2003 Radio Interview with Pete Best (1/5)

[blake3142000]

i like ringo more

[DoctorLawyerWhatever]

Band develop as they do. People in, people out, re-shuffling personnel, etc. Noone else who was in earlier versions of the band ever seeks any publicity or speaks about it. They simply got on with their lives. Why is this guy clinging to it? Talk about being a parasite of your own past. It's pathetic. Besides, it's half a century ago. Who really cares? The music is there for anyone who wants to listen to it, like any music act whose recordings are still available. That's all that matters

[edwardsams]

Listen to the first Love Me Do with Pete and you will know why he had to go. He iwas trying to do some jazzy fill that doesn't work. Ringo really was a better drummer. If you ever have been in a band you can really hear the quality difference in the two drummers. Pete sounds like a nice guy though. Its too bad he didn't take the Ian Stewart route.

[jitterbug121]

he was a very handsome guy. Being kicked out of the band is bittersweet Thanx 4 posting :))

[lifestraight]

In the picture at 3:00 I see Pete and John in the middle, who are the other two at the end? Stu and George?

[HBK344356]

@lifestraight No Paul and George, George is on the left end next to Pete and Paul is on the right end next to John

[lifestraight]

@HBK344356 Gotcha.

[TheColts99]

I Love Pete Best!

[drumdude1000]

I've heard so many different stories on why Pete Best was replaced by Ringo. I don't know which is true or who to believe. George Martin said that he couldn't play drums very well...others have said that Pete, because of his good looks got more attention than Paul and John. Finally, I 'm not sure how much Pete Best was really into the Beatles-maybe it only bothered him after the fact because they went on to great success with Ringo.

[xpat73]

Can u imagine being Pete Best as the Beatles rocketed to fame!!????! OMG ...that has to be the worst thing in the world.

[catandpiddle]

For the record, no pun intended, Ringo Starr was also asked 'not' to play drums by one of the producers (not sure if it was George Martin or not?) but he was considered 'not up to scratch' by the studio. Pete Best was and is a fine drummer and easily of the same caliber as Starr. Starr hung out with the Beatles in Hamburg and that was the 'in' for him. Pete it's said; was too popular for their liking.

[mkrobinson95]

I think it's quite telling of Pete's character that while he has told his story over and over, he has consistently NEVER said an ill word about the post August 1962 Beatles. Exception may have been when he sued Ringo in the mid 60's for libel after Starr told Playboy magazine that Best used drugs to make him sick so he could be excused from gigs.

[Ianthompsonuk]

Pete was not good enough on drums at that time! these were the words of George Martin who signed them to EMI and he was going to use a session drummer for the recordings, that would have been even more humiliating for Pete which is why they got Ringo in who they felt was more suitable image wise and personality wise and that is it! life can be cruel but Pete has done wonderfully well in life since that time, family wise and musically.

[sfldd]

If you ever feel like you have been really screwed by someone, just think of Pete Best. Doing that should give you a perspective on things. You'll realize that things can be a lot worse.

[leitrimboy]

I'm not going to get into the Pete v Ringo debate. I just want to know whether Pete has any children - 'cos that dismissal must have been one helluva kick in the nuts for him. It says a lot about the man that he has survived it all.

[timotastic]

It's great that he got respect now although it's late. He was a handsome lad and I guess that was one reason he was sacked, also the chemistry with others (espacially with George and Paul, John got good along with him) and then the hairstyle-thing.

[catgumart]

I think Pete is a talented drummer but a little on the mellow side and too low key for the Beatles,I think he wouldv'e done a good job though. Im sad to think of him missing out, but in a way he is part of it still. He got royalties from the Beatles Anthology which Im glad to hear. I think he is a good drummer, but what would have become of Ringo if Pete stayed in? Maybe Ringo would have gone on to be a session player..who knows..I wish the Best to Pete Best..

[wtonckens]

I guess Pete Best had bad luck when he was forced to leave the band, I can imagine how he felt when The Beatles hit the big league.

