Before They Were Beatles

This month we turn the spotlight on bass players Ivan Vaughn and Lou Walters, plus drummer Andy White.  ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Ivan Vaughn Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Vaughan Andy White wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_White_(drummer) Finding The Fourth Beatle by David Bedford and Garry Popper - https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Fourth-Bea...

This month we turn the spotlight on bass player Stuart Sutcliffe ******* Links mentioned in this episode    - Stuart Sutcliffe wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Sutcliffe    - Stuart Sutcliffe official website at https://www.stuartsutcliffeart.com/    - The Beatles Shadow: Stuart Sutcliffe & His Lonely Hearts Club” - https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Shadow-Stuart-Sutcliffe-Lon...

This month, we turn the spotlight on singers Jacky Spelter and Rory Storm  ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Jacky Spelter German language Wikipedia https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacky_Spelter   Tribute article on Jacky on the Berlin Beats Blog - https://mischalke04.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/jacky-and-his-strangers-rock%C2%B4n%C2%B4roll-is-here-to-stay-1977/   “Rock-n-Roll Jacky,” a one-hou...

This month, we turn the spotlight on Quarryman and John Lennon's sidekick, Pete Shotton.   ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Pete Shotton John Lennon In My Life. - Pete Shotton & Nicholas Schaffner  - Stein and Day (1983)  - https://www.amazon.com/John-Lennon-Life-Pete-Shotton/dp/081286185X/ Before They Were Beatles - Alan J. Porter - Xlibris (2003) https://bookshop.org/a/10029/9781413...

This month, we turn the spotlight on the man The Beatles referred to as “The Teacher,”  guitarist and singer Tony Sheridan   ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Tony Sheridan Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Sheridan   The Teacher: The Tony Sheridan Story by Alan Mann - https://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Sheridan-Story-Alan-Mann/dp/0957528507/   T ony Sheridan – The One The Be...

This month, we turn the spotlight on  the “almost 5th Beatle,” keyboard player Billy Preston Links mentioned in this episode   Billy Preston Billy Preston - He has his own wikipedia entry  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Preston   BBC radio documentary Billy Preston; That’s the Way Go Planed It - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wqb5d   “The Friends of Billy Preston”, by Steve Bergsman - ht...

This month we turn the spotlight on drummer Jimmie Nicol. -------------------- Links mentioned in this episode   Jimmie Nicol Jimmy Nichol - wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Nicol   The Parlogram series 30 minute mini documentary on Jimmie’s story - https://youtu.be/onKRSu5C3EI?si=-f4n9Ejh2OcHKTgt   Finding The Fourth Beatle by David Bedford and Garry Popper https://www.amazon....

This month we turn the spotlight on trumpet player David Mason, drummer Tommy Moore, and bass player Chas Newby. ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Dave Mason Wikipedia entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mason_(trumpeter)   Obituary - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/08/david-mason-obituary   Tommy Moore Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Moore_(musician)   F...

This month we turn the spotlight on the man who probably has the best claim to the title of “The 5th Beatle,” producer George Martin . ******* Links mentioned in this episode   George Martin All You Need Is Ears memoir - https://bookshop.org/a/10029/9781250784049   Limited edition Playback autobiography - Copies for sale on Abe Books - https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/playback-illustrate...

This month we turn the spotlight on singer Jackie Lomax and pianist John “Duff” Lowe . ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Jackie Lomax Wikipedia entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Lomax   Official website - http://www.jackielomax.com   Obituary - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/17/jackie-lomax   John Lowe Wikipedia entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lowe_(musici...

Welcome to the ninth episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on singers Simone Jackson and Davy Jones ******* Links mentioned in this episode   Websites: Alan J. Porter - YouTube Channel - Forgotten Beatles related videos - https://www.youtube.com/@AlanPorterWriter   ************** Thanks for listening to this episode of Before They Were B...

Welcome to the eighth episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on on drummers Colin Hanton and Johnny Hutchinson ******* Links mentioned in this episode Books: The Quarrymen by Hunter Davis - https://www.amazon.com/Quarrymen-Hunter-Davies/dp/071198526X Before They Were Beatles by Alan J. Porter https://www.amazon.com/Before-They-Were-Beatle...

