bandmates.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images
“Accordingly the two just took off together, wearing matching bowler hats — the Nerk twins reincarnated,...
- 11/12/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After the chaos of early Beatles concerts, Paul McCartney would head to his girlfriend Iris Caldwell’s house to unwind. Surprisingly, though, he didn’t seek Caldwell’s company to help him relax. Instead, he went to her mother and made a surprisingly intimate request of her. Caldwell said her mother was always happy to oblige.
Paul McCartney asked his girlfriend’s mother for a surprising favor after concerts
In the early 1960s, The Beatles played sweaty shows in cramped, airless basements. After the performances, they needed time to relax. McCartney would go to Caldwell’s house to see her and her parents.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Pete Best | Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images
“Paul and John [Lennon] used to love my parents,” Caldwell said, per the book Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman. “My dad was the most totally good man I’ve ever known. Each week,...
Paul McCartney asked his girlfriend’s mother for a surprising favor after concerts
In the early 1960s, The Beatles played sweaty shows in cramped, airless basements. After the performances, they needed time to relax. McCartney would go to Caldwell’s house to see her and her parents.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Pete Best | Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images
“Paul and John [Lennon] used to love my parents,” Caldwell said, per the book Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman. “My dad was the most totally good man I’ve ever known. Each week,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
According to John Lennon, Ringo Starr had a reputation for being “dumb.” John discussed his thoughts on the “You’re Sixteen” singer‘s solo career. John also hypothesized what might have happened to Ringo had he never joined The Beatles.
Ringo Starr’s success made John Lennon ‘happy’
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon features an interview from 1975. In it, John discussed Ringo’s solo career. “I’m most happy — I guess we all are, in a way — for Ringo’s success, because of the other three of us … It always went around that Ringo was dumb, but he ain’t dumb,” John said.
“But he didn’t have much of a writing ability and he wasn’t known for writing his own material, and there was a bit of a worry that … you know, although he can make movies and he does make movies and he’s good at it,...
Ringo Starr’s success made John Lennon ‘happy’
The book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon features an interview from 1975. In it, John discussed Ringo’s solo career. “I’m most happy — I guess we all are, in a way — for Ringo’s success, because of the other three of us … It always went around that Ringo was dumb, but he ain’t dumb,” John said.
“But he didn’t have much of a writing ability and he wasn’t known for writing his own material, and there was a bit of a worry that … you know, although he can make movies and he does make movies and he’s good at it,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
A new Beatles song called “Now and Then,” billed as the final song from the legendary band, will be released on Thursday, November 2nd. The following day, a music video for the song,” helmed by Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson, will premiere.
Jackson previously directed the 2021 documentary The Beatles: Get Back, which chronicled the making of the band’s 1970 album, Let It Be. In a lengthy statement, he detailed how his follow-up Beatles project came to be:
“When Apple asked me to make the music video, I was very reluctant – I thought my next few months would be a hell of a lot more fun if that tricky task was somebody else’s problem, and I could be like any other Beatles fan, enjoying the night-before-Christmas anticipation as the release of a new Beatles song and music video approached – in 1995, l loved the childlike excitement I felt as the release of...
Jackson previously directed the 2021 documentary The Beatles: Get Back, which chronicled the making of the band’s 1970 album, Let It Be. In a lengthy statement, he detailed how his follow-up Beatles project came to be:
“When Apple asked me to make the music video, I was very reluctant – I thought my next few months would be a hell of a lot more fun if that tricky task was somebody else’s problem, and I could be like any other Beatles fan, enjoying the night-before-Christmas anticipation as the release of a new Beatles song and music video approached – in 1995, l loved the childlike excitement I felt as the release of...
- 10/31/2023
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Music
The Beatles were one of the most iconic rock bands of all time. They created chaos at their shows because their fans were so obsessed. They sold millions of records, quickly becoming the most famous band in the world during their decade-long stint in the 1960s. And, like many other rock stars, they had their share of falling outs with one another.
These days, only two Beatles remain alive: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. But the legacy the The Beatles as a group have left behind is one that modern music will never forget. With that said, how did these ultra-famous Beatles members ever come together in the first place?
The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images How did The Beatles members come together?
It all started in the 1950s. A couple of young teenagers wanted to be famous, so John Lennon spearheaded a local band; they called themselves the Quarrymen,...
These days, only two Beatles remain alive: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. But the legacy the The Beatles as a group have left behind is one that modern music will never forget. With that said, how did these ultra-famous Beatles members ever come together in the first place?
The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images How did The Beatles members come together?
It all started in the 1950s. A couple of young teenagers wanted to be famous, so John Lennon spearheaded a local band; they called themselves the Quarrymen,...
- 8/20/2023
- by Julia Mullaney
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Brian Epstein is the manager who led The Beatles through Beatlemania, but he wasn’t the first person to work with the band. Before Epstein, there was Allan Williams, who helped The Beatles secure a residency in Hamburg. They weren’t his first choice to send to Germany, though. John Lennon and one-time bassist Stuart Sutcliffe had to work hard to convince Williams, who didn’t think the band was all that good.
