Originally founded as a skiffle group in Liverpool in 1959 by John McNally and Mike Pender (Mike Prendergast), the band took their name from the classic 1956 John Wayne western The Searchers.
The band grew out of an earlier skiffle group formed by McNally, with his friends Brian Dolan (guitar) and Tony West (bass). When the other two members lost interest, McNally was joined by his guitarist neighbor Mike Prendergast. They soon recruited Tony Jackson with his home-made bass guitar and amplifier and styled themselves Tony and the Searchers with Joe Kelly on drums. Kelly soon left to be replaced by Norman McGarry and it is this line-up—McNally, Pender (as he soon became known), Jackson and McGarry—that is usually cited as the original foursome.
The band returned to a residence, at the Iron Door Club and it was there that they tape recorded the sessions that led to a recording contract with Pye Records with Tony Hatch as producer.
Hatch played piano on some recordings and wrote "Sugar and Spice"—the band’s second number one record—under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale; a secret he kept from the band at the time.
The group continued to tour through the 1970s and were rewarded in 1979 when Sire Records signed the band to a multi-record deal. Two albums were released by them, The Searchers and Play for Today (retitled Love's Melodies outside the UK). Both records garnered great critical acclaim but did not break into the charts. They did however revitalize the group's career. According to John McNally, the band were ready to head into the studio to record a third album for Sire when they were informed that due to label reorganization, their contract had been dropped.
In 1981, the band signed to PRT Records (formerly Pye, their original label) and began recording an album but only one single, "I Don't Want To Be The One" backed with "Hollywood", saw the light of day at that time. The rest of the tracks would be released as part of 2004's 40th Anniversary collection.
In 1985 MIKE PENDER left The Searchers to form his own group. His aim was, and still is to this day, to faithfully recreate the sound and feel of those Hit Recordings and at the same time introduce other material that compliments Mike's unique voice and guitar style.
In 1988, Coconut Records signed The Searchers and the album Hungry Hearts was the result. A very contemporary sounding release, it featured modern sounding remakes of "Needles and Pins" and "Sweets For My Sweets". While the album was not a major hit, it did keep the group in the public eye.
John McNally and the Searchers are still going strong today and hold a significant fanbase worldwide.
The band members are:
John McNally - original member and founder, 6string/12 string guitarist and vocals
Frank Allen - bass guitarist, vocals and front man
Spencer James - guitar synth and lead vocals
Scott Ottaway – on drums.
For more information about John McNally and The Searchers and up to the minute concert dates visit …http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/
JOHN MCNALLY GUITARIST
FOR
THE SEARCHERS
ON'INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS'
w/RAY SHASHO
EXCLUSIVE
BBS RADIO
THE SEARCHERS TOUR DATES
Fri 31 August: WORTHING Pavilion Theatre (S)
SEPTEMBER Sat 1 September: FALMOUTH Princess Pavilion (S) Sun 2 September: TORQUAY Princess Theatre (S) Fri 7 September: CHRISTCHURCH Regent Centre (S) Fri 28 September: GREAT YARMOUTH St Georges Theatre (S) Sat 29 September: CROMER Pier Pavilion (S) Sun 30 September: WHITBY Pavilion Complex
SIXTIES GOLD AUTUMN TOUR Featuring The Searchers, P J Proby, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, Steve Ellis (Love Affair) and Vanity Fare For fuller information please see www.sixtiesgoldtour.co.uk OCTOBER
Tues 2 October: OXFORD New Theatre Wed 3 October: SOUTHPORT Southport Theatre Thur 4 October: LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru Fri 5 October: CARDIFF St David’s Hall Sat 6 October: ST ALBANS Alban Arena (2 shows) Sun 7 October: IPSWICH Regent Theatre Fri 12 October: LEICESTER De Montfort Hall Sat 13 October: STEVENAGE Concert Hall Sun 14 October: SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion Fri 19 October: WEYMOUTH Pavilion Theatre Sat 20 October: MARGATE Winter Gardens Sun 21 October: WIMBLEDON Wimbledon Theatre Thur 25 October: DARTFORD Orchard Theatre (2 shows) Fri 26 October: STOW ON THE WOLD St Edward's Church (Stow Music Festival) (not part of Sixties Gold tour) Sun 28 October: LEEDS Grand Theatre (2 shows)
NOVEMBER
Thur 1 November: GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall Fri 2 November: DUNDEE Caird Hall Sat 3 November: INVERNESS Eden Court (2 shows) Sun 4 November: ABERDEEN Beach Ballroom Tue 6 November: GATESHEAD The Sage Wed 7 November: BLACKPOOL Opera House Sat 10 November NORTHAMPTON Derngate Sun 11 November: NORWICH Theatre Royal Sat 17 November: LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall Sun 18 November: CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange Fri 23 November: DONCASTER The Dome Sun 25 November: SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower Theatre Wed 28 November: BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall Fri 30 November: MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
DECEMBER
Sun 2 December: CARLISLE Sands Centre
(end of Sixties Gold Tour) Fri 7 December: WIMBORNE Tivoli Theatre (S) Sat 8 December: WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall Fri 14 December: NR NOTTINGHAM Lowdham Village Hall (S) Sat 15 December: NR CHARD Cricket St Thomas (Warner's weekend break) Sun 23 December: HULL City Hall
THE SEARCHERS FAREWELL TOUR 4 January – 31 March 2019 S = Solo all evening show, with no support acts Please note that although some of these shows are already on sale, others may not be for a while yet.