[aaron4159]

It can't be about a lack of talent because Ringo was no better talent-wise. As a drummer myself, they r equal in talent. The difference the image. Brian wanted them to b a boy band, but the front men had to be in the spotlight. It is tru that Pete attracted more attention then the other 3. Thus, they got ride of him and replaced him with another drummer who played the same, but less good-looking. With Ringo in, the front 3 got all the attention, and Brian wanted it to b that way. All about image

[aaron4159]

Also, part of that image was personality, which also sells. Pete was quiet; Ringo was a jokester. U sell the image and cult of the personality. It was their witt that sold them commerically.

[petewheatley]

what a load of crap just the right face at the right time.nothing much without brian and george

[AleisterFiend1975]

It's so sad that a man has based his own life on what he did before he came of age. Had he been talented some cool emerging band would have picked him up.

[ahardy5891]

pete best or not, ringo or not the beatles were still the best

[Spinitch628]

At best, no pun intended, Pete is your average drummer, a dime a dozen. His playing is erractic at times. The bottom line to the Pete Best story is that he had little talent compared to the other Beatles, and he tried to take the spotlight from the others because of his good looks. Sorry Pete, It takes talent to hang with John, Paul and George. Ringo was a more stylish drummer that could sing and knew his place by letting the band "act naturally", again no pun intended.

[8491angel]

Please, allow me to post my humble comment..

To me, Pete best is just a weird experiment performed by the "Mrs. Frankentestein" of all the interviewers, Terry Gross. This guy was a cadaver. She has resurrected him!! Where the heck was Mr. Best all this previous decades??

Pardon my ignorance, but stop a few individuals on the street and ask: Who is this guy, Pete Best?

Terry Gross is a genius!!! In honesty,I admire

Mrs Gross greatly.

[QUANTUMLORD18]

8491angel ... I think you're being rather disingenuous by predicating your quite incendiary comments with the disclaimer that they are: "humble"! That aside, I think you've failed to acknowledge the important function of: DEMOGRAPHICS, in the context under discussion. Ask an even halfhearted Beatles' fan who Pete Best is, and I assure he or she will know! Ask a tried & true fan, and you will be regaled with an epic tale of woe and betrayal that makes Wagner's Ring Cycle, pale by comparison!

[QUANTUMLORD18]

Addendum to the above, cue: Wagner's heart wrenching Gotterdammerung theme, depicting the Valkyrie Brunnhilde astride her horse Grane, presiding over the funeral pyre of our epic hero Petefried's career! This heralds Gotterdammerung, the Twilight of the Gods, and the end of the World!!! "Sie liebt dich: yah, yah, yah! Oh, ja sie liebt dich. Schoner kann es gar nicht sein. Ja, sie liebt dich, Und da solltest du dich freu'n "....

[timotastic]

WTF??? =D

[johnlorican]

I met Pete Best after a performance in Sauget, Illinois (St. Louis) in 2005. He was very gracious, signed an autograph or two, and I had a picture taken with him. He is/was a very nice guy and appreciative of the attention he's received in the last ten years.

[SVUrulesALLshows]

a record company exectutive wasnt gonna sign the beatles if pete best was with them becuase he didnt think that he fit with the rest of them...and they didnt get along with him at all becuase he was trying to make himself the star and so they let him go and got richard starky (ringo)...i think it was the right desicion myself...and all hes done since then is be annoying and talk about he got screwed...when in the end..it was his fault

[Invader1956]

"He'll probably outlive all the members that dumped him."

I have been saying this for years and years and people just give me a blank stare.

Mark my words, when he is the last one, the eyes of the world will focus upon him!

[MathiasP16]

why? what's the point?

[QUANTUMLORD18]

MathiasP16 ... Invader1956's, point is quite obvious, and not devoid of substance! Succinctly, KARMA: " The crap you sow, is the crap you reap! Often with compound interest! ". John Lennon, thought " Mona's Hex " ( see below ) was metaphysical bullshite! But where's Johnny now?! However, our Pete can be seen any day of the week shoveling his fave nosh of mushy peas & chips, down his gob, at MONA'S CAFF, in Liddypool!!!( cue, theme to: " Twilight Zone " ).

[MathiasP16]

I knew where he was coming from, why? was why would you be saying something like that for years and years... and well ya, what's the point?

