Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is anyone aware of any pictures in existence taken at the few gigs over Xmas 1960 when Chas stood in a bassist while Stu was in Hamburg ? I'm interested not only in what the gentleman looked like, but what bass he used : I've read variously that he borrowed one, the Beatles bought one for him, or (most likely) converted the Solid 7 into a bass.

Tim, the only photo I have seen of Chas Newby is in Pete Best's book, The Best Years Of The Beatles. He played with Pete Best, Ken Brown and Bill Barlow in The Blackjacks who were the house band at The Casbah after The Quarrymen left(over the money dispute, Ken Brown getting paid when he hadn't actually played). The photo has Chas playing a very late 50's looking European 6-string guitar, I can't tell the brand, and he's
singing into a microphone in front of a fire place. So it looks to me like a Blackjacks practice at Pete's house, so it would be before the time Chas played with The Beatles. Pete says in the book, I think Chas played four gigs with us - one at the Casbah, one at Litherland Town Hall, one at Aintree Institute and one at the Grosvenor Ballroom, Liscard. Can you imagine playing with The Beatles at the famous Litherland gig where Beatlemania started?! It would be great
to track him down and hear about his experience,
he might be the only guy who would remember what
bass he was playing.

Bought the book on your recommendation, Larry - thanks, it's great. I'm surprised that Pete's managed to write two books on the same subject and make each different and interesting. Lots of pics which aren't in the other book too.

I can't ID Chas's guitar in the pic - looks as it could even be home-made, as he's a lefty too and lefty guitars of any sort were rare as hens teeth.

It might be interesting to track down Chas Newby - Pete Best might be in contact with him. I know the whereabouts of Barry Chan, who would have an interesting tale of a trip to Hamburg by van to tell, but he doesn't want to talk apparently.

Tim, I'm glad you like the book and it is pretty
amazing he could write two books and have enough
material and photos to not get too repititious.
I might be too compulsive, but I buy nearly every
new Beatle book that comes out(except I won't buy
Guilliano's). There is usually one or two new pictures and a story that makes each book worthwhile. It' really unbelievable that we have so many good photos to look at of the early days, as no one knew then how big The Beatles were to become. We even have that great photo of John Lennon at St.Peters Church on the day he met Paul McCartney! I do have Ken Brown's e-mail address
and have been in contact with him for a couple years. He's a very nice guy. I never thought until now about asking him about Chas Newby so thanks for steering me in that direction. I just
hope Chas is still alive as unfortunately some of these great people associated with that era are gone. Ken Brown has been working on a book about
his Quarrymen days for a couple years now and he
is looking for a publisher and going through the
business side of book writing right now. He wants
people to e-mail him saying the book is a great idea and the more e-mails he gets the better it
looks to his publisher. If everyone would e-mail
him and encourage him that would be great as we'll
all get a new book on the Quarrymen days. His
e-mail is [email protected]

Hey, Pete Best has written books?!
Are they old? Out of print?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
I am a huge fan of the early Beatles days and try to collect anything I can find.

Rod, Pete Best has written two books about the early years of the Beatles : The Best Years of the Beatles (with Bill Harry) and Beatle : The Pete Best Story (with Patrick Doncaster). I thought they were the same book under different covers until Larry told me otherwise. There is obviously some duplication of content but both make interesting reading. I don't know what the publication status is - check the internet bookshops - but both are currently on the shelves of my local bookshop in the UK. Pete has also contributed to other books about the Beatles.

Thanks alot Tim!
I'm on the trail.

Larry, thanks for the info re: Ken Brown's book. Hard to believe that publishers aren't jumping all over themselves to get this. Hopefully we can demonstrate enough enthusiasism to help Ken's project get done.

Chas Newby I've never seen a picture of him playing with the Fabs.