JANUARY Fri 4 January: MARKET DRAYTON Festival at Drayton Centre (S) Sat 5 January: MARKET DRAYTON (as above - second night) Fri 11 January: DISS Corn Hall (S) Sat 12 January: HAYES The Beck Theatre (S) Sun 13 January: NR READING The Mill at Sonning (dinner and show) Thurs 17 January: MAIDSTONE Hazlitt Theatre (S) Fri 18 January: BASILDON Towngate Theatre (S) Sat 19 January: BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex Theatre (S) Sun 20 January: EPSOM Playhouse (S) Wed 23 January: MORECAMBE Platform Theatre (S) Thurs 24 January: RUNCORN The Brindley (S) Fri 25 January: DONCASTER The Cast (S) Sat 26 January: STOCKPORT Plaza (S) Sun 27 January: LINCOLN New Theatre Royal (S) Thurs 31 January: SOLIHULL Core Theatre (S)
FEBRUARY Fri 1 February: RHYL Pavilion Theatre (S) Sat 2 February: BARROW IN FURNESS Forum 28 (S) Sun 3 February: BOLTON Albert Halls (S) Weds 6 February: YEOVIL Octagon Theatre (S) Thurs 7 February: HEREFORD Courtyard Theatre (S) Fri 8 February: PORTHCAWL Grand Pavilion (S) Sat 9 February: NR CAERPHILLY Blackwood Miners Institute (S) Sun 10 February: EVESHAM Arts Centre (S) Thurs 14 February: WAKEFIELD Theatre Royal (S) Fri 15 February: WHITLEY BAY Playhouse (S) Sat 16 February: BROMSGROVE The Artrix (S) Sun 17 February: STAFFORD The Gatehouse (S) Mon 18 February: CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre (S) Thurs 21 February: LOWESTOFT The Marina (S) Fri 22 February: BEDFORD Corn Exchange (S) Sat 23 February: KINGS LYNN Corn Exchange (S) Sun 24 February: HAYLING ISLAND Sinah Warren (Warner’s weekend break) (not part of the Solo Tour) Wed 27 February: POCKLINGTON (near York) Arts Centre (S) Thurs 28 February: GLENROTHES Rothes Hall (S)
MARCH
Fri 1 March: MOTHERWELL Concert Hall (S) Sat 2 March: MUSSELBURGH Brunton Hall (S) Sun 3 March: LIVINGSTONE Howden Park Centre (S) Weds 6 March: FAREHAM Ferneham Hall (S) Thurs 7 March: HARLOW Playhouse (S) Fri 8 March: CREWE Lyceum Theatre (S) Sat 9 March: NEW BRIGHTON Pavilion Theatre (S) Sun 10 March: LEEDS City Varieties (S) Thurs 14 March: MANSFIELD Palace Theatre (S) Fri 15 March WIMBORNE Tivoli Theatre (S) Sat 16 March: HORSHAM Capitol Theatre (S) Sun 17 March: PETERBOROUGH Key Theatre (S) Weds 20 March: CANNOCK Prince of Wales Theatre (S) Thurs 21 March: DARLINGTON Hippodrome (formerly Civic) (S) Fri 22 March: LOUGHBOROUGH Town Hall (S) Sat 23 March: LYTHAM ST ANNES Lowther Pavilion (S) Sun 24 March: REDDITCH Palace Theatre (S) Weds 27 March: HIGH WYCOMBE Swan Theatre (S) Thurs 28 March: CROMER Pier Pavilion (S) Fri 29 March: CAMBERLEY Camberley Theatre (S) Sat 30 March: WEYMOUTH Pavilion Theatre (S) Sun 31 March: NR MILTON KEYNES The Stables, Wavendon (S) SOLD OUT
Peter Asher’s legendary music
career began in 1964 as one-half of the singing duo Peter & Gordon, who
amassed nine Top 20 records during their career. Their debut single, “A
World without Love” – a song given to them by Paul McCartney – went to number
one in over 30 countries, including the U.S. and U.K. In 1968, Mr. Asher became
head of A&R for the Beatles newly formed record company, Apple Records,
where he found, signed and produced James Taylor and worked closely with the
Beatles on their individual projects. During this period he became a
key figure in the “revolution” of The Sixties, founding the book shop and art
gallery “Indica” (where John and Yoko met and where Allen Ginsberg and William
Boroughs visited) and found himself at the centre of an era of profound social
and artistic change.
In
1971, Asher moved to the U.S. and founded Peter Asher Management, representing
James Taylor and, beginning in 1973, the management and production of Linda
Ronstadt as well. Peter Asher Management became one of the most
successful Artist Management companies in the US, handling artists such as Joni
Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Carole King as well as James and Linda.
Asher quit the personal
management business in 1995 when he was appointed Senior Vice President of Sony
Music, a post he held for eight years.
He
has been awarded 37 RIAA-certified gold albums and 22 platinum albums in the
U.S., and many more internationally. Mr. Asher has produced fourteen
Grammy Award-winning recordings, and in 1977 and 1989 was honored individually
with the Grammy Award for “Producer of the Year”. He won a further
Grammy in the category of “Comedy Album of the Year” for his production work
with Robin Williams.
After a 37 year gap, Peter &
Gordon reunited in New York for one benefit concert for a friend on August 2,
2005 which was very successful and they went on to perform together on various
special occasions just for the fun of it until Gordon’s untimely death in July
of 2009.
Since then Peter has continued to be in high demand as a
record producer, consultant, lecturer and as a performer again in his highly
successful one-man show, “A Musical Memoir of the 60s and
Beyond”. He has also received various international awards, is
a member of Mensa and of SAG-AFTRA, President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the
Recording Academy and has been a frequent keynote speaker at industry
events.
Other projects have included “Carole King & James Taylor
Live at the Troubadour”, an album from guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela (“Area
52”, recorded in Cuba) and the Buddy Holly tribute “Listen to Me” (an
album and PBS TV Special).
With Hans Zimmer, Peter produced music for “Pirates of the
Caribbean 4”, “Sherlock Holmes 2”, “Madagascar 3”, “Man of Steel” and
“Rush”. In fact, Peter sang and produced
the only original song in “Madagascar 3”, the love theme “Love Always Comes as
a Surprise” which Peter co-wrote with his friend Dave Stewart.
Recent productions include “So Familiar”, the follow-up
album to the highly successful (and Grammy-winning) “Love Has Come for You”
(Steve Martin & Edie Brickell) .These albums have also generated a PBS
special and a stage musical, “Bright Star”, of which Peter is the music
supervisor. Peter also directed the highly acclaimed Hans Zimmer Live show
which first opened in London in 2014. It
is now on an extensive world tour which began at the legendary Coachella
Festival in California.
He recently worked with Steve
Martin on a new bluegrass album with the Steep Canyon Rangers,
and with Elton John on an album to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Elton
John/Bernie Taupin songwriting partnership.
In the New Year’s Honours list
for 2015, Peter Asher was awarded a CBE (“Commander of the Most Excellent Order
of the British Empire”) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, for services to the
music industry. The official investiture took place at Buckingham Palace
on February the 24th, conducted by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
Most recently, it was announced
with much fanfare that an official Apple-approved Beatles channel is to
premiere on SiriusXM Radio at the end of May and that the programming will
include a weekly one hour show, “From Me to You”, hosted exclusively by Peter
Asher.