The Beatles’ 1st manager wasn’t impressed with the band
In 1960, Williams, a booking agent and manager, began searching for a band to perform a residency at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany. Williams had booked The Beatles for a number of concerts, but he didn’t think they had what it took to play in Hamburg.
“Allan was having plenty of trouble finding a band and that’s how the Beatles got involved,” Mersey Beat creator Bill Harry said,...
The Beatles’ 1st manager wasn’t impressed with the band
In 1960, Williams, a booking agent and manager, began searching for a band to perform a residency at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany. Williams had booked The Beatles for a number of concerts, but he didn’t think they had what it took to play in Hamburg.
“Allan was having plenty of trouble finding a band and that’s how the Beatles got involved,” Mersey Beat creator Bill Harry said,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” wasn’t as big in the United Kingdom as a 1970s cover of the tune. The cover was a top 10 single. The singer behind the cover revealed his thoughts on the song and other classics from The Beatles.
The Beatles‘ “Here Comes the Sun” is a famous song but it wasn’t one of the Fab Four’s biggest hits. Subsequently, a cover of the track became a big hit in the United Kingdom. The singer behind the cover seemed to prefer Bob Dylan to The Beatles.
The Beatles’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’ was barely a hit single in the United Kingdom
The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” was a modest hit in the U.K. The Official Charts Company reports the tune peaked at No. 58 there and stayed on the chart for four weeks. The tune’s parent album was 1969’s Abbey Road.
The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” wasn’t as big in the United Kingdom as a 1970s cover of the tune. The cover was a top 10 single. The singer behind the cover revealed his thoughts on the song and other classics from The Beatles.
The Beatles‘ “Here Comes the Sun” is a famous song but it wasn’t one of the Fab Four’s biggest hits. Subsequently, a cover of the track became a big hit in the United Kingdom. The singer behind the cover seemed to prefer Bob Dylan to The Beatles.
The Beatles’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’ was barely a hit single in the United Kingdom
The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” was a modest hit in the U.K. The Official Charts Company reports the tune peaked at No. 58 there and stayed on the chart for four weeks. The tune’s parent album was 1969’s Abbey Road.
- 8/16/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early 1960s, John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe began courting the attention of Allan Williams, a Liverpool promoter and booking agent. He didn’t initially think The Beatles were very good, but he needed a band to send to Hamburg. When he agreed to do this, it helped that Lennon and Sutcliffe felt Williams owed them. He brought them much-wanted media attention that backfired so spectacularly that Sutcliffe lost his apartment.
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe accidentally got Sutcliffe evicted
Williams ran into Lennon, Sutcliffe, and his roommate at a local Liverpool bar. He had a group of people with him who said they were reporters with the Empire News. They were working on a story about how students lived. Lennon and Sutcliffe were enrolled in art school, making them the perfect subjects. They were also in a band and hungry for media attention, so they agreed to talk to the group.
John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe accidentally got Sutcliffe evicted
Williams ran into Lennon, Sutcliffe, and his roommate at a local Liverpool bar. He had a group of people with him who said they were reporters with the Empire News. They were working on a story about how students lived. Lennon and Sutcliffe were enrolled in art school, making them the perfect subjects. They were also in a band and hungry for media attention, so they agreed to talk to the group.
- 7/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before The Beatles were the Fab Four, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe made up the band. The group eventually fired Best, and Sutcliffe stepped down, hoping to refocus on his art career. He remained on good terms with The Beatles and spent time with them when he could. Still, he knew what they were like after spending time with them in Hamburg. He warned his sister not to associate with them.
Stuart Sutcliffe told his sister to stay away from his former Beatles bandmates
In 1960, The Beatles traveled to Hamburg to play a residency in the city. Here, they grew tremendously as musicians. They learned to perform live and keep an audience’s interest. They also matured on this trip. According to Barry Miles in the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Hamburg “placed them in the front line of what would become the sixties sexual revolution.
Stuart Sutcliffe told his sister to stay away from his former Beatles bandmates
In 1960, The Beatles traveled to Hamburg to play a residency in the city. Here, they grew tremendously as musicians. They learned to perform live and keep an audience’s interest. They also matured on this trip. According to Barry Miles in the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Hamburg “placed them in the front line of what would become the sixties sexual revolution.
- 7/25/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1962, The Beatles fired their first drummer, Pete Best, in order to bring Ringo Starr into the band. While this decision worked out well for The Beatles, it made Best’s life difficult. He explained that people were cruel to him after he left the group, and he eventually retired from music altogether. It didn’t help that his former bandmates spoke poorly of him in public. After a comment made by Starr in an interview, Best sued the band. He ultimately won the defamation lawsuit.
The Beatles’ original drummer Pete Best sued the band
While Starr didn’t officially join The Beatles until 1962, he played with them several times before this. The Beatles once joined Starr in backing Hurricanes’ bass player Walter Eymond on a record. When Best was sick, Starr also filled in for him during Beatles performances. The band once discussed this in an interview with Playboy.
The Beatles’ original drummer Pete Best sued the band
While Starr didn’t officially join The Beatles until 1962, he played with them several times before this. The Beatles once joined Starr in backing Hurricanes’ bass player Walter Eymond on a record. When Best was sick, Starr also filled in for him during Beatles performances. The band once discussed this in an interview with Playboy.
