"TRUE F**G STORY…OR HOW THE BEATLES BECAME STARS"

"TRUE F**G STORY" © stevenn beck

"or...how the Beatles became stars…"

I'd like to put it out there right now: musically there are the Beatles, then everyone else. Later in their careers, maturing as young adults in the awful glare of 24/7 publicity, the members of the group evolved into humanitarians, advocating for peace and love, concerned about the effects of capitalism, the plague of world hunger...along the way looking to take a more spiritual path in their search for greater meaning.

But from the very beginning it was the music.

I still remember my Dad bringing home the first five or six singles issued on Capital Records - and playing them over and over again on my little record player. A clever synthesis of soul, country and early rock and roll - with amazing harmonies and a series of interesting chords that move the music forward (along with Ringo's big beat) - I still throw the early songs ("She Loves You", "Please Please Me" etc,) on my iPod whenever I need a quick pick-me-up. And it works, Always has. And - I suspect - always will.

However back in 1962 the Beatles were just one of many bands in Liverpool struggling to break through. Sometimes you need more than talent to succeed….the following events came together to propel the Beatles to the musical forefront:

Brian Epstein, son of a wealthy record store owner, happened to walk into a subterranean Liverpool pub known as "The Cavern" where the Beatles were performing. Already an adult, attired in a snappy suit, and practically reeking of wealth and sophistication, there was really no reason for someone like Epstein to go down into the Cavern - filled with dancing, perspiring, inebriated teens - except that earlier some kid had entered his record store and asked for a record by some group called "The Beatles". Intrigued, Epstein entered The Cavern that day to see for himself…and ended up blown away by their stage presence and extraordinary music. (He also developed a major crush on John Lennon - but that's a story for another day.) Eventually - despite his complete lack of experience, Epstein talked the Beatles into hiring him as their manager.

Epstein then traveled to London to try to interest record executives into signing the Beatles. He was rejected. Amazingly…several rejections. (One executive at Decca - a major record label - dismissed the Beatles with a curt comment: "Guitar groups are on the way out." (Can you imagine being that executive just a year or two later?) Almost out of options, Epstein convinced George Martin of EMI to give the Beatles an audition. Martin gave them other composer's music, only reluctantly allowing them to do a few of their own songs. Finally, he was impressed... but he posed a condition to the signing: fire the drummer, Pete Best.

Pete Best had been one of the founding members of the group. In fact his mother had acted as a "de-facto" manager for awhile and had driven them to local gigs in her van. Best may even have been the most popular Beatle among the young local fans. John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison met with Brian Epstein. They decided to fire Pete Best so their big opportunity would not be missed. And Epstein fired Best himself because John, Paul and George weren't up to confronting their old friend.

George Martin then held a full recording session for the band with their new drummer, the recently hired Ringo Starr…except that Martin didn't like Starr's drumming either. He agreed that Ringo could play live in concert…but hired a session drummer (Andy White) to play on the first single "Love Me Do". So…Ringo was now the second drummer to be embarrassed - and was holding onto his job by the skin of his teeth…

The single "Love Me Do" was released and went nowhere….but Epstein knew the record business…he had everyone in his circle of acquaintances (remember - his family was wealthy) to buy as many copies of the single as they could…the record squeezed onto the charts….just as Epstein began orchestrating a relentless letter-writing and telephone campaign. (For example, Epstein's mother would call the BBC rock and roll station claiming to be someone else and would ask them to play "that great song by the Beatles". ) All the promotion paid off, "Love Me Do" became a huge hit…leading George Martin to record the Beatles doing their song "Please, Please, Me". ( He graciously allowed Ringo to play on this one). Upon the completion of that session, Martin announced to the Beatles that they had "just recorded their first number one hit". And that's what happened…and "Beatlemania" was born…the rest - as they say - was history.

.

All because some kid wandered into Brian Epstein's store one day - and Epstein decided to walk down the steps to the Cavern and see the Beatles for himself!

TRUE F**G STORY! (YEAH, YEAH YEAH!)

:-)

Bye for now-0 be safe!

Stevenn