P E T E R A S H E R
INTERVIEWED ON
THE RAY SHASHO SHOW-BBS RADIO
(CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN)
AND PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
TO MY YOU TUBE CHANNEL
For more
information about Peter Asher and upcoming tour dates visit www.peterashermusic.com
Be sure
to listen to Peter Asher’s new radio show ‘From Me To You’ every Thursday at
8pm ET on Sirius XM Channel 18 -The Beatles Channel
Peter
Asher will Host the 2018 Flower Power Cruise Feb 24-March 3rd …Visit www.flowerpowercruise.com for more information
Also
visit …www.peterandgordon.net
SPECIAL ACOUSTIC DUO DATES BY
PETER ASHER AND ALBERT LEE
SAT. JUNE 17, 2017 -- VAN DYCK LOUNGE, SCHENECTADY, NY
SUN., JUNE 18, 2017 --CUTTING ROOM, NEW YORK, NY
MON. JUNE 19, 2017--WORLD CAFE LIVE, PHILADELPHIA PA
TUE. JUNE 20, 2017 -- TIN PAN, RICHMOND, VA
WED. JUNE 21, 2017 -- JAMMIN JAVA, VIENNA, VA
THUR., JUNE 22, 2017 -- MCLOONE'S, ASBURY PARK, NJ
FRI. JUNE 23, 2017 -- TOWNE CRIER, BEACON, NY
SAT. JUNE 24, 2017 -- PETER ASHER (NO ALBERT LEE, BUT MANY OTHER
PERFORMERS...)-CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, LOCATION TBA, NY,NY
SUN., JUNE 25, 2017 --STEPHEN TALKHOUSE, AMAGANSETT, NY
MON., JUNE 26, 2017 --PETER ASHER (NO ALBERT LEE, BUT MANY
OTHER PERFORMERS...)-CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, LOCATION TBA, NY, NY
JULY 22ND 2017 –SPACE, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
THE
RAY SHASHO SHOW
Bi-weekly
Monday Afternoon at 3 pm Pacific/6 pm Eastern
Please don’t forget to purchase a copy of my book
entitledCheck the Gs -the true story of an eclectic American family and their
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at amazon.com.
You’ll live it!!!
Very special
thanks toDoug
& Don Newsom with BBS Radio for making it all happen every show! Join me bi-weekly Monday’s at 3pm pacific/6pm
Eastern on The Ray Shasho Show. If you have comments or suggestions or would
like to be a guest on The Ray Shasho Show call 941-877-1552 or email us at ray@publicityworksagency.com.
An interview with The Moody Blues legendary keyboardist Michael Pinder
Michael Pinder was affectionately labeled “Micky the Moonboy”
as a youth for his preoccupation of the moon, stars, music and
electronics. But who could have predicted that a silly nickname perhaps
more suited for a sci-fi cartoon superhero would actually forecast his
destiny. Pinder’s fascination with the cosmos and a life-changing
realization that we are not alone in the universe became the basis for
composing intricate and surreal musical masterpieces.
Michael played Hymns on the piano in Church every Sunday at his
Colonel’s request; in return Pinder received an early discharge from the
British Army. Pinder asked for the early-out after hearing The Beatles“She Loves You” on the radio. Ten days later, Pinder was back in Birmingham, England. He quickly found a job working with Streetly Electronics where he learned the mechanics of the Mellotron. Michael Pinder would become an illustrious keyboardist and trendsetter for the instrument.
In 1964 … Michael Pinder (piano, organ and vocals) and Ray Thomas (tambourine, flute and vocals) formed The Moody Blues along with members …Denny Laine (guitars, harmonica and lead vocals), Clint Warwick (bass guitar and vocals) and Graeme Edge (drums and vocals). The R&B/Rock/Pop Birmingham band scored a Top 10 hit in the U.S. with “Go Now” (1965) from their debut album The Magnificent Moodies. The Moody Blues became part of ‘The British Invasion’ and supported The Beatles on their final UK tour in December of 1965. They followed the tour with their first trip to the U.S. appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1966 … after the departure of Denny Laine and Clint Warwick … The Moody Blues reformed with old friend John Lodge (bass guitar and vocals) and Justin Hayward (lead vocals and guitars) who was recommended to Pinder by Eric Burdon
of The Animals. The band had an awakening after a disgruntled audience
member visited their dressing room complaining about their music. The
group immediately changed their musical direction and style, hence … the
commencement of one of the most amazing transformations in rock
history.
Meanwhile …Michael Pinder suggested to his friend John Lennon that The Beatles use the Mellotron on Magical Mystery Tour …and they did. Pinder’s Mellotron influence is undeniably detected on “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Pinder and bandmate Ray Thomas were also invited to play harmonica on the tracks… “I Am the Walrus” and “The Fool on the Hill.”
“In 1967 …The Moody Blues first attempt at a dissimilar musical direction had consummated with an awe-inspiring masterpiece entitled… Days of Future Passed. It
would be the first Decca/Deram Records release in stereo. Michael
Pinder’s Mellotron ingrained a brave new transcendental manner and
Progressive Rock was born. The proficient players of The Moody Blues
were also accompanied by The London Festival Orchestra while creating
the band’s first concept album. Days of Future Passed spawned two of the band’s biggest commercial hits with its new lineup … “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.” Pinder wrote the tracks… “Dawn is a Feeling” and “The Sunset.” Pinder’s dramatic reading of “Late Lament” added a mind-blowing conclusion to a superlative album. Producer Tony Clarke’s influence also had a huge impact on the group. The Moody Blues subsequent release … In Search of the Lost Cord
(1968) was recorded without an orchestra … although Pinder’s ingenious
performance on the Mellotron often sounded like a symphony. Pinder
composed “The Best Way to Travel” and “Om” on the album. “Ride My See-saw” became a commercial hit for the band.
In 1969 … The Moody Blues released On the Threshold of a Dream. The
group’s signature sound became exclusive to the rest of the rock world.
Pinder had considerable songwriting duties on the album with … “So Deep Within You,” “Have You Heard (Part 1),” “The Voyage,” and “Have You Heard (Part 2).”
Inspired by the 1969 moon landing …To Our Children’s Children’s Children
was their first album released on the band’s newly formed Threshold
Records. The band followed the critically-acclaimed release with … Question of Balance (1970). Pinder penned … “How Is It (We are Here)” and his proverbial classic … “Melancholy Man.”
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour was released in 1971. For the first time, the entire band lyrically collaborated on “Procession” the opening track. Michael Pinder also penned the final track on the album entitled … “My Song.” The release spawned yet another Top 40 hit with … “The Story in Your Eyes.”
