Post by Bobber on Sept 25, 2007 13:47:11 GMT
The sacking of Pete Best
On 16 August 1962, after two years of loyal service, the first Beatles' drummer Pete Best was officially informed by manager Brian Epstein that he was sacked from the group, because he wasn't "a good enough musician".
This unpleasant business scandalized many people in Liverpool, where groups of supporters of the dethroned Beatle demonstrated their disapproval for several weeks.
The former Beatle has never accepted the reason given for his sacking, and speculation on the real motive has never waned. Was he as bad a drummer as was claimed, and was his replacement Ringo Starr really appreciably better? Or was Pete Best far too popular with the group's female audience and sacked simply for reasons of jealousy? Was it the personality of the drummer, who was more retiring and discreet than the three others, that made the Beatles decide to get rid of him?
Was it the negative influence of his omnipresent mother? Or was Best sacked for unreliability because he missed too many concerts, or because he is supposed to have refused to adopt the famous Beatle haircut?
For the first time, all these questions are examined dispassionately and objectively. Thanks to numerous personal accounts, especially those of musicians who have worked with Pete Best and Ringo Starr both on stage and in the studio, and through an impartial analysis of all available tracks on which Best plays drums with the Beatles, it is now possible to establish that the sacking of the poor musician was in fact due to his mediocre drumming abilities.
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Pete's own comment:
"I can’t accept the drumming theory as when we came back from Germany, other groups copied my style using the loud bass drum. Also, Bert Kaempfert was quite happy with my drumming when we recorded in Germany. As for Ringo being a better drummer, well, he was replaced on "Love Me Do" as well wasn’t he? The hairstyle? That’s all rubbish, it was never even discussed. Jealousy? I was aware of the Pete Best fans but there were plenty of Paul fans too. As long as the group got the attention I was happy. Personality? I took part in all the crazy stunts and drinking. I was a Beatle. A rumour around the Cavern was that it was because I turned down Brian Epstein’s advances but I don’t believe that. Unreliable? I missed four shows in over two years so if that makes me unreliable……"
On 16 August 1962, after two years of loyal service, the first Beatles' drummer Pete Best was officially informed by manager Brian Epstein that he was sacked from the group, because he wasn't "a good enough musician".
This unpleasant business scandalized many people in Liverpool, where groups of supporters of the dethroned Beatle demonstrated their disapproval for several weeks.
The former Beatle has never accepted the reason given for his sacking, and speculation on the real motive has never waned. Was he as bad a drummer as was claimed, and was his replacement Ringo Starr really appreciably better? Or was Pete Best far too popular with the group's female audience and sacked simply for reasons of jealousy? Was it the personality of the drummer, who was more retiring and discreet than the three others, that made the Beatles decide to get rid of him?
Was it the negative influence of his omnipresent mother? Or was Best sacked for unreliability because he missed too many concerts, or because he is supposed to have refused to adopt the famous Beatle haircut?
For the first time, all these questions are examined dispassionately and objectively. Thanks to numerous personal accounts, especially those of musicians who have worked with Pete Best and Ringo Starr both on stage and in the studio, and through an impartial analysis of all available tracks on which Best plays drums with the Beatles, it is now possible to establish that the sacking of the poor musician was in fact due to his mediocre drumming abilities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pete's own comment:
"I can’t accept the drumming theory as when we came back from Germany, other groups copied my style using the loud bass drum. Also, Bert Kaempfert was quite happy with my drumming when we recorded in Germany. As for Ringo being a better drummer, well, he was replaced on "Love Me Do" as well wasn’t he? The hairstyle? That’s all rubbish, it was never even discussed. Jealousy? I was aware of the Pete Best fans but there were plenty of Paul fans too. As long as the group got the attention I was happy. Personality? I took part in all the crazy stunts and drinking. I was a Beatle. A rumour around the Cavern was that it was because I turned down Brian Epstein’s advances but I don’t believe that. Unreliable? I missed four shows in over two years so if that makes me unreliable……"