- 7/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1962, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison decided they wanted to fire drummer Pete Best. They unceremoniously replaced him with Ringo Starr and, in many ways, forgot about Best. Years later, though, Best received some recognition when tracks he drummed on appeared on Anthology 1. While McCartney reportedly called Best to make amends, the one-time Beatles drummer said this never happened.
Pete Best said he hasn’t spoken to Paul McCartney in years
After The Beatles fired Best, they dropped all contact with him. Best briefly continued his music career before finding work elsewhere. He didn’t see money from the recordings he did with The Beatles until they released Anthology 1 in 1995. Best drummed on multiple songs on the album. According to writer Phillip Norman, McCartney called Best to let him know he would be receiving royalties.
“The first he knew about it was a phone call from the one...
Pete Best said he hasn’t spoken to Paul McCartney in years
After The Beatles fired Best, they dropped all contact with him. Best briefly continued his music career before finding work elsewhere. He didn’t see money from the recordings he did with The Beatles until they released Anthology 1 in 1995. Best drummed on multiple songs on the album. According to writer Phillip Norman, McCartney called Best to let him know he would be receiving royalties.
“The first he knew about it was a phone call from the one...
- 7/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkees are often thought of as a manufactured group. Davy Jones said The Beatles were the first manufactured group, not The Monkees. In addition, he compared The Beatles’ look to characters from a famous Broadway and West End musical.
The Monkees’ Davy Jones loved The Beatles’ music even though it was ‘manufactured’
During a 2006 interview with The Bob Show, Jones said he was friends with all of The Beatles. He was a big fan of the group, and he praised George Harrison’s songwriting in particular. He thought George wasn’t given his dues as a musician. In addition, Jones revealed he loved The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” so much that he listened to it thousands of times.
“Don’t get this wrong: The Beatles were the first manufactured group,” he said. “Not The Monkees. It was The Beatles.”
Jones said The Beatles’ manager, Brain Epstein, fired the Fab Four’s first drummer.
The Monkees’ Davy Jones loved The Beatles’ music even though it was ‘manufactured’
During a 2006 interview with The Bob Show, Jones said he was friends with all of The Beatles. He was a big fan of the group, and he praised George Harrison’s songwriting in particular. He thought George wasn’t given his dues as a musician. In addition, Jones revealed he loved The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” so much that he listened to it thousands of times.
“Don’t get this wrong: The Beatles were the first manufactured group,” he said. “Not The Monkees. It was The Beatles.”
Jones said The Beatles’ manager, Brain Epstein, fired the Fab Four’s first drummer.
- 7/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkees are often thought of as a manufactured group. Davy Jones said The Beatles were the first manufactured group, not The Monkees. In addition, he compared The Beatles’ look to characters from a famous Broadway musical.
The Monkees’ Davy Jones loved The Beatles’ music even though it was ‘manufactured’
During a 2006 interview with The Bob Show, Jones said he was friends with all of The Beatles. He was a big fan of the group, and he praised George Harrison’s songwriting in particular. He thought George wasn’t given his dues as a musician. In addition, Jones revealed he loved The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” so much that he listened to it thousands of times.
“Don’t get this wrong: The Beatles were the first manufactured group,” he said. “Not The Monkees. It was The Beatles.”
Jones said The Beatles’ manager, Brain Epstein, fired the Fab Four’s first drummer.
The Monkees’ Davy Jones loved The Beatles’ music even though it was ‘manufactured’
During a 2006 interview with The Bob Show, Jones said he was friends with all of The Beatles. He was a big fan of the group, and he praised George Harrison’s songwriting in particular. He thought George wasn’t given his dues as a musician. In addition, Jones revealed he loved The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” so much that he listened to it thousands of times.
“Don’t get this wrong: The Beatles were the first manufactured group,” he said. “Not The Monkees. It was The Beatles.”
Jones said The Beatles’ manager, Brain Epstein, fired the Fab Four’s first drummer.
- 7/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles have many songs that would be career-defining tracks for any other artist. When Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney perform live, it’s hard for them to choose which Beatles songs to perform as there are too many fantastic choices. However, Starr says one early Beatles song defined his career.
Ringo Starr said The Beatles ‘Love Me Do’ is a career-defining song
“Love Me Do” was the debut single by The Beatles, released in the U.K. in 1962. While it wasn’t a No. 1 hit, it put The Beatles on the map as one of the band’s audiences should listen for. Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the track. However, Lennon said it was mostly Paul’s song, but McCartney claimed it was entirely “co-written.”
“‘Love Me Do’ was completely co-written,” McCartney said in Many Years From Now. “It was just Lennon and McCartney sitting down without either...
Ringo Starr said The Beatles ‘Love Me Do’ is a career-defining song
“Love Me Do” was the debut single by The Beatles, released in the U.K. in 1962. While it wasn’t a No. 1 hit, it put The Beatles on the map as one of the band’s audiences should listen for. Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the track. However, Lennon said it was mostly Paul’s song, but McCartney claimed it was entirely “co-written.”