Also in 1971 … Pinder played tambourine on John Lennon’s Imagine album on the track … “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama.” Seventh Sojourn released in 1972 brought an end to the classic Moody Blues era. Michael Pinder penned … “Lost in a Lost World,” and “When You’re a Free Man.” The album also spawned… “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
and became one of the bands highest charting hits reaching #12 on
Billboard’s Hot 100 in the U.S. Pinder also substituted the Mellotron
with its precursor the Chamberlin.
In 1976 …Pinder released his solo album entitled … The Promise.
After a lengthy hiatus, The Moody Blues released Octave (1978). Michael Pinder departed the band during the sessions but contributed… “One Step Into the Light.”
Pinder was replaced by YES Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz. Without
Pinder’s Mellotron and Chamberlin influence, The Moody Blues intricate
progressive period was over. The Moody Blues continue
to tour and record as a band with Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme
Edge (the only original band member left in the group).
In 1994 …Pinder released his solo effort … Among the Stars (a private mail order release). MOST RECENTLY … Esoteric Recordings has released Michael Pinder’s 3-Disc CD & DVD set of ‘The Promise (1976) & Among the Stars’ (1994) plus new bonus material featuring Michael’s sons (The Pinder Brothers) and Ray Thomas (The Moody Blues) on flute.
I had the rare pleasure of chatting with Michael Pinder recently. We
chatted about his remarkable days with The Moody Blues, his relationship
and influence on The Beatles, and UFO’S!
Here’s my interview with legendary Moody Blues singer, songwriter,
keyboardist, Mellotron pioneer, and technological beneficence to the
music world …MICHAEL PINDER. Ray Shasho: Hi Michael so glad that you could be on the call today. How’s California weather treating you? Michael Pinder:“Actually it’s not a bad day, there’s hardly any clouds with a little bit of sunshine and it’s about 68 degrees.” Ray Shasho: I think we’re both lucky because the rest of the
country is really suffering … Michael, Esoteric Recordings has released
your 3-Disc CD & DVD set of ‘The Promise (1976) & Among the
Stars’ (1994) plus new bonus material featuring your sons (The Pinder
Brothers) and Ray Thomas (The Moody Blues) on flute. Michael Pinder: “Yes, Mike and Matt, two of my three
sons are on the album. They recorded four albums as The Pinder Brothers
and have their own business teaching music. Matt does a lot of gigs
playing bass, like with Kevin Russell’s Cream of Clapton. Dan is the
third son in Los Angeles; he’s a film editor in the movie business. I
have a talented family. My dad played piano and banjo and my mom sang a
little bit. Because my dad was a piano player, I was exposed to a lot of
early music from the 20’s, 30’s 40’s, 50’s. But after the Elvis period
and the first time I heard The Beatles first tune …that was it, the
signal for me. I was in Germany at the time in the military. I happened
to be in good with the Colonel at the camp because he was very religious
and every Sunday morning he would send for me.”
“One morning he said, “Pinder, I understand you play piano?” I was
playing for the guys in the Mess. He said, “How about playing a couple
of Hymns for me on Sunday? I said, yes sir, no problem sir. I also found
out that there was a guy who played bass and a guy who played drums.
The Colonel gave us the equipment to play and he said all I want you to
do is to play a few hymns on Sunday mornings. So there I am in Germany
and I’m listening to the radio on Saturday morning and I heard The
Beatles “She Loves You” for the first time …and that was like, oh yea! I
thought, I’ve got to get out of here, but I was already signed up for
quite a few years. So I went to see the Colonel and I told him what was
happening. He said no problem and within about ten days I was back in
England.” Ray Shasho: That’s an amazing story… why did the Colonel give you an early discharge from the military? Michael Pinder:“The Colonel was the camp. I played
for him every Sunday morning because he was very religious. He said
thank you for all the music you’ve played for us and we’ll take care of
you. Prior to that, I had a band called The Rocking Tuxedo’s which was
my first band. Ray Thomas also had a band and we sort of got to know
each other. By the time we got to about the third Beatles hit (All
laughing), Ray and I decided to put a band together and we called it The
Moody Blues. The reason we called it The Moody Blues was because my mom
ran a big seven bar British Pub and the name of the beer company was
called Mitchells & Butlers …M&B. I thought we could get on the
circuit because they had probably about a hundred different pubs. So I
thought “Mood Indigo” because the song stuck with me as a kid and we
were playing blues tunes. So that’s how I came up with The Moody Blues.” Ray Shasho: During the British Invasion …the early Moody
Blues had a very different sound and musically ahead of their time, much
like The Animals, Yardbirds, and Rolling Stones. I guess not being
from Liverpool and hailing from Birmingham may have had something to do
with it too? Michael Pinder: “Yea exactly, we were all on the road but all took a different direction.” Ray Shasho: What was it like touring with The Beatles? Michael Pinder:“It was absolutely fabulous! It was
just them and us. There was a guy who was like a comedian that would
open the show and his name was Pinder … I can’t remember his first
name.” Ray Shasho: At what point did you begin playing the Mellotron? Michael Pinder: “When the Colonel let me off because
I heard The Beatles song … I was looking for a job. There was a company
located about three miles from where I lived and was born. I read their
ad in the newspaper saying they wanted somebody that had mechanical
ideas and knew music. So I applied for the job, got it, and it turned
out to be a Mellotron company.” Ray Shasho: I’m really fascinated with the Mellotron as a
musical instrument … an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replaying
keyboard. It basically plays a tape when you press a key. But you
altered it in some way when you began playing it? Michael Pinder:“What I did … on the left hand
keyboard there would be rhythm sections and things like that, the right
side was used for soloing. I didn’t need the cheesy rhythms so what I
did was took those out and put another right handed version in the left
and created two mellotron’s … one on my left hand and one on my right.” Ray Shasho: Michael, you became a trailblazer for the Mellotron. Michael Pinder: “I was lucky enough to turn The Beatles on to the Mellotron. I called them and they sent four Mellotron’s to The Beatles.” Ray Shasho: It would have been awesome if you had actually
played the Mellotron on the track … but we should all still thank you
for your very critical contribution to “Strawberry Fields Forever?” Michael Pinder: “Yes (All laughing). I did play
harmonica on “I Am the Walrus” and “The Fool on the Hill” … me and Ray
both. They had every kind of harmonica you could imagine. Ray Thomas and
I were also lucky enough to get on the final Beatles UK tour.” Ray Shasho: You also played on John Lennon’s Imagine album? Michael Pinder: “I played tambourine on “I Don’t
Wanna Be A Soldier Mama.” I turned them on to the Mellotron but when I
got there all the tapes were hanging out and nobody knew how to handle
it. I couldn’t play Mellotron on that so I grabbed a tambourine, got on
the drummer’s high-hat, and went for “I Don’t Want to Be a Soldier
Mama.” Ray Shasho: Was Days of Future Passed …The Moody Blues Sgt. Pepper’s? Michael Pinder: “I would say so. It was apparently the first stereo record that Decca ever did.” Ray Shasho: Michael, you were so inspirational and important
to the success of The Moody Blues, and composed so many intricate and
beautiful arrangements, for instance… "Have You Heard/The Voyage/Have You Heard (part two)" from the album On the Threshold of a Dream. Where do some of your songwriting ideas come from? Michael Pinder:“It comes from the heart, mind, and things that I’ve listened to over the years.”
