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Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers
30 December - March 1962, The Top Ten Club

At one time Ringo considered joining the Seniors, but on December 30, 1961 he left for Germany to back Tony Sheridan at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, enticed by the lure of a large fee, a flat and the use of a car. However, he found Sheridan's eccentric style of performing too hard to cope with (he'd often change songs in the middle of a performance without telling his backing band) and returned to the Hurricanes. Less than 6 months later he became a Beatle. While he was absent from the Hurricanes, Derek Fell from the Blackpool group the Executioners replaced him.

In that middle picture, just above this post, is that fellow playing Paul's Hofner as a righty??
It's hard to tell, but it sure looks like a violin Hofner, has two pickups close to the neck, and
might have the pickguard on top!

No - it's just a glare. The controls are on the bottom where they belong.

Carry on!

Excellent catch!.... So Pauly certainly cant claim he was the first one in Hamburg to have a violin bass. Colin Melander obviously had more than one bass: Looks a bit like an SG... anyone know what it is?

John, Paul, George, and Johnny?
"I played with the Graduates and Tex Roberg and Johnny Watson was our drummer. He left to join Tony Sheridan and the Star band in The Star Club where we were the first band to play on that stage with The Beatles. Johnny Watson did play with Vince Taylor and Joe Brown at Butlins. Had the Beatles not chosen Ringo to replace Pete Best just prior to our second season at the Star club with the Beatles they would have taken Johnny Watson as their drummer. This is something Johnny is always reminding me of."
http://www.davidstjohn.co.uk/groups5.html

I've never heard of this before, but it's certainly possible. Watson had been one of the musicians who (at various times) comprised the "Beat Brothers" backing band for Tony Sheridan.

brammy wrote:Excellent catch!.... So Pauly certainly cant claim he was the first one in Hamburg to have a violin bass.
Colin Melander obviously had more than one bass: Looks a bit like an SG... anyone know what it is?

Can't see the pickup because his hand is over it, but it's a Gibson EB-0, their "SG bass."

yup, thats it.... in the photo of Colin Merlander there seems to be something strange around the area of the headstock.... is that two pronged silver thing something thats attached to the mic cord?

It rounds up with Swanee River - Sheridan’s recording with Colin Melander on bass Roy young on Piano Rikki Barnes on saxophone and Jimmy Doyle/Johnny Watson on drums

Brisbane, June 1964 - The Beatles Australian Tour Party Top row (L to R)
Devon Minchin MSS, Dave Lincoln (lead guitar 'Phantoms'), Bob Garde (rhythm guitar 'Phantoms'), Alan Fenton (drummer 'Phantoms' - killed on a road construction project circa 1980), Johnny Chester (Aust. singer), Johnny Devlin (Aust./NZ Singer), Pete Watson (bass-guitar 'Phantoms' - died of throat cancer 1985), Noel Tresider (organ - 'Phantoms').
Standing (L to R)
MSS Security Guard (unknown), Malcolm Evans ('Beatles'/'Sounds Inc.' Technical Road Manager - committed suicide 1980s), 'SOUNDS INC.' - Dick Thomas - (Wes Huntor) - Bass guitar, John Gillard - (John St John) (guitar), Alan 'Boots' Holmes (baritone/tenor sax/alto flute), Dave Glyde - (Major Griff West) (tenor sax- moved to Australia in 1980s), Baz Elmes - (Barrie Cameron) - baritone, organ & piano, Tony Newman - (Richard Anthony Newman) (drummer), George Harrison (Beatles Tour Photographer - Manchester Press)
Seated (L to R)
John Clapson (Stage Manager), Unknown secretary to Bert Potts, Bert Potts - Brisbane Festival Hall Manager, Malcolm Cooke (Assistant Tour Manager- Aztec Promotions), Kenn Brodziak (Promoter CEO- Aztec Promotions), Dick Lean (Promoter - CEO Stadiums Australia), Lloyd Ravenscroft (Tour Manager), Arthur Hubbard (Gen. Manager MSS) Neil Aspinall ('Beatles' Road Manager)
Bottom (L to R)
Alan Field (Compere/comedian), "Beatles" - George Harrison (guitar - died 2002), Paul McCartney (bass guitar), John Lennon (guitar -- died, shot 1980s), Richard Starkey (alias 'Ringo Starr' - drummer), Derek Taylor ('Beatles' Public Relations - died 2002).

Photo by D'Arcy Pforr, Commercial Photographer. Taken at the Brisbane Festival Hall, Australia June 1964.

brammy wrote:Excellent catch!.... So Pauly certainly cant claim he was the first one in Hamburg to have a violin bass.

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Colin Melander obviously had more than one bass:

zzz3.jpg

Looks a bit like an SG... anyone know what it is?

That Hof appears to have a black pick guard

Yea, I think thats right. I dont know WHAT that light part is above the pickups... doesn't look like simple glare, but it might be.