Pete Best Band

dr_wahnsinn · Post by **dr_wahnsinn** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:27 pm

Great thoughts regarding Pete Best.

We do have a fairly good sample of how Best drummed with the Beatles - the Decca audition tape. He doesn't sound that bad to me. Opinions or thoughts?

Regarding Best's forced departure from the group, I was reminded of a recent interview with Best where he admitted that Brian Epstein had made a pass at him that was refused. Depending on when that happened, it could have been the event that put Epstein in line with the other three in wanting to get rid of Pete.

jt10824 · Post by **jt10824** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:47 pm

From every account I've read, Brian Epstein was NOT in favor of sacking Pete because he was worried about fan reaction, and was sickened at having to do the dirty deed himself. So I don't think the refused pass was an issue, and I gather from the books I've read that John was the Beatle that Brian was most interested in, anyway.

Regarding Best's drumming, I have to say that I've been pretty underwhelmed with the tracks I've heard (on Anthology 1 and various bootlegs). His timekeeping is shaky and he kind of taps the drums instead of hitting them hard like Ringo does. It's especially interesting to compare the three versions of Love Me Do -- the Pete Best version that appears on Anthology 1, the Andy White version that we're all so familiar with, and the Ringo version (which only ever appeared on the original single release and, in CD form, on Past Masters Volume One). White's and Ringo's versions are almost identical, which is pretty impressive, considering that Ringo was still at the beginning of his career and was new to the band, while White was already one of the top session drummers in London. But Pete's version really pales by comparison to the other two, IMO.

linganstan · Post by **linganstan** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:06 pm

i saw an interview with george martin {the compleat beatles}, where he said that he agreed to record them, but he insisted on a studio drummer for the recordings and they could use best when playing live, and that it worked out, because the band was already thinking the same thing.........i think his words were "pete wasn't that clever a drummer".........

alecstar · Post by **alecstar** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:18 am

Alot of great comments here. I would partially disagree with "Stubby" in that it's true that Best didn't have the exposure of producers like George Martin in his career and may have not have rubbed elbows with all the musicians that the other Beatles did, that alone should not have stopped him from becoming a more rounded drummer. There are a zillion musicians who NEVER play out live in a band and they grow by leaps and bounds because they LISTEN to what they hear on the radio and buy other musicians music and they PRACTICE. My senses tell me that Best stayed in his bubble and never left. He got better in his little corner but never grew out of it.

lennonon · Post by **lennonon** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:54 am

Let's not forget Pete finally got his (duly earned) financial reward when Anthology I came out. I believe a couple of million pounds were thrown his way. Be interesting to get Macca's take on that. the old Skinflint.

Pete's drumming....I've contributed to this topic a fair share and I think the Love Me Do on Anthology is all that needs to be said. His timing is not OFF. It's atrocious. His skip beat in the middle eight makes the song feel ridiculous and then his attempt to pull everyone back on the beat after that meltdown is totally ineffective.

If you ask me, best Pete Best drumming is on the Sheridan stuff. I think he plays too careful on the Decca stuff (they were ALL off that day, except MAYBE GH) and his surviving Abbey Road tracks are very very weak. I think the Sheridan stuff rocks, perhaps just from the energy of the Top Ten gig the night before.

Just one man's op.

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:46 pm

I don't fault Pete Best at all for playing the old stuff like he does. Remember, he didn't become famous for anything but being an ex-Beatle. Also, his fame only stretches to within Beatle circles. Very few non-Beatle fans would know anything about him. His band is about celebrating a time gone by and is a small glimmer of an incredible time in his life. I saw his band a few months ago and had an absolute ball. It was incredible to hear these songs in the first-person, so to speak.

Pete obviously has a great time doing what he does, and his band is having a blast, too.

Michael, I totally agree about the drumming on the Anthology Love Me Do. Bad timing, for sure.

alecstar · Post by **alecstar** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:37 am

Just for the record I do not fault Best for playing what he does. He obviously enjoys it. I would agree with Andrew that his fame only stretches to within Beatle circles but would also like to add... that's a pretty dam big circle. It started when he was a teenager and has lasted to this day. I don't think its a well that will ever run dry. He has used his position as an ex-Beatle to give him a 40+ year career. And that is his right. On my ticket I bought to see him it said in this order... BEST OF THE BEATLES: The Pete Best Band "The Man Who Put The Beat In Beatles" Next to that was a studio picture of him with John, Paul & George. He might be bitter but it's not like he faded into obscurity. It's a two sided coin for sure. Based on everything I have read and what little I have heard, it sounds like his drumming was inconsistent back in the day. He was not the person for the job. Whether he admitted that to himself we will never know. He certainly never did publically. Ringo was a metronome CONSISTENTLY! Whether his personality fit or not (and that is a consideration) his drumming back then left alot to be desired. Maybe there was some inner squabble going on within the band that was part of his dismissal. George Martin who has to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest producer, said his timing was off. And that will get you kicked out of almost any band. Maybe Best should sit down and listen to those Anthology tapes and then he can admit to the world... I wasn't good enough back then. The tape doesn't lie.

linganstan · Post by **linganstan** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:26 am

i wish someone would flip me a few million dollars for some work i did 40 years ago...........i'd consider myself a success.............

alecstar · Post by **alecstar** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:55 am

Good point Dale!!!

lennonon · Post by **lennonon** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:46 pm

Great points Dale. I don't expect, however, that Pete would ever come straight out and say Ringo was a better drummer or acknowledge his own inadequacies. To this day, I believe, he claims he was the best drummer in Liverpool in the Club days, doesn't know why he was tossed and there's STILL talk (perhaps valid) about his MOther's place in the (then) growing Beatles hierarchy.

Nonetheless, I don't get the impression he's a bitter man - at least not anymore.

alecstar · Post by **alecstar** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:18 am

I don't expect him to publically admit his short comings it. But even he must of read about the timing issue. And if it's on tape, how can you say you don't know why you were let go? I remember initially the word was the other Beatles were jealous of his popularity and they fired him. I think he played off that rather than acknowledging the facts. The bottom line was the band was stepping up to the next level and he couldn't cut it.... at the time. But whats this about his mother being involved... I have never heard/read that before???

linganstan · Post by **linganstan** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:48 am

c'mon guys..........we all know our shortcommings........i'm a bass player and a guitar player...........and i know what i can and cannot handle.......i don't cry about it, i either work harder, or defer to a better player.........
now,......pete best was in a l'il band when he was a kid...........he got let go for whatever reason..............had he just tried to disappear, people would have sought him out after that l'il band hit it big.........he would not have been left alone.............so it's either hurl stones at those who seek him, or capitalize on his good fortune to having once been a beatle.........
in my opinion, he's had a better life than he would have had if he remained a beatle.........the fab four were literally prisoners.....they couldn't come and go as they pleased, and had to leave heir former lives behind...........hell,.........one fan even sought out john lennon, and murdered him, while another broke into george's house and tried to kill him.........best lived a good life....not wanting for attention, and certainly more of a celebrity than any of us could ever hope to be,he gets to see the world,make the kind of music he likes and isn't written up in the tabloids every time he uses the toilet................and,........he's benefitted financially..........but best of all,........he's still here to enjoy it all..........

i wonder,...who was the luckiest beatle of all ????? JMHO

jt10824 · Post by **jt10824** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:26 am

Excellent point, Dale. For sure, Pete must be having a better time of it now than Paul.

linganstan · Post by **linganstan** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:32 am

exactly john.........i have to wonder if it's worth it to live life under a microscope.........

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:44 am

Great comments Dale. Bang on in my view.