“I was born in 1941, at the end of 1945 my mom called me in from the
garden while I was collecting spiders. She called … “Michael, I want you
to meet somebody,” and there was my dad. He was a sergeant in the
military and had just gotten back from France. So she introduced my dad
to me … I had never really seen him.”
“My dad used to do deliveries and would bring big crates home so we
could break it up and light the fire with it. So we had one in the
garden, it was kind of like a coffin without a lid on. I would get a
blanket and a cushion and just lie in there and couldn’t see anything
except the sky. That was one of my favorite things to do and just watch
the skies.”
“When everybody was at work and the older kids were all at school … I
used to get a privet stick, strip all the leaves off and turn it into a
bow. Then I’d put it behind the little spider webs, onto the web, then
go to another one and put it on there … and then watch the spiders
fight. There weren’t any spiders left in my garden so I’d go across the
street. “So I was in the neighbor’s garden picking spiders off the web
and watching them fight. The neighbors weren’t at home. I turned around
and there was this guy standing at their front door. He looked like
Michael Rennie from the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still. So
I turned around and this guy was standing by the door of the house. He
points and says, look up there. I looked up and saw formations of
different types of spaceships. Then they both sort of disappeared, it
was one of those miraculous things. So I’ve always been into the outer
space thing. It’s one of those things that stay with you your whole
life.” Ray Shasho: Was that the only time you witnessed a UFO? Michael Pinder: “In 1966 … with the first band, we
were coming back from Manchester around midnight and we always wanted to
get back to London before dawn, otherwise we’d have trouble getting to
sleep. We were coming down from Manchester on the day they opened the M6
motorway. So we’re driving home about one o’clock in the morning and
I’m sitting in the back, and I’d put my head back and look out the back
window and look at the stars. So we’re driving and probably doing sixty
miles an hour. There was this red light and I said, I don’t remember
that radio station around here. So I told the guys to pull over and we
got out. We all looked over the top of the car and there was this red
ball kind of thing moving across the freeway that turns into a square …
like a red dice. As it approached us, it got bigger and bigger, and we
were all sort of bathed in this blue light. We ended up getting home
three hours late and wondering what the heck was that? …So that really
solidified my nickname of “Micky the Moonboy” as a kid. I was always
interested in the moon. …Read Zecharia Sitchin … he’s the guy!” Ray Shasho: Michael, any regrets on leaving The Moody Blues? Michael Pinder:“No, I don’t because I was really quite happy with what Ray and I achieved. We had what we wanted… we conquered it.” Ray Shasho: Do you still talk with your old bandmates? Michael Pinder: “I talk with Ray a lot; we’re still the best buddies. We’re the guys who started the band.” Ray Shasho: I was part of a family retail electronics
business in Washington D.C. and we were among the very first in D.C. to
carry Pong, the Atari 2600 console and all the game cartridges. After
you left The Moody Blues you actually went to work for Atari? Michael Pinder: “Yes I did for awhile. I was
demonstrating for them. I think I still have my original Pong and Atari
in the garage (All laughing).” Ray Shasho: Graeme Edge lives about 15-20 minutes from me. He’s made headlines in the National Enquirer most recently …did you read it? Michael Pinder: “Yes… misperforming in back of a car. He kind of deserves what he gets.” Ray Shasho: Michael, here’s a question that I ask everyone
that I interview. If you had a ‘Field of Dreams’ wish like the movie, to
play, sing or collaborate with anyone from the past or present, who
would that be? Michael Pinder: “I think I’ve already gotten to play
with who I’d want to play with and that’s The Beatles. When we did the
last Beatles tour in the UK that all made sense. Do you remember the
song…“Those Were the Days” by Mary Hopkin? …Paul gave the song to us
first. I told Paul thanks a lot but it’s not quite us. So it turned out
to be a one hit wonder for her and I could kind of sense that. But we
were so lucky to have played with so many great bands… especially The
Beatles.” Ray Shasho: Michael, thank you for being on the call today
but more importantly for all the incredible music you’ve given us and
hopefully will continue to bring. Michael Pinder:“Ray I appreciate you calling and giving us the chance to chat about it. Cheers!”
As always ...very special thanks to “the great” Billy James Coming UP … My interview with guitarist Wayne Swinny of SALIVA, Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys, the legendary Judy Collins, Jesse Colin Young, and Travis Barker of Blink-182. This article is dedicated to my Brother Harry who has always been a devoted fan of The Moody Blues.
Contact classic rock music journalist Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com Purchase Ray’s very special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business … You’ll LIVE IT! Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST .99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com - Please support Ray by purchasing his book so he can continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting. “Check the Gs is just a really cool story ... and it’s real. I’d
like to see the kid on the front cover telling his story in a motion
picture, TV sitcom or animated series. The characters in the story
definitely jump out of the book and come to life. Very funny and scary
moments throughout the story and I just love the way Ray timeline’s
historical events during his lifetime. Ray’s love of rock music was
evident throughout the book and it generates extra enthusiasm when I
read his on-line classic rock music column on examiner.com. It’s a
wonderful read for everyone!” …stillerb47@gmail.com
Over the years, there’s been speculation and even conspiracy theories to why original Beatles drummer Pete Best was fired by manager Brian Epstein. On August 16th, 1962, Best was permanently replaced by Rory Storm and the Hurricanes drummer Ritchie Starkey (Ringo Starr).
Some of the explanations for his dismissal we
adhered to over the years were … He was too conventional to be a Beatle
…Paul and George never liked him …He was anti-social, never hung-out
with the other lads after gigs …Pete refused to sport the proposed
mop-top haircut …Ringo was the better drummer …Pete was too good looking
… Pete was too popular …Pure jealousy …Epstein felt threatened … and
so on… and so on.
One thing is certain … John, Paul and George kept completely silent and remained totally numb during and after his discharge from The Beatles.
