this obscure fella deserved more than he got.a watch indeed.
i just got a foriegn video with a short interview of the beats and jimmy.they preform three songs on it.lousy quality but my first preview of jimmy in action.
bravo jimmy

Quoted from pc31, posted March 26, 2004, 12:30am at here

this obscure fella deserved more than he got.a watch indeed.
i just got a foriegn video with a short interview of the beats and jimmy.they preform three songs on it.lousy quality but my first preview of jimmy in action.
bravo jimmy

Poor Ringo had his tonsils out, and didn't rejoin them till Australia!

You know,,,,I never followed up on Jimmy. I wonder what he's doing today (I dont know if he's even still alive, but I would imagine I would have heard if he passed).

I thought he handled the situation like a true professional. He knew that it was going to be a short stint, but how could anyone pass it up. He was always happy and looked as though he was having the time of his life in the interviews i've seen. I'm sure i've seen some footage of him playing with the band, but I cant recall the exact moment or time right now.

Quoted from tkitna, posted March 26, 2004, 3:13am at here

I'm sure i've seen some footage of him playing with the band, but I cant recall the exact moment or time right now.

Yeah I've seen footage of him playing on the Holland tour, and a couple of TV shows. Didn't he also play China or somewhere like that?

I believe he also played for the Sputnicks, a Shadows-style instrumental band that had a few hits in the 60's.

wait did you see that?was that jimmy??????

Jimmy inspired the song "Getting Better". On tour, he was always being asked, "How's it going, Jimmy?". He'd always reply, "Getting better".

Quoted from Maria, posted March 28, 2004, 5:49am at here

Jimmy inspired the song "Getting Better". On tour, he was always being asked, "How's it going, Jimmy?". He'd always reply, "Getting better".

Oh yeah! I'd forgotten that.

Can't get no worse :)

Quoted from The_End, posted March 26, 2004, 1:15pm at here

Yeah I've seen footage of him playing on the Holland tour, and a couple of TV shows. Didn't he also play China or somewhere like that?

He played in Hong Kong and that was his last concert with them because Ringo joined in Australia. :)

Jimmy Nichol has got to be the most mysterious member of the Beatles during the 60's more so than any crazy album cover controversy at the time with his 15 minutes of fame before Ringo rejoined the band.

it think it was longer than 15 minute tho wayne..........

And I don't think he could be considered a Member, he was a stand in.

You know I was just remembering I saw a tv show once, about the Beatles, and they interviewed Jimmy Nichol and Pete Best, and they both declared how Beaing any part of the Beatles Jinxed then for life.. Though to be fair Peach Besht it doing ok now. I think

PC would know; him and Pete arethisclose

He was a " member " of the Beatles before Ringo rejoined the band just as much as John, Paul & George were if only for a brief moment.

Pete WAS a Beatle, not a replacement.

Two years is a long time, and he lived, ate, excreted and created with them.  He lived the hardest years of their lives with them.

No one can take away the fact that he was one of the absolute Beatles.  Just pre-fame.  Which sucks.  For him.

JIMMY NICHOL WAS  A MEMBER OF THE BEATLES??

I didn't mean Pete, I know pete was. I was talking about Jimmy.

Quoted from Beatle_Ed, posted April 17, 2004, 12:05am at here

JIMMY NICHOL WAS  A MEMBER OF THE BEATLES??

I didn't mean Pete, I know pete was. I was talking about Jimmy.

Sorry.  Jimmy was a replacement, yes you're right. 

lol I wasn't yelling at you. I was yelling at Wayne. ;-)

Well, you weren't yelling from what I could see, but as long as we're all square now then I'll be able to sleep well tonight.  :)

:-) Well of course!

