Now in his 80s, Pete Best, The Beatles‘ original drummer has officially decided retired from music.
One of the original founders of the iconic British quartet – along with with John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison -Best was fired by manager Brian Epstein and replaced with Sir Ringo Starr in 1962, and continued to play live with The Pete Best Band throughout the years,
Despite prior plans to perform at the Liverpool Beatles Museum this summer, Pete’s brother Roag Best (who was also part of The Pete Best Band ) confirmed his 83-year-old sibling’s decision to put down his drumsticks forever.
Taking to social media, Roag delivered the news via X with:
“Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had. However, everything comes to pass.” “My brother Pete Best has announced today he is retiring from personal appearances and performing with the group.” “His daughter has informed me it’s due to personal circumstances.”
Confirming the news, Pete shared the post, adding “I had a blast. Thank you.”
As history would have it, the Best family owned the Casbah Coffee Club, which was home to The Beatles first gigs, and has since been recognized as the ‘birthplace’ of the Fab Four.
The day before he was fired from the band, Pete’s last two gigs with The Beatles were at Liverpool’s iconic Cavern Club on August 15, 1962. He subsequently passed on an offer to join the Mersey Beats group, and later moved to America where he initially formed the Pete Best Combo, and then the Pete Best Band.
Things could have ended differently as Paul McCartney’s brother Mike previously revealed that Pete was the original drummer for his brother and John Lennon when they started out as The Quarrymen, but he broke his arm in the Scouts.
In an interview with BANG Showbiz, Pete stated: “It was when John used to come to the house in Forthlin Road with The Quarrymen, before George was even there. I broke my arm at camp and it affected the nerves that control the wrist. They were dead.” “I had to have electric shocks and hot stuff put on my arm to get the nerves back. For a couple of years, I had to wear a support strap with a wire.” “If I hadn’t broken my arm, I’d have been a Beatle. But I did break my arm and I’m not a Beatle. You always have to deal in reality, not dreams.”
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Leslie Spear