“‘Love Me Do’ was completely co-written,” McCartney said in Many Years From Now. “It was just Lennon and McCartney sitting down without either...
- 7/9/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles grew up playing several residencies in Hamburg, Germany. And not just because George Harrison lost his virginity while his bandmates watched. The hours-long sets each night refined their skills and sharpened their edges as they cut through pop music conventions in the 1960s. Playing music was the main gig, but The Beatles had a secret side job in Hamburg’s Kaiserkeller club that didn’t require any musical talent.
The Beatles had a side job yelling curfew announcements at Hamburg’s Kaiserkeller club
Harrison once said The Beatles didn’t have a clue — about how to operate like a proper band or how to play live — until they went to Hamburg. Playing several sets a night there during multiple residencies between 1960 and 1962 helped make them the band they became.
The not-yet-Fab quartet started in the Indra, moved to the Kaiserkeller, played the Top Ten Club, and wrapped their...
The Beatles had a side job yelling curfew announcements at Hamburg’s Kaiserkeller club
Harrison once said The Beatles didn’t have a clue — about how to operate like a proper band or how to play live — until they went to Hamburg. Playing several sets a night there during multiple residencies between 1960 and 1962 helped make them the band they became.
The not-yet-Fab quartet started in the Indra, moved to the Kaiserkeller, played the Top Ten Club, and wrapped their...
- 6/24/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Suzy Eddie Izzard (“Stay Close”) and Ed Speelers (“Outlander”) are the new additions to the cast of “Midas Man,” the delayed film on The Beatles manager Brian Epstein that has now wrapped filming.
The film began production with Jonas Akerlund (“Lords of Chaos”) as director, who departed the project for unknown reasons. Sara Sugarman (“Vinyl”) was attached to the project for a year before Joe Stephenson (“Doctor Jekyll”) stepped in. Stephenson has just wrapped the shoot, canning what will be 95% of the completed film, Variety understands.
Written by Brigit Grant, the film follows Epstein, manager of The Beatles from 1962 until his untimely death at the age of 32 in 1967. Epstein’s impact extended beyond the Fab Four, encompassing British Invasion acts such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (“The Queens Gambit”) plays Epstein. The ensemble cast includes Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan and Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan.
The film began production with Jonas Akerlund (“Lords of Chaos”) as director, who departed the project for unknown reasons. Sara Sugarman (“Vinyl”) was attached to the project for a year before Joe Stephenson (“Doctor Jekyll”) stepped in. Stephenson has just wrapped the shoot, canning what will be 95% of the completed film, Variety understands.
Written by Brigit Grant, the film follows Epstein, manager of The Beatles from 1962 until his untimely death at the age of 32 in 1967. Epstein’s impact extended beyond the Fab Four, encompassing British Invasion acts such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (“The Queens Gambit”) plays Epstein. The ensemble cast includes Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan and Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan.
- 6/14/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Can you imagine The Beatles without Paul McCartney? It could have happened. John Lennon almost kicked Paul out of The Beatles after giving him an ultimatum about staying in the band. That would have meant no songwriting sessions with John. No tunes changing the course of popular music. And probably no Beatles as we know them.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns John Lennon considered kicking Paul McCartney out of The Beatles: ‘F****** turn up today or you’re not in the band’
The Beatles weren’t even close to being The Beatles when they returned from their first Hamburg, West Germany, residency in December 1960. The underage George Harrison got deported. Paul and drummer Pete Best got arrested on arson charges and then deported. John had his work permit revoked. The group returned to Liverpool without much to show for weeks of hard work.
With his father...
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns John Lennon considered kicking Paul McCartney out of The Beatles: ‘F****** turn up today or you’re not in the band’
The Beatles weren’t even close to being The Beatles when they returned from their first Hamburg, West Germany, residency in December 1960. The underage George Harrison got deported. Paul and drummer Pete Best got arrested on arson charges and then deported. John had his work permit revoked. The group returned to Liverpool without much to show for weeks of hard work.
With his father...
- 6/9/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles rocketed to international superstardom soon after they dumped drummer Pete Best. Ringo Starr entered the fray, the band sent its first album, Please Please Me, to the top of the charts in England, and the rest is history. John Lennon’s last words to Best in 1962 were fitting — a boring and simple sendoff to a band member about to lose his job.
(l-r) Pete Best and John Lennon | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images John Lennon’s last words to Pete Best were incredibly boring: ‘I’ve got other arrangements’
Being remembered as the person who lost his job before the band found fame doesn’t show it, but Pete Best was instrumental to the early success of The Beatles.
His mother, Mona Best, owned Liverpool’s Casbah Club, a venue they frequently played in the early years. She also managed them briefly. The Beatles’ first drummer performed with...
(l-r) Pete Best and John Lennon | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images John Lennon’s last words to Pete Best were incredibly boring: ‘I’ve got other arrangements’
Being remembered as the person who lost his job before the band found fame doesn’t show it, but Pete Best was instrumental to the early success of The Beatles.
His mother, Mona Best, owned Liverpool’s Casbah Club, a venue they frequently played in the early years. She also managed them briefly. The Beatles’ first drummer performed with...