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Jimmy Nichol? I am a journalist and want to talk to him for a story about the Australian tour.

go ask the administrator at pete bests home site.jimmy was at beatle fest last year i think with pete or the year b4.or contact the beatle fest people.

i am downloading the beatles in australia and there is a part called the arrival which has all four beatles plus jimmy waving at the crowd.i mean a huge massive crowd.they are waving in all directions.at one point jimmy taps ringo on the shoulder and points to a movie camera as they both are looking ringo begans to act like he is choking jimmy.jimmy acts like he starts to choke ringo and then they both laugh their butts off.

Quoted from pc31, posted April 16, 2004, 2:30am at here

it think it was longer than 15 minute tho wayne..........

Jimmy Nichol had a little bit more than 15 minutes of fame during his time in the Beatles substituting for Ringo but he has semed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. 

Maybe that's what he wants, some people get a taste of fame and then realize that it wasn't what it was cracked up to be.

Jimmy live from UB 40 he is a poor boy lived in Liverpool

Quoted from lennonlegend, posted January 16, 2005, 1:43pm at here

oh shut up dirk! you dont know anything right fucking loser!

More as You dirty a$$hole

::)

LOL....Jimmy must have had a great time getting a snap-shot ride with this great band...Handled the job well...Ringo comes back in Australia...job done.
He was a top session player anyway and must have known this was gonna be a short, amazing, wonderful gig to do. I'm not sure if anyone knows what songs he appeared on as a seesionist...I don't...May google search some time..Not now tho! A beer beckons!

i agree Apps, im sure he had an a amazing time with the boys...even though it was only for 15 minutes as they say, would of been good enough for me !

something to tell the grand kids....

Jimmy Nicol Portfolio

In June 1964, the Beatles were to tour Scandanavia, Holland, the Far East and Australia. On June 3, the day before the tour, Ringo collapsed at an early morning photo session for the Saturday Evening Post at a portrait studio in Barnes, London. He had a 102-degree fever and tonsilitis and was rushed to the hospital.


While having his tonsils out in London, he was temporarily replaced for the Denmark and Holland concert dates by shy 24-year-old session drummer Jimmy Nicol. Beatles producer George Martin suggested Jimmy because he had recently recorded at EMI with Tommy Quickly and he'd also recently become familiar with Beatles numbers while drumming on a recording session for an album called Beatlemania.

     
 
Jimmy Nicol started his career as a drum repairer for Boosey & Hawkes. He was briefly a member of the Swedish group, the Spotnicks, then Georgie Fame's Blue Flames, and then formed his own band, the Shubdubs.

At first, George Harrison didn't want Ringo to be replaced and refused to go on the tour without him, but Brian and George Martin convinced him. Paul thought he was okay for the tour, but that the fans would definately know the difference if he recorded with them. And Brian thought it was a good choice because he thought he "looked like a Beatle and not an outcast".



During the tour, every time one of the Beatles asked Jimmy how he was getting on, if he was liking it and was he managing okay, all he ever replied was "It's Getting Better". The others used to make fun of this, and later in 1967, it inspired Paul to do a song called It's Getting Better on the Sgt. Pepper's album.

     
Rare pic of all 5 Beatles


Ringo was discharged from the hospital on June 11, and he rejoined the group in Melbourne on June 15, 1964.

For replacing Ringo on the tour, Jimmy received £500 and a gold Eternamatic watch enscribed: "From the Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy -- with appreciation and gratitude."

Upon Jimmy's return, his group the Shubdubs issued the single Husky/Don't Come Back, but it failed to chart. Pictured below is another of their rare singles, Humpty Dumpty/Night Train. The Shubdubs later disbanded, after which Jimmy moved to South America. He also lived in Australia for a time.


In Their Own Words

On fitting in with the Beatles, Jimmy said:
"The boys were very kind but I felt like an intruder. They accepted me but you can't just go into a group like that -- they have their own atmosphere, their own sense of humor. It's a little clique and outsiders just can't break in."
About after the Beatles, Jimmy said:
"I had a band and Brian put us on the same bill with the Beatles and the Formost one night. Backstage, we talked, but the wind had changed since we last saw each other. They were pleasant."
[The Shubdubs played with the Beatles on July 12, 1964 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Brighton.]