[QUANTUMLORD18]

MathiasP16 ... Many people ( including high faluting academics etc. ) believe that "The Beatles" phenomenon was not only concurrent with a quantum change in global consciousness, but that the Beatles were actually uniquely responsible catalysts in bringing about this phenomenal change! Hence, The Beatles are an archetypal phenomenon, and consequently not subject to the constraints of time and place. Hence their continued fascination for many.

[MathiasP16]

I like that, do you believe it Quantumlord18? But that being said, why would one be saying the former drummer will outlive the other drummers? If the theory you posted is true, it seems rather pointless throwing comments like Invader's around being as the beatles are no longer making music...

[QUANTUMLORD18]

MathiasP16 ... When a group or individual attains archetypal stature, they become a mythological entity. Their original claim to fame, in The Beatles' case music, can become a mere superficial adjunct to their mythological stature. Remember the blockbuster movie : " Amadeus " ? Its subject, Mozart, had died over 200yrs previously, and of course was no longer physically making music, nonetheless the fascination with the minutia of his life and music continues to grow!

[QUANTUMLORD18]

Invader1956 ... Your point is cogent, and not without substance! Succinctly, KARMA: " What goes around, comes around ". Also, I'll quote Pete's mom, Mona Best : " If a mother's tears and broken heart count for anything, those heartless bastards will pay in spades for what they've done to Pete! ". Those of us who were 'there', back-in-the-day, are well acquainted with: " Mona's Hex ". ( cue, intro theme to: " Thus Spoke Zarathustra " ).

[peaceonearth108]

Pete Best is great drummer... and a lovely person.

[perryv]

When John Lennon was once asked in an interview, "Is Ringo Starr the best drummer in the world?", John replied "He's not the best drummer in the Beatles!". Contenders for best Beatles drummer are Pete Best and Paul McCartney. ;-)

[lifestraight]

@perryv Where did you read this? Would love to know...

[Maha1988]

I've often wondered about this issue. I've read numerous articles about how the Beatles didn't think Pete had the chops for it. I think Ringo just fitted in better. Pete didn't quite fit in with the group: they had a certain collective charisma when Ringo joined them. Maybe they sensed that. And hey, look what happened!

[bobbybolan]

Pete Best was NOT a good drummer but he WAS a miserable fucker! - the others were into having a laugh - he wasnt - COME ON RINGO! - Best - GET OVER IT! & keep doin the Caberet! LoL! Love - Bobby Bolan da Scouser!

[tripper85]

i dont understand some of these comments..O.K..lets say he was the BEST..best of the best..so wat?? the beatles didnt want him...john paul george didnt want him..simple as that..if i were in a band..i wud wana be with guys Im frank with or comfortable with..they just didnt like him thats all

[JamesPaul66]

Look, we're big fans and want to have fun with the issue. Lennon later stated that they were cowards for letting Pete Best go. If that's true, it makes the situation interesting. Why would you get rid of the guy who played with you for 8 hours a night in some stinky Hamburg clubs and helped you get a record contract. It's a mystery and normally doesn't happen with bands. Can you understand why this situation is interesting?

[QUANTUMLORD18]

JamesPaul66 .... You've heard the expression: " Adding insult to injury ", in this context, did you know that John Lennon asked Pete's mother, to loan him her dad's war medals for Lennon to wear on the " Sargent Pepper " album cover!? Amazingly, she agreed!!!

[MoreBarn68]

Paul should ask Pete to do a one-night gig of oldies. In Liverpool. A setlist from 1960. How insane would that be?

[JamesPaul66]

About as insane as Paul still being alive.

[isabella66]

i hate pete he is so gay ringo is cool

[JamesPaul66]

That says a lot....NOT

[ringdreamer]

John, Paul and George already had unbreakable chemistry before they brought in Pete. He never had a chance. No one could have cracked their connection. They rented him before realizing they needed a fourth wheel with personality. And if George Martin questioned his musical chops -- as much as I feel sorry for Pete -- that's really the end of the story.

[QUANTUMLORD18]

ringdreamer ... George Martin also had very serious reservations about Ringo's drumming, in fact he wanted to bring in a session drummer on The Beatles first album.Needless to say Starr was very pissed-off about this, and indeed has said so in several interviews.

