The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Help! LP, 1965)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 live recording on The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl LP)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘A Hard Day’s Night’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 outtake on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Parlophone single, 1964)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 live recording on The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl LP)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Hippy Hippy Shake’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘I’ll Get You’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Parlophone B-side, 1963)
The Pete Best Band (Imagine…The Sixties, video 1990)
‘I’m Down’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 outtake on Anthology 2 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Parlophone B-side, 1965)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD 1996)
‘I Saw Her Standing There’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Please Please Me LP, 1963)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 live version on Anthology 1 CD)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘Johnny B Goode’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘Kansas City
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 outtake on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Beatles for Sale LP, 1964)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Pete Best Band (US Cameo single, 1966)
‘Long Tall Sally’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (‘Long Tall Sally’ EP, 1964)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live At The BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 TV performance on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 live recording on The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl LP)
The Merseybeats with Pete Best (Merseybeat Magic video 1989)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘Love Me Do’
The Beatles with Pete Best (1962 Parlophone audition tape on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr, drums (Parlophone single, 1962)
The Beatles with Andy White, drums and Ringo Starr, tambourine (Please Please Me LP, 1963)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr, drums (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
Ringo Starr (Vertical Man CD, 1998)
‘Lucille’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Pete Best Band (Live at The Adelphi CD, 1992)
‘Memphis Tennessee’
The Beatles with Pete Best (Decca audition tape, 1962)
The Beatles with Pete Best (1962 recording in Pop Goes the Radio Vol 1, Italian CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
‘Money (That’s What I Want)’
The Beatles with Pete Best (Decca audition tape, 1962)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (With The Beatles, LP, 1963)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 live version on Anthology 1 CD)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘Mr Moonlight’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 outtake on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Beatles for Sale LP, 1964)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Please Mr Postman’
The Beatles with Pete Best (1962 recording in Pop Goes the Radio Vol 1, Italian CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (With The Beatles LP, 1963)
‘Please Please Me’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1962 outtake on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Parlophone single, 1963)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Revolution’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Apple B-side, 1968)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Rip It Up’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1969 rehearsal on Anthology 3 CD)
The Pete Best Band (Live at The Adelphi CD, 1992)
‘Rock and Roll Music’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Beatles For Sale LP, 1964)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1966 live performance on Anthology 2 CD)
Pete Best (Best of The Beatles US LP, 1965)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Roll Over Beethoven’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (With The Beatles LP,1963)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 live version on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 live recording on The Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl LP)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
‘Slow Down’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (‘Long Tall Sally’ EP, 1964)
The Pete Best Band (Live at The Adelphi CD, 1992)
‘Some Other Guy’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
Pete Best (Best of The Beatles US LP, 1965)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Sure To Fall’
The Beatles with Pete Best (Decca audition tape, 1962)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
Ringo Starr (Stop and Smell the Roses LP, 1981)
‘Ticket to Ride’
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Parlophone single, 1965)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 version on Live at the BBC CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 live TV performance on Anthology 2 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 live recording on The Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl LP)
The Pete Best Band (Once a Beatle, Always… CD, 1996)
‘Till There Was You’
The Beatles with Pete Best (Decca audition tape, 1962)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr, bongos (With The Beatles LP, 1963)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 live version on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1964 version on Live at the BBC CD)
‘To Know Her Is To Love Her’
The Beatles with Pete Best (Decca audition tape, 1962)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 LP)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 version on Live at the BBC CD)
‘Twist and Shout’
The Beatles with
Ringo Starr (Please Please Me LP, 1963)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1963 live version on Anthology 1 CD)
The Beatles with Ringo Starr (1965 live recording on The Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl LP)
The Pete Best Band and Merseycats ensemble (Imagine…The Sixties, video 1990)
The Pete Best Band (Back to the Beat CD, 1995)
I’ve just seen a face: a who’s who guide
* * *
To avoid repetition, and to save you remembering everyone, this brief guide lists some of the personalities in this book:
Ron Appleby 1960s Southport promoter.
Neil Aspinall The Beatles’ road manager, and now manager of Apple Corps.
Tony Barrow The Beatles’ press officer (1963–66).
Mona Best Mother of Pete, Rory and Roag and owner of the Casbah Coffee Club.
Roag Best Pete Best’s half-brother, born 1962. Also a drummer.
Wayne Bickerton Member of the Pete Best Four (1963–66). Producer of the Rubettes.
Joe Brown Singer-guitarist known for ‘A Picture of You.’