Quoted from Bobber

...About after the Beatles, Jimmy said:
"I had a band and Brian put us on the same bill with the Beatles and the Formost one night. Backstage, we talked, but the wind had changed since we last saw each other. They were pleasant."
[The Shubdubs played with the Beatles on July 12, 1964 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Brighton.]

Didn't know this part,... very interesting  ;)

There's a lot on Jimmy here, also pictures from him in the 80's.

http://www.pmouse.nl/nicol/

Jimmy died in 1988. He was only 49 years old.

Seems to b e some confusion over when/if he died. I'm going to The Public Records Office soon. I'll do a search - if he died in the UK I'll find him.

Quoted from kevin_b

Seems to b e some confusion over when/if he died.

True. More recent news tells he's working as a carpenter. His son seems to been involved as a technician on the Anthology.

A small bio of his son here:

http://www.fabsound.co.uk/howie.htm

jimmy nickole is really ugly if you think about it isnt he?

So... is he dead or not? :?

he ain't dead...i liked his sister...kristy mc..nichol...lol

Quoted from lennonlegend

jimmy nickole is really ugly if you think about it isnt he?

So what?

well im surprised they picked him as a replacement then..

They wanted a drummer just as ugly as Ringo.  ;D ;)

I love Ringo, but he is certainly not the most aesthetically pleasing person, especially in the early years.

Quoted from pc31

he ain't dead...i liked his sister...kristy mc..nichol...lol

PC...I'm Mcalling you to stop that!!! lol

i am mc thinking about it.......paul should buy mcdonalds......then he could really call something a big mac.........

lol.....I just thought of a great product range for him....The BIg Mac MAraCca from Macca. lol

thats mac thinking dude....

Quoted from juniorsfarm

I love Ringo, but he is certainly not the most aesthetically pleasing person, especially in the early years.

Wierd that he got more fan mail than the rest. Women!

Quoted from pc31

thats mac thinking dude....

I once heard about an enormous hamburger McDonald's wanted to launch. They had called it the 'MacMac'. I was withdrawn, because it seemed that macmac means 'to f***' in Malaysian.

Quoted from Bobber

...because it seemed that macmac means 'to f***' in Malaysian.

Ha ha... it could be! Sounds to "something",...  ;D

Quoted from Bobber

I once heard about an enormous hamburger McDonald's wanted to launch. They had called it the 'MacMac'. I was withdrawn, because it seemed that macmac means 'to f***' in Malaysian.

I'll have to remember that for the next time I'm over there!!!!

Quoted from The_End

I'll have to remember that for the next time I'm over there!!!!

Its a beautiful thing:  Order a burger and get your pipes cleaned 6 ways to Sunday. You gotta like that.

lol!!!

Anyway, we still don't know if Jimmy is alive and kicking or passed away. Can you please react, Jimmy?

Is he dead now?

Is Paul?

Dunno   ??) ... yet

From the Daily Mail, Saturday, October 1, 2005.

Paul Harris reports

John, Paul, George and.............Jimmie!

The names are as unforgettable now as they were more than four decades ago - John, Paul, George and Ringo. But for ten frantic days in the summer of 1964, there was a somewhat different Beatles line-up. And even if the name of Jimmie Nicol might sound familiar to Beatle historians or devoted fans, few will recognise the face today.

As a 26-year-old unknown session musician, he was drafted in to play drums on the Fab Four's first world tour after Ringo collapsed with tonsillitis. Days before they flew out, he was signed up as a temporary replacement and was launched instantly into the whirlwind of 1960s Beatlemania. Fans called out his name and teenagle girls broke through security cordons to try to touch the new face, which had been hastily crowned with a mop-top haircut. He joked with the lads at a press conference in Australia and toured Europe and the Far East. His picture appeared in newspapers across the globe.