- 6/1/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles Anthology is an in-depth exploration of The Beatles through several projects, including a book, documentaries, and a few soundtracks. These soundtracks contained previously unreleased or unfinished songs that fans could hear for the first time. Paul McCartney didn’t want one of The Beatles’ earliest songs to be included, but the crew’s decision won.
Paul McCartney didn’t want ‘Besame Mucho’ to be in ‘The Beatles Anthology’ The Beatles (Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison | Santi Visalli Inc./Getty Images
Before The Beatles became worldwide superstars, the fab four had to audition like many other artists. Their major audition happened in 1962 when they performed for Emi Studios. This was long before The Beatles had perfected their music and still had Pete Best on drums.
Their first Emi session saw the band playing a few songs, including “Love Me Do”, “Besame Mucho”, and “P.S. I Love You...
Paul McCartney didn’t want ‘Besame Mucho’ to be in ‘The Beatles Anthology’ The Beatles (Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison | Santi Visalli Inc./Getty Images
Before The Beatles became worldwide superstars, the fab four had to audition like many other artists. Their major audition happened in 1962 when they performed for Emi Studios. This was long before The Beatles had perfected their music and still had Pete Best on drums.
Their first Emi session saw the band playing a few songs, including “Love Me Do”, “Besame Mucho”, and “P.S. I Love You...
- 5/30/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Imagine you could go back in time and buy stock in The Beatles in 1960 or 1961. A small investment would be worth a fortune today. Allan Williams had some Beatles stock back then. What he did with it made him the biggest loser in Beatles’ history even while being one of the most important people to the band.
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
- 5/28/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles’ members have shared many of their fantastic stories from the band’s epic run in the 1960s. There are countless books, memoirs, and documentaries like Anthology where fans can hear juicy details about their favorite songs, albums, and performances. While fans would love to hear more about The Beatles, don’t expect it to come from drummer Ringo Starr, who has no plans to write a memoir about the band.
Ringo Starr doesn’t want to write a book about The Beatles despite many offers Ringo Starr | Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ringo Starr has a fascinating life outside of The Beatles. The drummer was born in Liverpool in 1940 and had a challenging childhood. He developed two life-threatening illnesses as a child, one that landed him in a hospital for two years. This led to him being behind many other kids his age in education. However, in the hospital,...
Ringo Starr doesn’t want to write a book about The Beatles despite many offers Ringo Starr | Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ringo Starr has a fascinating life outside of The Beatles. The drummer was born in Liverpool in 1940 and had a challenging childhood. He developed two life-threatening illnesses as a child, one that landed him in a hospital for two years. This led to him being behind many other kids his age in education. However, in the hospital,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr’s affability made him well-loved amongst The Beatles and their fans. Before Starr was a part of the group, though, the other Beatles found him more than a little intimidating. He was slightly older than his future bandmates, but his reputation was the point of concern for them. Even John Lennon admitted that he had been afraid of Starr before he knew him.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr of The Beatles | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images Ringo Starr was the final person to join The Beatles
Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison had been working together for several years by the time Starr joined The Beatles. They had been playing in Hamburg alongside bass player Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. At the same time, Starr was performing in the city with his group, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. The Beatles got to know Starr, and...
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr of The Beatles | Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images Ringo Starr was the final person to join The Beatles
Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison had been working together for several years by the time Starr joined The Beatles. They had been playing in Hamburg alongside bass player Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. At the same time, Starr was performing in the city with his group, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. The Beatles got to know Starr, and...
- 5/20/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1964, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison prepared to embark on a world tour without Ringo Starr. At this point, Starr had been with The Beatles for two years, but they planned to temporarily replace him. He was in the hospital with tonsillitis and missed part of the tour. Starr felt incredibly hurt by this, but it might have been a small comfort to know that Harrison fought hard to cancel the tour.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr | Getty Images George Harrison wanted to cancel a tour because Ringo Starr was sick
While Starr was in the hospital, the rest of the band began working with a stand-in drummer, Jimmy Nichol.
“Ringo missed part of the tour because he was in hospital with tonsillitis,” McCartney said, per The Beatles Anthology. “We couldn’t cancel, so the idea was to get a stand-in. We got Jimmy Nicol, a session drummer from London.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr | Getty Images George Harrison wanted to cancel a tour because Ringo Starr was sick
While Starr was in the hospital, the rest of the band began working with a stand-in drummer, Jimmy Nichol.
“Ringo missed part of the tour because he was in hospital with tonsillitis,” McCartney said, per The Beatles Anthology. “We couldn’t cancel, so the idea was to get a stand-in. We got Jimmy Nicol, a session drummer from London.
- 5/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Ringo Starr joined The Beatles, the band had been getting to know him pretty well. They realized that they had a lot in common with the then-drummer for Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. When they first saw Starr at clubs in Hamburg, though, they found him intimidating. He proved he was a fan of their music, though. During early performances, Starr stood in the audience and shouted requests at them.
Ringo Starr | John Pratt/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Ringo Starr used to shout requests at The Beatles while they performed in Hamburg
The Beatles and Starr’s band, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes, played in Hamburg, Germany, at the same time. Starr intimidated them, and his band seemed far more professional than The Beatles felt at the time.