Since receiving those historic walking papers, the band had never made a
legitimate effort to make amends, remain friends, or even consider Pete
Best as an acquaintance.
In this interviewPete Best states … “I
never spoke with any of them again after the dismissal. Played on the
same bill as them on two or three occasions, but we didn't speak.”
BBC News reported that
… Ringo Starr made an apology to the city of Liverpool for remarking
that he missed nothing about his city, leaving many Merseyside residents
very angry. A foliage sculpture of The Beatles
at Liverpool South Parkway Station was beheaded by vandals three months
after the remarks, with the sculptures of the other three Beatles left
untouched.
Even today: Fellow Liverpool musicians
continue to be puzzled over the firing of Pete Best. In a recent
interview conducted with another British Invasion legend Billy J. Kramer, He states… “There’s
never been an out and out answer … Me, as an onlooker, I saw… Lets here
it one more time for John, George, Paul …and when Pete Best walked back
on the stage at the end of the show… young girls just went crazy! It’s
something that always baffled me.”
Was there another reason behind the firing of Pete Best?
Pete Best was born in Madras, India and brought up in Liverpool, England. In 1954, Pete’s mother Mona Best pawned
all of her jewelry and bet the money on a racehorse. She bet on a
33-1 longshot named “Never Say Die.” She won the bet and used her
winnings to purchase a house at 8 Haymans Green in Liverpool.
On August 29th, 1959 Mona Best opened The Casbah Coffee Club
in the cellar of that home becoming Liverpool’s first rock ‘n’ roll
venue. Mona “Mo” Best’s encouragement to promote local musicians helped
shape and popularize the “Merseybeat,” the original sound of the British
Invasion. The first gig at the infamous Casbah was ‘The Quarrymen’ featuring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ken Brown (The Les Stewart Quartet). The band (without a drummer) played a series of seven Saturday night engagements.
Ken Brown later formed The Blackjacks with Pete Best and ‘Chas’ Newby.
Beatles Era: In the 1960s, a tour of Hamburg, Germany was arranged by The Silver Beetles manager Alan Williams, and the band still desperately needed a drummer. The answer was Pete Best, who frequently played with his band The Blackjacks at
his Mom’s Casbah Coffee Club. After The Blackjacks broke up, it was
Paul McCartney who convinced Best to join the group and go to Hamburg.
Best auditioned at Alan Williams Jacaranda Club and left for Hamburg the
next day. Pete Best became a Silver Beetle on August 12th, 1960. The Silver Beetles changed their name to The Beatles on August17th.
During their first tour of Germany, The band played the Indra Club and the Kaiserkellar. The Beatles met photographer Astrid Kirchherr and Klaus Voormann that same year.
In 1961, NEMS (North End Music Stores) owner Brian Epstein approached the band with a management offer. He had been quite impressed with the group after hearing the release of “My Bonnie” (Polydor Records) recorded with rocker Tony Sheridan. Epstein had also visited the original ‘Cavern Club’
on several occasions to watch The Beatles perform live in front of a
crowd. The Beatles first ‘Cavern Club’ gig was secured by Pete Best’s
mom Mona.
Before taking over The Beatles, Epstein asked Alan
Williams if there were any contractual ties between him and the band.
There weren’t any, but Williams told Epstein … “Don’t touch them with a f***ing bargepole, they will let you down.”
Bassist Stuart Sutcliffe
quit The Beatles on March 15th, 1961 to pursue a career as an artist.
Sutcliffe died April 10th, 1962 of an aneurysm that was believed to be
caused by a head injury from a brawl inside Lathom Hall in Liverpool.
In 1962, after becoming Liverpool’s #1 voted band, The Beatles revisited Hamburg to play ‘The Star Club.’ In Hamburg, new boss Brian Epstein announced to the group that they had achieved a recording contract with EMI. They met George Martin that year at Abbey Road Studios. The Beatles recorded the original version of, “Love Me Do” in June of 1962 with Pete Best on drums (available on The Beatles Anthology 1 compilation release).
Pete Best was fired from The Beatles on August 16th, 1962.
In 1964, “Love Me Do” became The Beatles first #1 U.S. Hit (On
Vee-Jay Records) featuring their new drummer Ringo Starr. EMI (Capitol
Records in the U.S. initially refused to release Beatles records). Post Beatles Era: Pete Best was offered to play drums with several high profiled bands. Ringo Starr’s ex-group Rory Storm & The Hurricanes ironically asked Pete to replace Ritchie Starkey (Ringo) on drums. Then Brian Epstein contacted Best to shape The Merseybeats into another Beatles scenario. Pete Best rejected both offers.
Which brings up the point … If Pete Best was such a
bad drummer, why did Brian Epstein want him to play drums and take
charge of The Merseybeats? Epstein still had enough confidence in Pete
by asking him to turn The Merseybeats into another Beatles Phenomena.
In 1963, Pete Best joined Lee Curtis & The All-Stars. The band landed a record deal with Decca. The All-Stars toured the UK and Germany and were awarded second place in the Merseybeat Poll, losing the number one spot to The Beatles, but ahead of Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers. The band split from Curtis and eventually became ‘The Pete Best Four’ and ‘The Pete Best Combo.’ The band toured the U.S and Canada.
In 1968, Pete Best left the music business to concentrate on family
life. He worked as a civil servant worker for the next twenty years.
Depressed over The Beatles sustained fame and fortune, Best tried to
commit suicide, but was miraculously talked out of it by his mother Mona
and brother Rory.
The secrecy and avoidance surrounding Pete Best’s
dismissal by The Beatles reminded me of another incident the same year
that lead to a similar covert aftermath … the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis.’ (October 16-28, 1962).
The Pete Best Band: In 1988, after twenty years of turning down requests to perform in public, The Pete Best Band was
formed. Pete continues to tour worldwide with his younger brother Roag
sharing drumming duties. The band’s sound and appearance is a throwback
to those exciting early days of The Beatles. Their setlist includes
Beatles classics like … “Please Mr. Postman,” “P.S. I Love You,” “My
Bonnie,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Till There Was You,” “I Saw Her
Standing There,” “Twist and Shout” and “Kansas City” to name a few.
I’ve witnessed The Pete Best Band in concert and thought it was … Gratifying, authentic rock and roll at its finest.
In 2007, Pete Best was inducted into the All You Need Is Liverpool Music Hall of Fame as the debut Charter Member.