But then Ringo recovered to reclaim his place. Beatles manager Brian Epstein paid Nicol off at Adelaide airport, and - somewhat prophetically - gave him a retirement-style gold watch. Despite this unique link with the world's most successful pop group, Nicol slowly disappeared from the music scene.

Now a new book, The Beatles Unseen, recalls the phenomenon of the Fab Four and rekindles Jimmie Nicol's long forgotten contribuition to their story. Unfortunately, it is a memory he would rather keep buried. For, while the Beatles went on to riches, he eventually dropped out of the music scene and struggled to make a living. He was declared bankrupt within a year of saying goodbye to the group, and after a succession of appearances with outher bands, faded into obsurity.

Today he is a real Nowhere Man, talking to no one about his Beatles days and living in a flat in a quiet London suburb, a sharp contrast to those heady times of limousines, police escorts and faraway places. He refuses to answer his door to unannounced callers and poignantly has all but lost contact with the son who, as a boy in 1964. was able to tell his infant mates: "My dad's a Beatle!"

At 66, his square-jawed looks have given way to grey jowls, the smile oblieterated by missing teeth. Anything that might remain of his Beatle haircut is tied back in a scruffy ponytail. But he still has his principles. Despite the lucrative rewards of today's Beatlemania industry, he staunchly refuses to cash in. It was probably the same stubborn principle that led him into conflict with Brian Epstein on that 1964 tour. Nicol refused to mime to a recording of Ringo's drumming and insisted on playing live, in his own style. It might explain why, after Epstein reportedly spread the word among his music business associates that Nicol was a troublemaker; the drummer found it so difficult to get work.

To look at photos of him with the Beatles, it is hard to imagine the obscurity that followed. He seemed to cope easily with the limelight and all of the band, particularly John, treated him decently. George, who initially refused to tour without Ringo, later called Nicol "a lovely guy". But he was never destined to be a full-time Beatle. He had no Merseyside background or sharp Scouse wit, being born in August 1939 not in Liverpool, but in Battersea, South London, son of an Inland Revenue messenger.

By the time he joined the Beatles he had a marriage behind him (in 1957 to Patricia), a son, (Howie, born in 1958) and was approaching his 25th birthday. He had already worked with Joe Brown, Billy Fury and Georgie Fane wgeb Epstein asked him to play with the Beatles. Beatles producer George Martin told him to get to London for a rehearsal, where he was introduced to John, Paul and George. Just over 24 hours later, he was performing live in Copenhagen.

Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over. On June 13, 1964 - ten days after leaving England - he played his last performance with the Beatles. His new band, the Shubdubs, bombed. Declare bankrupt in 1965, he was said to have assets of £30 against debts of £40,000. A year later, he joined Swedish guitar group the Spotnicks, but left on 1967. Some time later he was remarried but almost broke, making a living from house renovations and odd-job carpentry.

He has rarely spoken about the Beatles, even saying no when Paul McCartney asked him to take part in a documentary. He once said: "It's over. When the fans forget, they forget forever. I don't want anything to do with it anymore." It has even been reported that he died in 1988. This week, however, after a difficult search, I confirmed reports of his death are greatly exaggerated. One morning he could be foind visiting a building society, eating breakfast in a modest cafe, then returning silently to his London home.

At this flat you could see sheet music through one window but no sign of any drums. He didn't answer the door when I rang. If he got my messages about the new book, he didn't reply. When I eventually made contact, the conversation was predictably brief: "I'm not interested in all that now," he said. "I don't want to know, man. I don't care about any book."

His son Howie, a Bafta-winning sound recordist, said later: "You actually got to speak to him? That's a bit of a miracle in itself. He is in no way, shape or form interested in talking to anybody about it. He doesn't live his life as other people do, and I respect that entirely.

"But it's reassuring to know you've spoken to him. It's nice to know he's still out there."

In other words: Jimmy is STILL ALIVE!

