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Pete Best, Original Beatles Drummer, Announces Retirement
Pete Best, the original drummer for the legendary band The Beatles, is officially retiring from performing after a long and influential career in music. At 83 years old, Best is stepping back from personal appearances and performances, marking the end of an era for the musician who was part of the Fab Four in their formative years.
End of an Era: Pete Best Retires from Performing
The news of Best’s retirement was shared by his brother, Roag Best, in a social media post. “Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had,” Roag stated on X. “However, everything comes to pass. My brother Pete Best has announced today he is retiring from personal appearances and performing with the group. His daughter has informed me it’s due to personal circumstances.”
Best, whose birth name is Randolph Peter Scanland, acknowledged the announcement by reposting the message and adding simply, “I had a blast. Thank you.”
Pete Best’s Time with The Beatles
Pete Best‘s tenure with The Beatles spanned from 1960 to 1962. He was the drummer during their early gigs in Liverpool and Hamburg. However, just before the band, featuring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, achieved global fame, Best was replaced by Ringo Starr.
Reflections on His Departure
In a candid 1982 interview with David Letterman, Best discussed his experience with The Beatles and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal. He recounted meeting the future stars when they played at his mother’s club, The Casbah Coffee Club, in 1958. At the time, they were known as The Quarrymen.
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Letterman inquired if Best had any prior knowledge of being replaced. Best explained that the decision, delivered by manager Brian Epstein, came as a complete shock.
The Day He Was Fired
“No, that was the amazing thing, Dave,” Best reflected on “Late Night with David Letterman.” “When the incident happened, it happened completely out of the blue. There was no forewarning. I was called into Brian’s office and he turned around and I could tell that he was agitated, simply by the fact that he was pacing up and down and biting his fingernails.”
He continued, “After about three or four minutes he turned around and said, ‘Pete, I’ve got bad news for you.’ He said in a nutshell, the boys want you out and they want Ringo Starr in. I was completely shellshocked by this, Dave. I couldn’t get my mind together or into perspective.”
Life After The Beatles
Following his departure from The Beatles, Best joined Lee Curtis and the All-Stars. He revealed that on a couple of occasions, his new band performed on the same bill as his former bandmates.
Despite sharing the stage, Best noted there was no interaction between him and the other members of The Beatles. “Nothing was ever mentioned,” he said. “There was no acknowledgment. Stony silence.”
Moving Forward and Finding Peace
Best acknowledged the difficulties he faced after being ousted from the band, admitting, “They caused me a lot of hardship, grief, financial embarrassment.” However, he emphasized his resilience: “But I persevered with my own lifestyle and I was strong enough in character to turn around and say, ‘Okay no matter what happened in the past let’s forget about it.’ I’ve managed to retain my identity in my own sweet way.”
In 1963, Best married his wife Kathy, and they have two daughters. Reflecting in 2020 on his exit from The Beatles, he shared the emotional impact. “When I got back home and I told my mother what happened, behind the sanctuary of the front door, I cried like a baby,” he told The Irish Times.
Yet, Best has come to terms with the past. “They made a decision as young men which was safeguarding their future. Okay, it could have been handled better. I was the fall guy for it, I suffered, but I’m not holding them to task over it,” he stated. “If I’d have been in the same situation and I was another member of the band, maybe I’d have been one of the bad guys.”
No Regrets, Just Pride
Ultimately, Pete Best expressed contentment and a sense of accomplishment. The drummer declared he has “no regrets.”
Best concluded, “I think I’m a lucky guy. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved as a person, of the examples I’ve set to people to get on with your life, to pick yourself up. I’ve been an inspiration. And I’m proud of that.”