In 2008, The Pete Best Band released the album Haymans Green consisting
of all new material. Best plays drums and co-wrote all the tracks. The
album received rave reviews with a lineup that featured … Pete Best
(drums), Roag Best (drums and percussions), Tony Flynn (guitar, vocals
-played with Steppenwolf), Phil Melia (guitar, harmonica, vocals), and
Paul Parry (guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals).
On July 25th, 2011 two streets in Liverpool were named Pete Best Drive and Casbah Close.
Pete and Kathy Best have been married for fifty years; they have two daughters and four grandchildren. Pete Best has an incredible website that spotlights
opportunities to visit or even play at the legendary Casbah Coffee Club.
Visit Pete’s official website at www.petebest.com. The site also features some great merchandise and memorabilia.
I had the rare pleasure of chatting with Pete Best recently about life before and after The Beatles.
Here’s my interview with the original drummer of The Beatles/ Leader of The Pete Best Band/Drummer/Percussionist/Songwriter … PETE BEST. Ray Shasho: Hello Pete, happy 2013! Pete Best: “Oh thank you …same to you.” Ray Shasho:I actually met you back in 2001 in Springfield, Virginia after your show. Pete Best: “That’s going back a long ways, but I do remember the gig.” Ray Shasho: You and the band certainly put on a great show. So what’s new these days in the life of Pete Best? Pete Best: “Well, I’ve still got the band going
which is touring all over the world as we have been doing for many-many
years. But at the present moment, I’m into getting right into this
technology … Facebook and everything, and have three things going at the
present moment Ray, I’ve got my own website which is www.petebest.com
and people can go on that site to see what the band is doing, what I’m
doing, and all the updates. It’s full of all kinds of information and we
just want people to go on and visit it. And of course the Facebook
regime which is www.facebook.com/petebestofficial. I’ve also gone on to the Twitter as well so I can have a chat with the fans, and that is https://twitter.com/BeatlesPeteBest.”
“I’ve been promising myself that I’d keep everyone up-to-date and
just enjoying the fact that it gives hundreds and thousands of people
out there the opportunity to get in touch with me and have a chat, and
keep up to date with what we’re doing and we love to talk about it with
people.” Ray Shasho: I’ve been on your website and it’s quite
impressive. I noticed that you can actually book tours at the famous
Casbah Coffee Club directly from the site. Pete Best: “That’s right; The Casbah is opened to
tours now, we’re open nearly 365 days a year and it’s by booking
appointments only. The contact information is on the website and if
people phone up and make an appointment then we’ll be more than glad to
take them around and give them a history of The Casbah and the history
of Merseybeat from the early years of The Beatles.” Ray Shasho: Your mom was quite a visionary and entrepreneur wasn’t she? Pete Best: “Let’s be quite honest about it Ray, she
bet all her money on a horse, “Never Say Die” which we didn’t know
about, and that horse had jockey Lester Piggott on it, who won the Epsom
Derby in 1954, and from that she bought Haymans Green and then
transferred a cellar into what the world knows now as The Casbah Club.
But that dream that she had, what you are talking about being an
entrepreneur, she always wanted to bring music to the kids of Liverpool
and that’s exactly what she did, and that’s exactly what history
portrays now.”
“The first band to play there were The Quarrymen, who went on to
become The Beatles. Every band in Liverpool played there …Gerry and the
Pacemakers, Kingsize Taylor, The Searchers, The Swinging Blue Jeans … my
goodness me; you can go on and on and on. But the good thing about it
Ray, was that she was also very interested in bringing the younger bands
up, the bands who were just starting to make a break through. She had a
simple rule and it worked great … when you tried out at The Casbah, if
the crowd liked you, you got another booking. If they didn’t she’d say,
“Go away my lads and practice, the door isn’t closed, come back and have
another go.” So many bands did that and it put them on the road to
stardom …which is absolutely fantastic.” Ray Shasho: The music business could certainly use someone like your mom today. Pete Best: “She’s still here Ray, even though she’s
gone. God bless her, she went in 1988. She’s still with us … The Casbah
is her, it’s her epitaph. She was the visionary; we’re just carrying on
the job for her.” Ray Shasho: Before The Quarrymen, John Lennon had a band
called The Black Jacks. Did John change the name of that band because
your band was also called The Black Jacks? Pete Best: “Yea, my band was The Black Jacks, but I
think John stopped calling himself The Black Jacks before I came along.
So there were no problems involving name discussions or anything else
like that. By that time they turned into The Moondogs, The Silver
Beetles, and all the other aliases that he had before we actually were
The Beatles with an ‘a,’ so there was no problem on that particular
side.” Ray Shasho: On the day bassist Stuart Sutcliffe was attacked, was it you and John Lennon who actually ran to his rescue? Pete Best: “Yea, what you actually saw portrayed in films like Birth of The Beatles and Backbeat, they
used Litherland Town Hall as to where the assault took place, and it
wasn’t, it was a venue called Lathom Hall and Stu was beaten up inside
the club. What we used to call in those days …‘Teddy Boys,’ Stuart was
the smallest in the band and they picked on him for some unknown reason
when we were backstage. John and I heard about it and we dashed out, got
stuck into it, and sorted it out. John broke his finger and that was
something he carried from that particular fight. But we managed to get
Stu out without too much damage to him and we just went on and did the
show. But the funny thing was Ray, after that, we were accepted by the
‘Teddy Boys,’ as we use to call them in those days. And at that
particular location they turned around and said, “Hang on just a moment,
it’s the Beatles, they can handle themselves.” So there was a little
bit of respect. But that just puts the record straight in regard to
location, and yes, john and I were actually there to help him.” Ray Shasho: Were you the closest with John than anyone else in the band? Pete Best: “Oh yea, without doubt. I mean everyone
had their associations, but I would say I was closest to John in the
band and I hope he felt the same as well. We spent a lot of time
together. In Germany, we were the ones getting into trouble, we were the
ones starting fights, we were the ones trying to rub sailors … that was
the mischief we got up to. But then when we came back to Liverpool he
was always at my house. The Casbah was always open and after we played,
we came back and raided the coffee machine and sandwiches and
everything, then came up to the living room and sat there till the early
hours in the morning, chatting and playing music. So it was very much
home away from home.” Ray Shasho: Pete, what was John Lennon like back in those early days? Pete Best: “He was one of those guys that the more
you got to know him, the more you saw that there was more to this guy
than what the public actually sees. If I could use an example to that
Ray, when I was in Germany, we used to spend a lot of time drinking, and
when I was talking with him, I started to realize, okay behind this
tough guy façade that he had, there was a very tender and loving person
and a brilliant family man. And when you put those two entities together
… that to me is the whole John Lennon.”