It seems so ...It's good to be alive!!!  ;D

Quoted from raxo

Dunno   ??) ... yet

I already know, Bobber: He's still alive!  :D

Jimmy's alive and kicking. This is him:

I really don't understand why he would choose to stay poor while he could probably make some pretty good money just by giving some interviews and going to fan conventions.

Quoted from Joost

I really don't understand why he would choose to stay poor while he could probably make some pretty good money just by giving some interviews and going to fan conventions.

i suspect not all is well in Jimmys head, and that he may lack the confidence/social skills to present himself to such public scrutiny.  
If some fund were set up, where Beatle fans could all contribute, and I was sure he'd get the money, I'd happily put in a few bucks. I think it would be nice for the Beatleworld to rally round what would seem a very worthwhile cause. Maybe we could get Macca to match our contributions (though I doubt it. But it would be a nice PR move for him.)

Quoted from Kevin

If some fund were set up, where Beatle fans could all contribute, and I was sure he'd get the money, I'd happily put in a few bucks. I think it would be nice for the Beatleworld to rally round what would seem a very worthwhile cause. Maybe we could get Macca to match our contributions (though I doubt it. But it would be a nice PR move for him.)

I dunno... I think it would probably be a bit humiliating for the guy.

Quoted from Joost

I dunno... I think it would probably be a bit humiliating for the guy.

yeah, point.

Quoted from Kevin

Maybe we could get Macca to match our contributions (though I doubt it. But it would be a nice PR move for him.)

This is the key. Why in the hell are we bill paying, family people giving money to somebody who has had contacts with people that has tons of cash? Maybe theres a reason that people like Paul or whoever dont lend a hand. Maybe Jim was an a**hole. Seriously, we dont know.

(I truly respect your kindness though kevin. I was just making a point.)

Quoted from tkitna

(I truly respect your kindness though kevin. I was just making a point.)

No problem.
Not one of my better ideas.

I've uploaded a clip of them with Jimmy here:
http://dmbeatles.com/forums/b-fifths/m-1138163279/s-45/ (reply 51)

I've been interestied in Jimmy's story (things I didn't know) after reading this (thanks to tkitna):
http://dmbeatles.com/forums/b-starr/m-1167059316/s-30/   (reply 34)
http://www.paperbackwalrus.com/beatles/articles/jimmy-nichol-temporary-beatle.html

"[...]
Nicol wore Ringo's suit on stage, and apparently had to use clothes pegs to make the jacket fit. His first show with The Beatles took place on 4 June in Copenhagen, Denmark. He played a further nine shows, until Starr returned to the group in Melbourne, Australia, on 14 June. Nicol said he was "praying he [Starr] would get well at the same time I was hoping he would not want to come back." He was not able to say goodbye to The Beatles as they were still asleep when he left, and did not want to disturb them. At the airport, Brian Epstein presented him with a cheque for £500 and a gold Eternamatic wrist watch inscribed: "From The Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy - with appreciation and gratitude."

After his time with The Beatles, Nicol and his band, The Shubdubs, released the single "Husky"/"Don't Come Back", followed by "Humpty Dumpty"/"Night Train", neither of which was a commercial success. Nicol was reunited with The Beatles when his band was set down on a bill with The Beatles and The Fourmost. They performed on 12 July 1964 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Brighton.

[...]

Later career/life
After his brief time with The Beatles, Nicol declared bankruptcy in 1965. That year, he joined numerous bands including Swedish group The Spotnicks, which he left in 1967. In 1975 he returned to England after setting up a button factory in Mexico. Other work in this time included housing renovations and carpentry.
Later in his life, it was rumoured that Nicol had died in 1988, however a report in 2005 by the Daily Mail confirmed that he was still alive and living as a recluse in London."


from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Nicol

Quoted from Bobber

[...]
Rare pic of all 5 Beatles


Ringo was discharged from the hospital on June 11, and he rejoined the group in Melbourne on June 15, 1964.
[...]