Welcome to the seventh episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on drummer Bobby Graham, the Quarrymen’s guitarist Eric Griffiths, and one-off bass player Johhny Gustafson ******* Links mentioned in this episode Books: The Quarrymen by Hunter Davis - https://www.amazon.com/Quarrymen-Hunter-Davies/dp/071198526X Before They Were Beatles by Al...

Welcome to the sixth episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on Quarrymen’s Len Garry, and singer Johnny Gentle ******* Links mentioned in this episode Books: The Quarrymen by Hunter Davis - https://www.amazon.com/Quarrymen-Hunter-Davies/dp/071198526X Before They Were Beatles https://www.amazon.com/Before-They-Were-Beatles-1956-1960/dp/141...

Welcome to the fifth episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on The Quarrymen’s Rod Davis, and singers Tanya Day, and Craig Douglas ******* Links mentioned in this episode Books: The Quarrymen by Hunter Davis - https://www.amazon.com/Quarrymen-Hunter-Davies/dp/071198526X Before They Were Beatles https://www.amazon.com/Before-They-Were-Beat...

This month we turn the spotlight on on the man on the weeping guitar originally credited as “Eddie Clayton” perhaps better known as Eric Clapton ******* Thanks for listening to this episode of Before They Were Beatles Presents: The Forgotten Beatles. If you would like to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform that would be great and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss o...

This month we turn the spotlight on n Vince Calandra, The Chants, and Norman Chapman If you want to know more about  Vince Calandra he did a four-hour interview for the Television Academy on his career which is available in their online archives . There are a few extracts from it on YouTube that refer to the Beatles' Ed Sullivan appearance. For info on The Chants, I recommend the Sixties City...

This month we turn the spotlight on guitarist Ken Brown of The Quarrymen and The Blackjacks If you want to know more about Ken Brown’s story I recommend, The Beatles: The True Beginnings, published by Thomas Dunne Books in 2003 ******* Thanks for listening to this episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles. If you would like to leave a rating or review on your favorite pod...

Welcome to the first episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on drummer Pete Best If you want to know more about Pete Best’s story we recommend,  Beatle! The Pete Best Story - Plexus Publishing  - Pete’s autobiography  (although it is going for crazy money these days - if you can find a copy it is well over $200 for the paperback) The Beat...

Coming to this podcast soon, a new series -  Before They Were Beatles presents:  The Forgotten Beatles  We all know the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, The Beatles - BUT, there are other tales still left to tell.  Who were Pete, Ken, Norman, Johnny, Colin, Rod, Stuart, Eric, and more who all played their part in the story of the greatest band in rock history? These will be the stories we s...

In this episode, I share some thoughts on the recently released, remixed, and remastered extended Red and Blue albums, and wrap things up with my reactions to the “last Beatles song” Now & Then ************************ Thank you for joining us over the last three seasons and listening to the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo - Before They Were Beatles.. - and I hope you also enjoyed this...

In this episode, we will take a deep dive into the events surrounding Pete Best’s departure and Ringo’s arrival as a member of The Beatles. .********* This is the story of how one of the thousands of amateur British schoolboy skiffle bands in the mid-1950s evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity, and exploring musical boundaries. It’s a...

In this short bonus episode I’m delighted to announce the first in-person “Before They Were Beatles” event. ***************** Stereo Dinner and Pershing present “Before They Were Beatles” a one-night-only celebration of the Fab Four’s early days with historian and author Alan J Porter. The event on June 2 will feature an intimate multi-course ticketed dinner followed by access to the after-dinner...

In this special episode, we take a look at what it takes to start a new Beatles tribute band with interviews with the folks behind The Savage Young Beatles and the organizers of the Abbey Road on the Road Festival. .********* This is the story of beginnings, the story of Tom, George, Booby, and Ed - The Savage Young Beatles. .********* Links mentioned in this episode. Tom’s “Mean Mr. Mustard” Beat...

It’s early 1962 and John, Paul, George, and Pete, are  headed down to London to audition for a major record label. Will they land that much desired recording contract? . ********* This is the story of how one of the thousands of amateur British schoolboy skiffle bands in the mid-1950s evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity, and ex...