Howie Casey Saxophonist, Seniors (1961–62), Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes (1963–64). Later with Wings.
John Cochrane Drummer, Wump and his Werbles (1960–61), Midnighters (1962–63), Chuckles (1963–66).
Peter Cook Lead guitarist, Kansas City Five (1962–63) and Earl Royce and the Olympics (1963–65). Plays excellent blues guitar.
Lee Curtis Lead singer with the All Stars (1962–67). Owns guest house in Weston Super Mare and entertains residents.
Rod Davis The Quarry Men (1957–58).
Paddy Delaney Doorman, the Cavern Club.
Paul Du Noyer Lennon biographer who edited Q magazine (1990–92).
Ray Ennis Lead singer of the Swinging Blue Jeans since 1957.
Clive Epstein Younger brother of Brian Epstein. Died 1988.
Joe Flannery Friend of Brian Epstein and manager of Beryl Marsden and his brother, Lee Curtis. Writing his autobiography.
Ritchie Galvin Drummer, Earl Preston and the TTs (1962–65). Now plays with Liverpool country bands.
Len Garry The Quarry Men (1957–58).
Johnny Gentle Liverpool rock ’n’ roll ballad singer managed by Larry Parnes.
Jim Gretty Guitar tutor who sold instruments at Frank Hessy’s.
Eric Griffiths The Quarry Men (1957–58).
Johnny Guitar Rhythm guitarist with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Despite industrial injury to his shoulder, still plays Merseyside clubs.
Johnny Gustafson Cass and the Casanovas (1959–60), the Big Three (1961–63), the Merseybeats (1964).
Colin Hanton The Quarry Men (1957–59).
Bill Harry Editor Mersey Beat newspaper and Beatles chronicler since.
Johnny Hutchinson Cass and the Cassanovas (1959–60), the Big Three (1961–64).
Bert Kaempfert MOR German orchestra leader and record producer.
Brian Kelly Impresario who ran dances in the northern suburbs of Liverpool. He also ran Alpha Sound in Crosby.
Astrid Kirchherr German photographer and Stu Sutcliffe’s girlfriend.
Ted Knibbs Manager of Billy J. Kramer. Sold contract to Eppy for £50.
Billy J. Kramer With the Coasters (1960–63) and the Dakotas (1963–67).
Sam Leach Entertaining Merseybeat impresario. Calls himself The Man That Merseybeat Forgot and thinks he’s being ironic.
Mark Lewisohn Top Beatles authority – knows more than George Harrison.
Lord Woodbine Friend of Allan Williams who ran a steel band. Still on Merseyside and subject of a radio biography in 1998.
Dave Lovelady Drummer, Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes (1961–62), the Fourmost (1962–78).
Mike McCartney Paul’s brother (aka Mike McGear) and part of Scaffold.
Ray McFall Owner, the Cavern Club (1959–66).
Beryl Marsden Many say she was better than Cilla, but never had breaks ’til she sang in Tarzan and the Lost City (1998)
Fred Marsden Gerry’s brother and drummer, Gerry and the Pacemakers (1957–67). Now runs the Pacemaker driving school in Formby.
Gerry Marsden Leader of Gerry and the Pacemakers.
George Martin The Beatles’ record producer. Autobiography called All You Need Is Ears and he retired in 1998 when his hearing was failing.
George Melly Flamboyant Liverpool jazz singer and writer.
Tommy Moore Silver Beatles’ drummer (1960), who died in 1981.
Trevor Morais Drummer, Faron’s Flamingos (1962–63), then The Peddlers.
Paul Murphy Liverpool singer/producer who worked for Polydor in Hamburg. At one stage he owned The Star-Club tapes.
Mitch Murray Songwriter – ‘How Do You Do It’, ‘You Were Made For Me’.
Larry Parnes London manager of Billy Fury, Johnny Gentle, etc.
Al Peters Merseyside blues musician; currently fronts Lawnmower.
Mark Peters Lead of Mark Peters and the Silhouettes (1963–67), which included his brother Steve Fleming.
Earl Preston Lead singer with The TTs. Still sings regularly around Liverpool.
Harry Prytherch Drummer, The Remo Four (1959–61), Group One (1961–64). Presents The Merseybeat Story in North West theatres.
Brian Redman In a hectic 12 months, drummed with the Four Jays, the Fourmost, the Dominoes and the Cascades. Settled with The Hillsiders.
Dick Rowe Head of A&R at Decca. Died 1986.
Ian Sharp Friend of young Lennon, became actor/director Richard Tate.