And this is their press conference (Sydney, June 11, 1964) ...
... you can see the five of them at the end of this clip (Ringo and Jimmy joking and playing the fool together)!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjXzTYExSLU&NR

Sad, sad story.  ??)

Quoted from Bruno

He played in Hong Kong and that was his last concert with them because Ringo joined in Australia. :)

WERE DID YOU GET THIS FAULSE INFO!!

I have all 5 night they played!

Jimmy only played Holland & was there for 3 weeks!

Austraila was filmed in 64! All japan was 65!

Do some resarch befor you stumble like that!

can't fool me--

Quoted from djinn

WERE DID YOU GET THIS FAULSE INFO!!

I have all 5 night they played!

Jimmy only played Holland & was there for 3 weeks!

Austraila was filmed in 64! All japan was 65!

Do some resarch befor you stumble like that!

can't fool me--

Jimmy didn't just play in Holland. The tour started in Denmark, then on to Holland. On the 10th of June two concerts in Hong Kong. After that: Australia and New Zealand. Ringo rejoined on June 14th. Jimmy played on all the concerts prior to that. Remember that Hong Kong is not Japan. The Beatles played in Japan in 1966, not 1965. Jimmy didn't stay in the Netherlands for three weeks, but took the plane together with the other Beatles to the far east. Can't fool me.

Intersong Heleligon was the Holland tv show & the color photo is above in the post page!

Holland was played!
Japan -wan not--I have the tour on film!

Jimmy was intervied with them on Holland tv & they played their set!

Jimmy was on a high rise! They even had a boat ride shown on anthology in Holland!

Japan was not played!

Reguardless of the paly bill!

Holland--Sweeden--Denmark---3weeks was it!

Watch the IntersongHeligom & hear the interview!
They tell the tour spots & when Ringo joins thems (Next week)

I have listened to the interview from Hillegom, but they don't mention the places where they're going to play at all. Fact is they didn't visit Sweden on that tour.

Was this the aired program or the one from Anthology that also show the tours!

It shows Ringo coming back--It shows Hollnad footage--the Boat ride in Sweeden & he Belconey in Sweeden 1 song live with Nichols on drums & John & paul have 2 long mikes bending in to them!
That is Sweeden!
You also se an old man with a beard turn to the camera!

You know Amsterdam is the capital city of The Netherlands, aka Holland?

Ringo came back in Australia.

Yes Ringo did play the Austraila show _-I never contested that--i have the copy off the master3/4" tape!

But heres a bit you probley did not know!

Nov 1964 John apeared with Duddly Moore on Not only but Also & read   DEAf TED,DANOOTA & ME!
Duddley played some piano--John came back later on the show & read Good dog nigel & the Wrestling dog!

Now acording to my program June 1964 they played the Netherlands   & Nov 1964 they played Shindig & Thank your Luck Stars! So in the time beteew was Nicholes!Shindig--Thank your lucky Stars--Big Night out ect were all with Ringo & I have the full shows on film!
Some clips were shown on anthology!Feb 1964  was also a play date for Big noght out! April 1964 was Ready steady go!Dec 1963 Morcome & Wise show & Feb 1964 lucky stars on Morcum & Wise!

The Ed Sullivan show foled shortly after!

Interesting topic and good to see Jimmie is still here. But who is this guy called djinn? Looks like he just watched the Anthology series.

pretty interesting read, apart from the contributions by djinn.

djinn was quite an a**.....at least he has moved on....

Jimmy in 1965. He was declared bankrupt soon. Quoted: "Replacing Ringo was the worst thing that happened to me."