“Ringo seemed to us to be cocky,” George Harrison said in The Beatles Anthology. “Relative to what we were like at the time,...
Ringo Starr | John Pratt/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Ringo Starr used to shout requests at The Beatles while they performed in Hamburg
The Beatles and Starr’s band, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes, played in Hamburg, Germany, at the same time. Starr intimidated them, and his band seemed far more professional than The Beatles felt at the time.
“Ringo seemed to us to be cocky,” George Harrison said in The Beatles Anthology. “Relative to what we were like at the time,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles and Abbey Road Studios are deeply connected. So much so that the studio was initially Emi Studios but changed its name after Abbey Road was a hit album. However, the fab four did not make a great first impression during their initial recording session at Abbey Road.
The Beatles came to Abbey Road with lackluster equipment The Beatles (Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon | Ivan Keeman/Redferns
The Beatles’ first recording session at Abbey Road Studios occurred on June 6, 1962. While the band gained a small following in the U.K., they had not yet secured a recording contract. At the time, The Beatles consisted of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and drummer Pete Best, as Ringo Starr hadn’t joined yet.
In a 2008 interview with Sound on Sound, engineer Norman Smith, who recorded The Beatles’ first six albums, recalled their first session. He said...
The Beatles came to Abbey Road with lackluster equipment The Beatles (Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon | Ivan Keeman/Redferns
The Beatles’ first recording session at Abbey Road Studios occurred on June 6, 1962. While the band gained a small following in the U.K., they had not yet secured a recording contract. At the time, The Beatles consisted of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and drummer Pete Best, as Ringo Starr hadn’t joined yet.
In a 2008 interview with Sound on Sound, engineer Norman Smith, who recorded The Beatles’ first six albums, recalled their first session. He said...
- 5/15/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles were so successful as a band that it’s difficult to imagine them struggling during early performances, but Paul McCartney said they did. Before they were officially The Beatles, McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison played a number of shows as a trio. In some of these performances, they competed against other acts, and McCartney said they lost almost every time.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Paul McCartney said The Beatles did not have much luck in early performances
Lennon played in a band called The Quarry Men and eventually recruited McCartney and Harrison. Many of the original band members left, leaving just the three of them who, at the time, all played guitar.
“We would show up for gigs just with three guitars, and the person booking us would ask, ‘Where’s the drums, then?'” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Paul McCartney said The Beatles did not have much luck in early performances
Lennon played in a band called The Quarry Men and eventually recruited McCartney and Harrison. Many of the original band members left, leaving just the three of them who, at the time, all played guitar.
“We would show up for gigs just with three guitars, and the person booking us would ask, ‘Where’s the drums, then?'” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology.
- 5/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early days of The Beatles, the lineup was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe. The group eventually brought Pete Best as the drummer, but the four musicians founded the band. Both McCartney and Harrison admitted that they didn’t think Sutcliffe was a very good musician, but they still felt jealous of him. McCartney shared why they couldn’t help but feel this way.
Paul McCartney and George Harrison | Edward Wing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney said he and George Harrison felt jealous of Stuart Sutcliffe
McCartney and Harrison got to know Sutcliffe through Lennon. They went to art school together and formed a tight bond. Lennon had been working with McCartney and Harrison in The Quarry Men, and the group worked to convince Sutcliffe to join them. He didn’t have any musical background, but he did have enough money to...
Paul McCartney and George Harrison | Edward Wing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney said he and George Harrison felt jealous of Stuart Sutcliffe
McCartney and Harrison got to know Sutcliffe through Lennon. They went to art school together and formed a tight bond. Lennon had been working with McCartney and Harrison in The Quarry Men, and the group worked to convince Sutcliffe to join them. He didn’t have any musical background, but he did have enough money to...
- 5/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
All four Beatles stood front and center on the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. They’re impossible to miss. And since it’s one of the most iconic album covers ever, millions of people have glanced at John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr over the years. But there were actually five Beatles on the Sgt. Pepper cover.
Original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe joins John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison on the cover of The Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images 5 Beatles appeared on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover with Stuart Sutcliffe among the photos
The four living and breathing Beatles stood smack dab in the middle of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. Wax figures of the Fab Four were nearby. But the left side of the sleeve showcased the fifth Beatle — original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe.
Original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe joins John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison on the cover of The Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images 5 Beatles appeared on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover with Stuart Sutcliffe among the photos
The four living and breathing Beatles stood smack dab in the middle of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. Wax figures of the Fab Four were nearby. But the left side of the sleeve showcased the fifth Beatle — original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe.
- 5/2/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Paul McCartney’s dad, James McCartney, learned his son was in a band with John Lennon, he felt a bit uneasy. The two boys became friends after a performance at a church fête. They realized they shared a love of music and decided to begin performing together. While McCartney’s father would never say anything in front of Lennon, he didn’t like the influence he had on his son. He encouraged McCartney and George Harrison to stop spending time with him.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Best, and John Lennon | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s dad thought his son should ditch John Lennon
After McCartney joined Lennon’s band, The Quarry Men, he brought in Harrison, one of his school friends. The three grew close and began spending much of their time together. Lennon was a bit older and already in college, and he began...