Tony Sheridan Norwich rock ’n’ roll singer who found success in Hamburg.
Pete Shotton The Quarry Men (1957–58) and John’s best friend. Worked at Apple and now a millionaire through Fatty Arbuckle’s.
Mike Smith Producer who worked for Dick Rowe at Decca.
Mimi Smith John Lennon’s aunt, Mary Elizabeth Smith. Died 1991.
Phil Spector Created The Wall of Sound with The Crystals, and The Ronettes, and later produced Beatles John and George.
Rory Storm Real name Alan Caldwell. Singer with the Hurricanes, died 1972.
Alan Sytner Founding owner, the Cavern Club (1957–59).
Geoff Taggart St Helens guitarist who wrote for Shakin’ Stevens and the Shadows.
Garry Tamlyn Authority on drumming techniques at Australian university.
Alistair Taylor Brian Epstein’s personal assistant and ‘Mr Fixit’ to the Beatles.
Cy Tucker Vocalist/guitarist with Earl Preston and the TTs.
Jurgen Vollmer Photographer friend of Astrid Kirchherr.
Lou Walters Guitarist with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
Andy White Drummer on ‘Love Me Do’, later with New York Police Band.
Allan Williams Liverpool entrepreneur, owned the Jacaranda, the Blue Angel and, for a short time, the Beatles.
Bob Wooler Liverpool promoter and DJ, the Cavern Club.
(This list of participants was drawn up when I wrote the original book in 1998. I did consider bringing it up-to-date but I was writing ‘Died’ by so many of them, I found it rather dispiriting and stopped.)
Paperback writers
* * *
The following books have been consulted.
Best, Pete & Patrick Doncaster, Beatle! The Pete Best Story (Plexus, 1985)
Best, Pete & Bill Harry, The Best Years of The Beatles (Headline, 1996)
Brown, Peter & Steven Gaines, The Love You Make (Macmillan, 1983)
Clayson, Alan, The Quiet One – A Life of George Harrison (Sidgwick and Jackson, 1990)
Clayson, Alan, Ringo Starr – Straight Man or Joker? (Sidgwick and Jackson, 1991)
Coleman, Ray, John Winston Lennon (Sidgwick and Jackson, 1984)
Coleman, Ray, Brian Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles (Viking, 1989)
Davies, Hunter, The Beatles – The Authorised Biography (Heinemann, 1968)
Du Noyer, Paul, We All Shine On (Carlton, 1997)
Foster, Mo, British Rock Guitar (Northumbria Press, 2011)
> Frame, Pete, The Beatles and Some Other Guys (Omnibus Press, 1997)
Goldman, Albert, The Lives of John Lennon (Bantam, 1988)
Gottfridsson, Hans Olof, The Beatles – From Cavern to Star Club (Premium Publishing, 1997)
Giuliano, Geoffrey, Tomorrow Never Knows– 30 Years of Beatles Music and Memorabilia (Paper Tiger, 1991)
Harry, Bill, The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopaedia (Virgin, 1992)
Harry, Bill, The Encyclopaedia of Beatles People (Blandford, 1997)
Hertsgaard, Mark, A Day in The Life – The Music and Artistry of The Beatles (Macmillan, 1995)
Howlett, Kevin, The Beatles at the Beeb (BBC, 1982)
Leigh, Spencer & Pete Frame, Let’s Go Down The Cavern (Vermillion, 1984)
Leigh, Spencer, Speaking Words of Wisdom (Cavern City, 1991)
Lewisohn, Mark, The Beatles Live! (Pavillion, 1986)
Lewisohn, Mark, The Complete Beatles Chronicle (Pyramid, 1992)
McCartney, Paul & Barry Miles, Many Years From Now (Secker & Warburg, 1997)
McDonald, Ian, Revolution in the Head – The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties (Fourth Estate, 1994)
Marsden, Gerry & Ray Coleman, I’ll Never Walk Alone (Bloomsbury, 1993)
Peebles, Andy, The Lennon Tapes (BBC, 1981)
Norman, Philip, Shout! The True Story of The Beatles (Hamish Hamilton, 1981)
Sheff, David, The Playboy Interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono (Playboy Press, 1981)
Shotton, Pete & Nicholas Shaffner, John Lennon in my Life (Coronet, London, 1984)
Taylor, Alistair & Martin Roberts, Yesterday – The Beatles Remembered (Sidgwick and Jackson, 1988)
Thompson, Phil, The Best of Cellars (Bluecoat Press, 1984)
Best of the Beatles Page 15