“In a way he became a visionary and a world leader, which was
something I expected and it didn’t come as a surprise when he started
leading peace movements and writing fantastic songs about bringing peace
to the world. It just seemed logical for him to do it.”
“But he was a real diamond and over the years just kept getting
polished …and unfortunately a stupid death because of that idiot
Chapman, which robbed the world of a great leader and robbed me of a
great friend.” Ray Shasho: What were you doing when you heard the news about John’s death? Pete Best: “I was actually getting ready for work in
Liverpool. By the time it started to come on the radio over here, it
was around seven or eight o’clock in the morning and just getting ready
for work and my wife Kathy said, “Pete you’d better come and listen to
this …John’s been murdered.” At that particular moment Ray, John Lennon
was the last person I thought of. And I said John who? Kathy said,
“John, who you used to play with in the band.” So I suddenly realized
after hearing the broadcast that it was John Lennon and I was mortified,
just absolutely horrified. Of course the media went wild all over the
world. They tried to get in touch with me to do radio, television and
press interviews, and I just basically said no. I said look, I know what
you’re trying to do, but I want to pay my respects to my old friend in
the best way I can. So I kept me feelings to myself and stayed quiet.” Ray Shasho: John’s death affected so many of us, I remember
gathering on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. for a
vigil a few days after hearing the news. I’m still in a state of denial
that George is also not with us any longer. Pete Best: “They will always be the icons of the
music business, generations are still discovering them, year after year,
century after century, people will always be discovering their music,
which is absolutely fantastic. It probably won’t happen with anyone
else.”
“But through all that recognition, and all that fame, there’s been a
lot of tragedy within that band as well. Stu Sutcliffe died when he’s
only 21; Brian Epstein dies at 32, John being murdered by that idiot
Chapman, George dies a horrible death with cancer … so there has been a
lot of tragedy within the band. I think success sometimes comes with
tragedy. It seems to be an evolution and the way things go.” Ray Shasho: It seems to me that you’ve enjoyed a more stable
and healthier lifestyle than your old bandmates… Kathy and you have been
married for 50 years and you have a beautiful family … you’ve done
alright! Pete Best: “I had an early learning curve. It comes
from a stable background and a tough backbone. People knock you down and
you get back up and try twice as hard. What happened to me at an early
age probably hadn’t happened to anyone else, the fact that I was
dismissed from The Beatles and then they became icons of the music
industry. But that mishap …and I think that was the best way to explain
it, woke me up, it made me more streetwise, and I realized that there
was more to life than being a rock ‘n’ roll star.”
“But I had family around me and a stable character. I realized it’s
not about what happened yesterday, it’s very much about today and
tomorrow. I’ve lived my life and been recognized my own sweet way and
made my contribution to the music industry. My bands been recognized for
their own contribution. At the end of it all, I’m a great family man.
I’ve been married to a great Liverpool girl, Kathy; this year makes
fifty years, and we’ve got two beautiful daughters and four wonderful
grandchildren.” Ray Shasho: Pete, after you were dismissed from The Beatles, did Brian Epstein actually offer to put you in a different band? Pete Best: “Yea, it’s a funny thing, not initially.
In 1962, when I was called in, he basically turned around and said they
want you out and Ringo was in, and it was already prearranged that Ringo
was going to be in the band. But a couple of weeks afterwards, I had
offers from different bands and was still thinking it over, then got a
call from Brian Epstein and he basically said, “Pete, I’d like to see
you in the office again, I’ve got something I want to check over with
you.” I thought …oh my goodness me; maybe there’s been a change of
heart, maybe they’ll bring me back again.”
“So, when I got down there, he was very cordial and polite like he
normally was. Then he said, “I’m not bringing you back into the band,
just in case you’ve got that on your mind.” So I thought that clears
that particular subject (laughing). Then he said, “But I’m really
interested in a young band called The Merseybeats which I want you to
become the drummer in and take charge of them. I want you to turn them
into a second Beatles so I can manage them. I said, Brian, it’s
absolutely wonderful that you’ve got that much faith in me, but once
you’ve been with the number one horse, and number one stable, it’s going
to be very difficult for me to work with you again. I thanked him very
much for the offer and went away. Then I joined Lee Curtis & the
All-Stars, which was another up and coming band in Liverpool at that
time. And I took them to the number two position behind The Beatles in
The Mersey Beat Poll.” Do you have any regrets for not taking Brian’s offer to work with The Merseybeats? Pete Best: “No, not really, when I talked with Billy
Kinsley of The Merseybeats many years afterwards, I think they were
disappointed that I didn’t come onboard, because he’s always admired me
as a musician when I was a drummer. But as I explained to him, I said
Billy, at that particular moment in time; it didn’t seem like the right
thing to do, it wouldn’t have set easy with me. He said, “Pete, I accept
that, it would have been nice for you to be part of the team.” It
wasn’t meant to be, but they went on to be a fantastic band anyway.
Billy is still one of the best musicians in Liverpool.” Ray Shasho: Pete, how many times, if any, did you actually talk with John, Paul or Ringo after your dismissal from the band? Pete Best: “I never spoke with any of them again
after the dismissal. Played on the same bill as them on two or three
occasions, but we didn't speak.” Ray Shasho: Here’s a crazy thought … I covered Ringo Starr’s
show not long ago when he played in Clearwater. If Ringo asked you to
join his All Starr Band for one of his tours would you accept? Pete Best: (All laughing)
“That’s a question and a half Ray isn’t it? Now, I’ll turn it around
on you… If I ever see Ringo, maybe I’ll ask him if he’d play second
drums in my band. (All Laughing)” Ray Shasho: I think either scenario would be great! Pete Best: “I always say …if it’s meant to happen, it’s going to happen anyway.” Ray Shasho: Pete, thank you so much for being on the call
today, for all the great music, and for keeping The Casbah legacy alive. Pete Best: Thanks Ray, I had a really good time. Cheers!
Purchase Ray’s very special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business … You’ll LIVE IT! Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST .99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com -Support Ray so he can continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting. ~~Pacific Book Review says Ray Shasho is a product
of the second half of the 20th century, made in the USA from parts
around the world, and within him is every trend in music, television,
politics and culture contributing to his philosophical and comically
analytical reflections collected in his fine book of memories. I found Check the Gs to
be pure entertainment, fantastic fun and a catalyst to igniting so many
memories of my own life, as I too am within a few years of Ray. So to
all, I say if you have a bit of grey hair (or no hair), buy this book!
It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids,
if they are the history buffs of younger generations trying to figure
out why we are the way we are.