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Best, and John Lennon | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s dad thought his son should ditch John Lennon
After McCartney joined Lennon’s band, The Quarry Men, he brought in Harrison, one of his school friends. The three grew close and began spending much of their time together. Lennon was a bit older and already in college, and he began...
- 4/28/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles’ original lineup was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe. They eventually added drummer Pete Best to the mix, but the four musicians created the band. They each played a key role in their later success, but according to Harrison, Sutcliffe wasn’t much of a musician. Harrison didn’t even consider him a musician at all, but he made some important contributions to the group.
Allan Williams, Beryl Williams, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison | Keystone Features/Getty Images George Harrison didn’t think Stuart Sutcliffe added much musically to the band
Sutcliffe was one of Lennon’s close friends from art school. Sutcliffe taught Lennon about painting, and, in return, Lennon talked to him about music. When Lennon decided to form a new band, it felt natural that Sutcliffe would be a part of it.
Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison had worked together in The Quarrymen,...
Allan Williams, Beryl Williams, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison | Keystone Features/Getty Images George Harrison didn’t think Stuart Sutcliffe added much musically to the band
Sutcliffe was one of Lennon’s close friends from art school. Sutcliffe taught Lennon about painting, and, in return, Lennon talked to him about music. When Lennon decided to form a new band, it felt natural that Sutcliffe would be a part of it.
Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison had worked together in The Quarrymen,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Before Ringo Starr was the drummer, The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best. They played together as a group for two years before the band decided they wanted to replace Best with Starr. They fired him unexpectedly, and nobody could give him a straight answer about why they wanted him out. According to the band’s longtime road manager Neil Aspinall, though, Harrison was the driving force behind Best’s exit from the group.
Paul McCartney, Pete Best, George Harrison, and John Lennon | Hulton Archive/Getty Images George Harrison reportedly wanted Pete Best out of The Beatles
When Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison came to their manager, Brian Epstein, and told him they wanted to fire Best, he was unhappy with them. Best had one of the largest fan followings in the group; dropping him made little sense to Epstein.
“I knew how popular Pete was,...
Paul McCartney, Pete Best, George Harrison, and John Lennon | Hulton Archive/Getty Images George Harrison reportedly wanted Pete Best out of The Beatles
When Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison came to their manager, Brian Epstein, and told him they wanted to fire Best, he was unhappy with them. Best had one of the largest fan followings in the group; dropping him made little sense to Epstein.
“I knew how popular Pete was,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles visited America many times, whether on tour or just on holiday. A few of them, like John Lennon, left the U.K. and moved to America. Lennon moved to New York City, but before the explosion of Beatlemania, he almost moved to Texas with drummer Ringo Starr. Their plans ultimately fell through, but it was probably for the best.
Many American rockstars influenced The Beatles Ringo Starr and John Lennon | Stan Meagher/Express/Getty Images
There wasn’t much rock n’ roll when The Beatles grew up in Liverpool. Their main exports of the genre came from the U.S. with artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard. These artists made the fab four fall in love with rock, leading them to ultimately form what is still the most successful rock band of all time. In an interview with You and I, Ringo Starr said country...
Many American rockstars influenced The Beatles Ringo Starr and John Lennon | Stan Meagher/Express/Getty Images
There wasn’t much rock n’ roll when The Beatles grew up in Liverpool. Their main exports of the genre came from the U.S. with artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard. These artists made the fab four fall in love with rock, leading them to ultimately form what is still the most successful rock band of all time. In an interview with You and I, Ringo Starr said country...
- 4/22/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles had a squeaky-clean image compared to some of the other bands in the 1960s, but they were still arrested more than once. For the most part, they, like many other bands at the time, faced arrest for drug possession. While several members of The Beatles landed in legal trouble, one person was arrested far more times than the others.
The Beatles | Chris Walter/Contributor via Getty Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested for arson
In the pre-Beatlemania days, the band played a residency in Hamburg, Germany. When authorities found out George Harrison wasn’t old enough to be working in the country, they deported him. That night, Paul McCartney and one-time Beatles drummer Pete Best decided to move their belongings out of the place where they were staying. Needing light and finding themselves without a flashlight, they decided that the best course of action was to light...
The Beatles | Chris Walter/Contributor via Getty Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested for arson
In the pre-Beatlemania days, the band played a residency in Hamburg, Germany. When authorities found out George Harrison wasn’t old enough to be working in the country, they deported him. That night, Paul McCartney and one-time Beatles drummer Pete Best decided to move their belongings out of the place where they were staying. Needing light and finding themselves without a flashlight, they decided that the best course of action was to light...
- 4/18/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles wrote their music and won over fans with their charm, but they couldn’t have reached their level of success without the people who worked with them along the way. Producers, assistants, managers, and former bandmates all helped The Beatles become the biggest band in the world. While they didn’t receive as much recognition as the band, some people who helped lift The Beatles to success have become the subjects of both documentaries and fictional movies. Here are five to check out.
