| Author | Message | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 297 Registered: 4-2005 |
Just watched a superb special on Public TV titled, "Best of the Beatles"...narrated by original Beatles drummer Pete Best....(as stated in the Public TV reviews on the show)... "...Viewers learn the facts about the Beatles' experiences in Liverpool and Hamburg at the time when the band redefined the vanguard. They also learn how it all went horribly wrong for Best, the fifth Beatle. For the first time, viewers will hear (Pete) Best's story, his role in forming the Beatles and how he survived a public nightmare, all illustrated with a variety of music, archival material and interviews. Pete's story reveals the unlikely chain of events that led to his becoming the drummer in the Beatles in the first place: his mum, the formidable Mona, pawned all her jewelry and placed a 33-to-one bet on a horse called "Never Say Die." The horse won. With her winnings, Mona bought her dream home, and sent Pete, his brothers and "friends" into the basement to socialize and play their music. From this was born the Casbah Coffee Club, which became Beatles headquarters. Thus the legend began -- the wild revelry of playing the clubs on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg' red light district, the beginning of Beatlemania, recording for Polydor, establishing their authority as Liverpool's number one group by winning the Mersey Beat Poll, signing manager Brian Epstein, the Decca Records rejection, meeting George Martin, signing for Parlophone, recording "Love Me Do" at Abbey Road Studios, and finally Best's dismissal from the Beatles." This is really an insightful program, even for a die-hard Beatles freak like myself of 40-plus years. If any picker (or kicker) ever had the right to be bitter or depressed, it was Pete. In the show Pete expresses gratitude for his drumming version of "Love me Do" being included on a recent Beatles Anthology. "I viewed it as appreciation for services rendered in the past," he said. "Things happen." What a class act. Interviews with his mother in 1964 showed her to be a very intelligent and wise person with absolutely no mean spirited nature. Some who had a hand in getting Pete replaced say they'd like to apologize to him and ask his forgiveness...... Pete Best is a true class act!  ...graphic from Pete Best official website.. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4370 Registered: 5-2002 |
I saw that a while back; very interesting. It provided extensive historical background on the Beatles that I was previously unaware of. Recommended viewing! | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1300 Registered: 3-2004 |
A couple months back we watched a 5-6 DVD history of The Beatles that we rented through Netflix. It would be interesting to compare these accounts side by side. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4372 Registered: 5-2002 |
Bob, I hadn't heard of that DVD history. What did you think of it? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4373 Registered: 5-2002 |
This must be it. Surely I must have heard of it, and probably even seen it at the time, and just completely forgotten. | ||
| bigideas
Member Username: bigideas Post Number: 88 Registered: 1-2004 |
The anthology is great, I got it for christmas a couple of years ago. Well worth sitting down with. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1301 Registered: 3-2004 |
That looks like it, Dave. We enjoyed it quite a bit. It's always fun to listen to Beatles history with some music in between. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4377 Registered: 5-2002 |
Maybe sometime in November when things slow down I'll see if I can rent a copy for a weekend. Thanks! |
