Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[stuartblogtumblr]

Got this book recently right from Mathews Street in Liverpool (purchased from The Beatles Store).  It's definitely worth reading; it's Leigh's analysis of why Pete Best was sacked.  I tend to believe most of what Spencer Leigh says (even if he sometimes gives Sutclffe short shrift); he's interviewed many Mersey musicians, and holds a lot of anecdotal information.   An example of the surprises included in "Drummed Out": "Bruno Koschmidder, a Grade-A thug and almost certainly ex-Gestapo, had had his testicles shot away in World War II".  How's that for relevance?!  Anyhow, anyone interested in taking a look at the Best situation's precursors and consequences, will like this book.

[peterbell1]

I've had that book for years but have never got round to reading it. It's an interesting story, the whole Pete Best saga, so I really must do my "best" (no pun intended!!  ) to read it soon.

[Bobber]

I thought this was an interesting theory: http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=137.msg233325#msg233325

[stuartblogtumblr]

Thanks Bobber----much of what is said here by Bedford is included in "Drummed Out", with perhaps a bit more sarcastic wit by Leigh.  To me, the pivotal point is the EMI session and George Martin's desire to use a studio drummer; not because Martin's opinion was the final word, but because Paul, John and George grabbed that circumstance as their opportunity to dump Best.  Leigh, in "Drummed Out" makes a chart denoting every reason the Beatles (and Epstein and Martin) could have had for tossing Pete.  One might disagree with Leigh's final analysis (I don't), but he does much to clarify what went on there.  Bedford's idea that money was the main issue is well considered...but I think money was only one of the issues.  As Leigh says of Best, "the Beatles treated him sh*ttily".