[ringdreamer]

Right on. Good point.

[JamesPaul66]

I don't think they knew Ringo well enough to know if he had personality. Pete seems like he has just as much, if not more personality than Ringo. Why change drummers at such a critical moment? It was supposedly about talent. I don't buy it, I think something else was going on.

[MoreBarn68]

One cheesy rumor is that Paul was jealous because Pete was the 'cute' one. Sounds laughable but, then again, they were teenagers. I have to believe that Ringo had nothing but personality, especially back then. Cool name you have. 66 was Paul's best year.

[JamesPaul66]

That makes more sense, but did it really matter? Did they know they would make it that big? I don't know, maybe you're right. That explanation makes more sense than talent, but I still find it kind of weak. They seemed to be really humble guys. The 66 is for the year Paul died. No, really, I'm serious.

[SVUrulesALLshows]

JamePaul66-

1)ringo is actually better than pete at drumming

2)hes also a much better guy

3)the record company wasnt gonna sign them if they had pete becuase they didnt think he fit and the rest of them werent getting along with pete at the time so they let pete go

[JamesPaul66]

Sorry to break this to you, but Ringo is a hack. Not that great of a drummer. You can see this on a live version of Twist and Shout where he can barely keep the beat going. But if you like him, fine. Listen to Besame Mucho. Pete is all class as can be seen from his interviews. Thanks for repeating the official version, which is total bullshit. Lennon himself said that they were cowards for firing Pete.

[SVUrulesALLshows]

if you say so...but the beatles wouldnt have been the beatles without ringo and ringo brought more to the group than just drums...he was a true musician...something pete was not

[JamesPaul66]

I disagree. I think The Beatles would have been better with Pete Best. As I said, I think Ringo is a hack drummer. If you like him better, fine, but don't call him a true musician, because he's not. Ringo admitted that he never practiced the drums unless he was playing with other people. That is not what a "true musician' does. The Beatles would have been great with probably any drummer, since John, Paul, and George were basically the group and they were guitar driven.

[liverpoolishgirl]

Actually, Lennon said that the way they fired him - by having Epstein do it, was cowardly. Although, and isn't that just John Lennon, he later said, "If we had done it, it would have ended in a fistfight or something, so I guess it was better in the end to have Brian do it."

[Meemo12]

i think they were better in 1964

[cacaovanhouten]

Poor old Pete - such a hard thing to live with. I wonder whether he ever needed to see a psychatrist?! Glad to hear he's been looked after financially anyway. I agree though - Beatles without Ringo is unthinkable.

[riki333blum]

best is part of their history and deserves cred it for playing on early compilations(he has been paid big bucks for anthology 1 crdits).But he could never live it down being dismissed by the beatles. I dont blame him. But it wasnt meant to be. Ringo was right for them. I ndont know if pete an sing but i cant magine not having songs like yellow submarine, octopus garden, photograph and others that ringo sang.

Anyay, pete is comfortable now...he's ok and an ok guy. Any comments?

[ahcapella]

Just this one. As you said, Ringo was right for them. Ringo's drumming was creative...innovative. I mean, can you imagine songs such as "Paperback Writer," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "I Am The Walrus," "Hello Goodbye," or "Dear Prudence," with Pete Best playing on them with that one (and apparently ONLY) drum beat he knew? He he he!

[perryv]

As for "Dear Prudence", it's actually Paul who did the drumming. Ringo temporarily left the band during that period ("White Album" period).

[JamesPaul66]

It's hard to compare the two, since Pete didn't record a lot of stuff. Pete sounds great on the stuff he recorded. A lot of people in Liverpool thought he was the better drummer and there was a lot of anger from the fans about him being dropped. The story they tell about replacing Pete doesn't make sense. If they didn't think he was good, why not audition drummers instead of getting someone similar.

[JamesPaul66]

It just seems someone didn't want him there for some reason and The Beatles caved. The whole thing seems a mystery really and I don't think talent had too much to do with it. As far as George Martin's input, I don't think he knew what a rock drummer should sound like, since he was into classical music. I think Pete came out ahead in the long run. Pete was the most normal guy in the band and has a nice, stable life. He'll probably outlive all the members that dumped him.