The stuff with Jimmy is here on the Lazy Tortoise 'Denmark & Netherlands '64', and 'Australia/New Zealand Tour Diary' Disc one.

http://6plus3.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/denmark-the-netherlands-3-6-june-1964-lazy-tortoise/
http://6plus3.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/australia-new-zealand-tour-diary-1964-lazy-tortoise/

Couldn't find Sweden though!! ;)

Quoted from Bobber

Jimmy in 1965. He was declared bankrupt soon. Quoted: "Replacing Ringo was the worst thing that happened to me."

He looks like a Beatle there!

Quoted from BlueMeanie

The stuff with Jimmy is here on the Lazy Tortoise 'Denmark & Netherlands '64', and 'Australia/New Zealand Tour Diary' Disc one.

http://6plus3.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/denmark-the-netherlands-3-6-june-1964-lazy-tortoise/
http://6plus3.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/australia-new-zealand-tour-diary-1964-lazy-tortoise/

Couldn't find Sweden though!! ;)

I knew you wouldn't.  ;D

Here's a piece I wrote about Jimmy. I did interview him for Mersey Beat soon after he left the Beatles. This is just a piece from one of my encyclopedias.

NICOL, JIMMY. A British drummer, born on 3 August 1939, who had started his career as a drum repairer for Boosey & Hawkes. He’d begun playing drums with the Spotniks prior to forming his own group, the Shubdubs, who had signed with Pye Records.
     During the morning of Wednesday, 3 June 1964, Ringo collapsed during a photo session the Beatles were having for the Saturday Evening Post, in Barnes. He was then taken to University College Hospital where it was diagnosed that he had tonsillitis and pharyngitis, with a temperature of 102 degrees. It was on the eve of the first leg of the Beatles’ world tour that Brian Epstein felt they should go ahead with the tour using a substitute drummer. This was despite protests from George Harrison, who said: “If Ringo’s not going then neither am I, you can find two replacements.”
     It was George Martin who suggested Nicol as the drummer had recently played on session for Martin with Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames and Tommy Quickly. Nicol had also performed on a Beatles soundalike album, Beatlemania, on the Top Six label and knew most of the Beatles’ numbers.
     Martin rang Nicol and arranged for him to audition and rehearse with the Beatles at Abbey Road at three that afternoon. At the rehearsal the four of them performed six numbers: I Want To Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, This Boy, Can’t Buy Me Love and Long Tall Sally. Journalist Dick Hughes, an Australian, was present at the rehearsals and says that Paul told him: “This fellow is fine, but we just can’t afford to be without Ringo at a real recording session, because the kids would always know that a record was one without him.”
     Jimmy commented: “I was having a bit of a lie down after lunch when the phone rang. It was EMI asking if I could come down to the studio to rehearse with the Beatles. Two hours after I got there I was told to pack my bags for Denmark.
     Immediately following the rehearsals, Jimmy was called into Brian Epstein’s office, offered the job and given details of his remuneration in front of John, Paul and George. Epstein was to say: “The difficulty was finding someone who looked like a Beatle and not an outcast.”
     He rehearsed with them again the following day prior to their appearance at Copenhagen. Making his stage debut with them at the Tivoli Gardens that evening, he wore Ringo’s stage suit. Although the trousers were too short for him, and the band performed ten numbers, cutting down from the eleven originally planned by leaving out Ringo’s spot with I Wanna Be Your Man.
     Nicol’s first live appearance with the band was at the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, on 4 June 1964. The group performed a ten-song set, cutting down from the planned eleven numbers because they decided not to do Ringo’s spot with I Wanna Be Your Man. After the show, George commented: “Playing without Ringo is like driving a car on three wheels but Jimmy has grasped our rhythm very quickly.” Jimmy had to wear Ringo’s stage suits, but the trousers were too short.
     Jimmy also appeared in Hong Kong and on the first four shows in Australia.
     Ringo was discharged from hospital on Thursday, 11 June. He teamed up with his fellow Beatles in Melbourne, Australia, and there was a single photo session in which all five were pictured together.
     Jimmy left for Essendon Airport at 8.00a.m. After packing his bags he was to comment: “The boys were very kind but I felt like an intruder. They accepted me but you just can’t get into a group like that – they have their own atmosphere, their own sense of humour. It’s a little clique and outsiders just can’t break it.”
     He never said goodbye to the Beatles. “They were still asleep,” he said. “I didn’t think I should disturb them.”
     Brian Epstein and tour manager Lloyd Ravenscroft accompanied him to the airport. Brian presented him with a cheque for £500 and a gold Eternamatic wrist watch inscribed: “From the Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy – with appreciation and gratitude.”
     Jimmy had thought that his brief spell with the Beatles would boost his career and had said, during the Australian trip, “When I get home I won’t have to run a group on fifteen or twenty pounds a night anymore.”
     Unfortunately, he didn’t have much success on his return. His group issued Husky c/w Don’t Come Back, which failed to make the charts. They were also booked to replace the Dave Clark Five, ironically because Dave Clark was ill, in a short season in Blackpool. While he was there Jimmy received a bundle of 5000 letters from fans in Australia, sent on by a local DJ. Jimmy sent his thanks with the message that he’d go and live in Australia. On 12 July 1964 at the Hippodrome, Brighton, he appeared on a bill with the Beatles and the Fourmost, although they were said not to have met that night.
     On 29 April 1965 Jimmy was declared bankrupt in a London court with debts of £4,066 and only £50 to his name. He said, “Standing in for Ringo was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Up until then I was feeling quite happy turning over £30 to £40 a week. I didn’t realise that it would change my whole life. I had half-a-million pounds worth of publicity and immediately I was offered three weeks at Blackpool standing in for Dave Clark at £350 a week. Everyone in the business said I couldn’t miss. I was the hottest name there was. But after the headlines died, I began dying too. No one wanted to know me any more, I borrowed from everyone and anyone.
      When his group disbanded, Jimmy joined the house band on the television programme Come Dancing. He later joined a Scandinavian instrumental act the Spotniks and while touring Mexico he met and married a Mexican Indian girl, Josephina.
     The couple returned to in 1987, penniless.  Initially they lived with Jimmy’s mother Edith in her tiny flat. By 1996 they had a small flat of their own in south London, with Jimmy trying to eke out a living through carpentry work.
     Ironically, Howard, Jimmy’s son from his first marriage, became a sound engineer and won a BAFTA award for his work on the television series The Beatles Anthology.

