Pete Best was the drummer for The Beatles for two years until he was fired and replaced with Ringo Starr. During that time, he amassed one of the largest fan bases within the group and received royalties worth hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
He missed Beatlemania’s excitement and playing drums for one of the world’s most famous bands; it took him a long time to recover.
He was a member of The Beatles.
Undeniably, The Beatles are one of the greatest rock bands of all time. But less widely known is their not-always-perfect lineup: in 1962, original drummer Pete Best was fired and replaced with Ringo Starr; this decision came as quite a shock to many fans; some speculate that George Martin may have disapproved of Best’s drumming while others claim other members desired a different drummer for various reasons.
After Mona, Pete Best’s mother moved his family from Madras to Liverpool in 1945, she opened The Casbah Coffee Club in her basement home. This club quickly became popular among youths from Liverpool and soon had a large membership base; here was where his first group formed: the Black Jacks. Later on, though, The Beatles took over this space and began recording internationally famous songs here.
After hearing of Best’s departure, fans were outraged. Petitions to Mersey Beat came pouring in while at Cavern Club there could be shouts of “Pete Best for ever!”.
Ringo Starr eventually replaced Best, and the Fab Four achieved international renown, yet soon enough, fans forgot all about Best, who made them famous despite his talent being equaled only by three members of their group. While Best may have had his moments, his drive wasn’t like that of his fellow four.
Once The Beatles split, Best embarked on a modest solo career, releasing some albums and touring with his group, the Pete Best Combo. Although he retired in 1968, in 1988, he rejoined professional music by founding The Pete Best Band, which still performs today and offers authentic sound from the early Beatles years. Now in his 70s with several grandchildren, he enjoys golf, family time, and musical expression – and he has an amusing sense of humor!
He was a member of Lee Curtis and the All-Stars.
At the height of The Beatles’ popularity, drummer Pete Best was an invaluable member. His ability to play beats and broad female fan base helped cement them as household names across Britain; however, after their departure, he found himself out of the picture. This book “Beatle! The Pete Best Story,” provides insight into this little-documented period in their history.
Randolph Peter Scanland, a journalist and music critic, wrote this book to explore the role of drummer Paul McCartney in The Beatles’ early days. It offers some lesser-known anecdotes from their first performances, explores various myths related to their early formation, and discusses any conflicts when the group disbanded. Additionally, Scanland discusses some controversies associated with its dissolution.
Scanland details Best’s musical journey, beginning in Madras, India, where he played drums for local groups. Mona transformed their family home’s basement into the legendary ‘Casbah’ coffee club; here was where The Quarrymen formed, and John, Paul, George, and Ringo met each other for the first time.
After leaving The Beatles, Best joined Lee Curtis and the All-Stars (featuring guitarist Tony Waddington and bassist Wayne Bickerton). Decca signed these All Stars; after signing two moderately successful singles with them, they changed into The Pete Best Four before Best eventually retired from performing again 20 years later.
Pete Best has released several albums, such as a self-titled solo record and the rerelease of his debut LP. Additionally, he has performed extensively with his brother Roag’s Pete Best Band; their new CD entitled Haymans Green captures The Beatles’ Cavern Club sound.
After being turned away by The Beatles, Pete Best found success with his music career following retirement. Royalties from the Anthology album’s release allowed him to receive payment for his time performing with them; today, he continues performing and touring with Pete Best Band.
He was a member of The Pete Best Combo.
Pete Best, who left The Beatles just as they became iconic, released Hayman Green in 2008 as an album that chronicles their early years. Boasting 24 tracks recorded during their time together and an authentic mid-’60s sound that surprises most listeners from Liverpool – it features saxophones and echo-laden production – this release perfectly captures the band’s formative years.
Early performances at venues in Liverpool, such as The Cavern Club, earned them a strong reputation. Soon after that, they passed an audition with Parlophone Records and began performing in Hamburg, but Pete Best departed and was replaced by Ringo Starr; this new lineup became known as The Beatles.
Following The Beatles’ success, Best played in bands such as Lee Curtis’ All-Stars. Additionally, he formed the Pete Best Combo, which eventually evolved into The Pete Best Four; although not hugely successful at first glance, this band proved essential for Best’s artistic development.
Best was born Randolph Peter Scanland on 24 November 1941 in Madras, India, and spent his formative years living with Mona and Rory Scanland in Liverpool, UK. They left India via one of the final troop ships in 1945. Mona converted the basement of their house into the Casbah, an early version of The Beatles known then as The Quarrymen that attracted many people.
In the 1960s, Pete Best had several highly successful performances at various Liverpool music venues and eventually caught the eye of The Beatles’ manager. Best managed to convince the group to give him an audition; following this trip to Hamburg in August 1960, he returned home and formed his group, eventually starting Pete Best Combo.
He was a member of The Pete Best Band.
After being fired from the Beatles, Best started his group – The Pete Best Band. Though the group wasn’t very successful, he did find stability through marriage to Kathy (whom he met at a Beatles show), his civil service job at Liverpool Employment Service’s payroll service, and performing and recording for some cheapo labels that exploited his Beatle status. However, his final solo effort, Hayman Green on Lightyear Records in 2008, marked a great triumph of ambition over mere profiteering.
Best was born in Madras and moved with his mother, Mona, to Liverpool after his father died. Following this move, Mona opened Casbah Coffee Club – soon an outlet for many bands such as the Quarrymen (future members John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were members). Best played initially in one incarnation of this band before joining Chas Newby and Bill Barlow to form The Black Jacks.
In 1968, Pete Best sued his former bandmates for libel in response to an article in Playboy magazine suggesting they used drugs; the lawsuit was eventually settled for an undisclosed sum, and bankruptcy was also declared on his behalf. Since 1988, he has led his group, The Pete Best Combo, later playing alongside Lee Curtis’ All Stars and The Pete Best Four.
In 1995, when Anthology by the Beatles was released featuring early demo recordings with Best on drums, Best received royalties that earned him an undistributed windfall that enabled him to form the Pete Best Band and tour with it before recording albums but without commercial success. Haymans Green by Lightyear Records became popular among rock fans; unfortunately, Best was forced out of music altogether when his band collapsed in 2010. Haymans Green remains popular today, but Best works full-time as a civil servant at Liverpool’s Garston job center.