The Beatles and Brian Epstein | John Rodgers/Redferns ‘Good Ol’ Freda’ is a movie about The Beatles’ longtime secretary
At 17, Freda Kelly scored the job that thousands of people would have given anything to have. She became the secretary to The Beatles and the head of their fan club. She was also one of the few people to work with them for the entirety of...
The Beatles and Brian Epstein | John Rodgers/Redferns ‘Good Ol’ Freda’ is a movie about The Beatles’ longtime secretary
At 17, Freda Kelly scored the job that thousands of people would have given anything to have. She became the secretary to The Beatles and the head of their fan club. She was also one of the few people to work with them for the entirety of...
- 4/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s the age of the biopic, and many filmmakers are turning to classic rock artists as their subjects. It makes sense — their music has moved people for decades, and their lives are usually full of enough intrigue to fill at least one film. As news of the new Bob Dylan biopic continues to trickle out and we not-so-patiently await a Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac movie, here are six classic rock biopics to watch.
The Beatles | Central Press/Getty Images ‘Love & Mercy’
The 2014 film Love & Mercy stars Paul Dano and John Cusack as The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. The film alternates between the 1960s, as Wilson works on the seminal Pet Sounds, and the 1980s, as he grapples with his mental health and begins a new relationship. Wilson himself said that upon watching the film, he was astonished by both portrayals of him, particularly Dano’s.
“Well, he looked...
The Beatles | Central Press/Getty Images ‘Love & Mercy’
The 2014 film Love & Mercy stars Paul Dano and John Cusack as The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. The film alternates between the 1960s, as Wilson works on the seminal Pet Sounds, and the 1980s, as he grapples with his mental health and begins a new relationship. Wilson himself said that upon watching the film, he was astonished by both portrayals of him, particularly Dano’s.
“Well, he looked...
- 4/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney’s brother Michael was also a musician, but his career did not reach the same level of success as the Beatle. This couldn’t have been easy, and he began calling himself Michael McGear instead of Michael McCartney. He also denied his relationship with the singer. He told people that he wished he was related to McCartney, because it would mean he had more money.
Paul and Michael McCartney | Michael Putland/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s brother was also a musician
While growing up, McCartney and Michael were both interested in music. Their father had played in a band, and he passed down his love of music to both his sons. Michael also almost joined The Beatles, but a bit of bad luck meant that the band hired Pete Best instead.
Me and my brother, Mike, with Mum. Happy #MothersDay to mothers everywhere! pic.twitter.com/abMweBw0nh...
Paul and Michael McCartney | Michael Putland/Getty Images Paul McCartney’s brother was also a musician
While growing up, McCartney and Michael were both interested in music. Their father had played in a band, and he passed down his love of music to both his sons. Michael also almost joined The Beatles, but a bit of bad luck meant that the band hired Pete Best instead.
Me and my brother, Mike, with Mum. Happy #MothersDay to mothers everywhere! pic.twitter.com/abMweBw0nh...
- 4/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr joined The Beatles significantly later than his bandmates, so he didn’t live through some of their earliest experiences as a group. He also wasn’t on all the songs they recorded, though this continued to happen after he joined the band. For various reasons, Starr was not the drummer on five Beatles songs.
Ringo Starr | Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Ringo Starr plays a different instrument on The Beatles song ‘P.S. I Love You’
Soon after joining the band, Starr joined them in the studio to record “Love Me Do.” He struggled with timekeeping, though, much to the frustration of producer George Martin. Ultimately, Starr’s version of “Love Me Do” made it on the album, but he wasn’t so lucky with another song.
“They started ‘Ps I Love You.’ The other bloke played the drums and I was given the maracas,” Starr said in the...
Ringo Starr | Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Ringo Starr plays a different instrument on The Beatles song ‘P.S. I Love You’
Soon after joining the band, Starr joined them in the studio to record “Love Me Do.” He struggled with timekeeping, though, much to the frustration of producer George Martin. Ultimately, Starr’s version of “Love Me Do” made it on the album, but he wasn’t so lucky with another song.
“They started ‘Ps I Love You.’ The other bloke played the drums and I was given the maracas,” Starr said in the...
- 4/5/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There were many important moments in The Beatles‘ history. Without one of them, the Fab Four’s course would’ve changed drastically. For this list, we kept out the moments when the band earned their hits and released their albums. Instead, we stuck to the moments that truly shaped and defined the group. Here are 10 of the most critical moments in Beatledom.
The Beatles | John Downing/Getty Images 10. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957
The official starting point of The Beatles happened on July 6, 1957. Ivan Vaughan introduced his friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon to each other at a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. John’s band, The Quarry Men, performed at the event, and they impressed Paul. Once they met, Paul played for John and impressed him. A week later, John had another bandmate ask Paul to join the band.
The Beatles | John Downing/Getty Images 10. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957
The official starting point of The Beatles happened on July 6, 1957. Ivan Vaughan introduced his friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon to each other at a village fete (garden party) at St. Peter’s, Woolton’s Parish Church in Liverpool. John’s band, The Quarry Men, performed at the event, and they impressed Paul. Once they met, Paul played for John and impressed him. A week later, John had another bandmate ask Paul to join the band.
- 4/2/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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