Did Jimmy die?
I just read this,and it had something weird about him at the bottom?
http://www.pmouse.nl/nicol/

Quoted from Paul Doherty

Did Jimmy die?
I just read this,and it had something weird about him at the bottom?
http://www.pmouse.nl/nicol/

He didn't. Read this thread from the start.  :)

jimmy needs to read it because he thinks he is dead too.... ;D

About a year ago I did an exhaustive search about Jimmy Nicol, and I came across most of what was posted here, but there was something else, an interview with Jimmy Nicol where he talked about being on the tour and John got drunk after a show. The next day they had to play again and John was hung over, Jimmy could smell the liquor coming off his body and he was sweating like crazy.

I wish I could find that interview again, since it was unique and not the same old bio that always seems to be re-hashed about him over the net..

Go for it!  ;D

In Denmark.

Nice one Cor. Never seen that before.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Nice one Cor. Never seen that before.

Neither had I. Hence the post. It was supposed to be copyrighted. I think.

I noticed all 3 'proper' Beatles have their arms crossed the same way, but Jimmy is out of sync with them I wonder if  Ringo would have been in or out of sync? Or Pete Best? Or am I reading WAY too much into a simple snapshot for the fans???!!

good eye...there could be something to it...

I interviewed Jimmy for Mersey Beat and had several pieces about him. I've just been browsing an issue of Mersey Beat and came across an item in Virginia's 'Mersey Roundabout' column in which she says that Jimmy got more publicity from being a Beatle for two weeks than Pete Best did for being a Beatle for two years. However, that's now changed these days.