The Not So Famous BEATLES

When most people think of, 'The Beatles’, they think of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. This is correct, if you are thinking about the fantastic four who hit America hard with matching suits and haircuts.

The original Beatles however, did not include Ringo. The line up consisted of; John Lennon (rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (second lead guitar), George Harrison (lead guitar), Stuart Sutcliffe (bass guitar) and Tommy Moore (drums); this was the band that first left Liverpool to tour Scotland with singer Johnny Gentle.
Shortly after the tour, Tommy Moore quit the band, but left the drums behind. Pete Best joined the band as the new drummer. It was these five Beatles that left for Hamburg Germany.

Some background on the ‘Not so Famous Beatles’

Stuart Sutcliffe (bass guitar), and in comparison to the other members of the band, his musical talents were some what described as ‘Inadequate’. He joined the band, because he was the best friend of John Lennon. During the early years, his involvement in The Beatles, helped protrude the image of what the band eventually evolved to. For example, when Stuart’s girl friend, Astrid Kirchherr gave Stuart the ‘moptop ’, hair cut. The style was then copied by the other members and became apart of the bands unique look and overwhelming appeal.

Separate from his involvement with the Beatles, Stuart Sutcliffe was an accomplished painter. When the band returned home to Liverpool in 1961, Sutcliffe stayed behind in Germany with girlfriend Astrid. He died shortly after from a brain hemorrhage.

Pete Best, was the drummer that replaced Tommy Moore. Pete best played in the band, during their club acts in Hamburg, Germany and later Liverpool. Best was let go from the band in 1962, and replaced by Ringo Starr.

Members of precursor bands (for example The Quarrymen) include Pete Shotton, Colin Hanton, Len Garry, Eric Griffiths, Rod Davis.

Very temporary members such as Jimmy Nicol who filled in for Ringo in 1964 for part of the tour when Ringo became ill. George Harrison didn’t like Nicol and felt that he was far too pushy, while Ringo felt as if he was going to be replaced by Nicol, which obviously never happened.

There was also Andy White who was the session drummer for 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S I Love You' and another drummer Norman Chapman was also a temporary member of the band.

Bassist Chas Newby preformed three gigs with The Beatles shortly after Sutcliffe departed from the band.

Billy Preston, a pianist who played the organ on ‘Let it Be’ and the Fender Rhodess Electric Piano on ‘Don’t let me Down' and 'Get Back'. Although he knew the Beatles in the early 1960’s it wasn’t until 1969, when he actually worked with the, after Harrison invited him to their Recording session. Preston has also been known as the ‘Black Beatle ’..

Back to The Beatles as a foursome; When Stuart left the band, rather than replace him with another musician, Paul McCartney switched from second lead guitar to bass guitar, this line up is the line up that is known as ‘The Beatles’. John Lennon on rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney on bass guitar, George Harrison on lead guitar and Ringo Starr on the drums.