The Beatles Unravelled #18
…..Beatles Bass Guitarists from Stuart to Paul

The Beatles had two bass guitarists before Paul switched from six to four strings. Beatles’ bass guitarists from Stuart to Paul.

14 to 20 January
…guest feature on the Mop Tops and The King show

Steve Chelmsford presents the Mop Tops and the King show. As the name suggests, the show is all about the music of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Every other week, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Derek Shelmerdine presents The Beatles Unravelled, alternating with Elvis Presley Unravelled.
The podcast provides a one-minute look at a little bit of Beatles and Elvis Presley history.

The MTK Network broadcasts the show. It’s carried by nearly 100 radio stations around the world. Consequently, the show can be heard somewhere in the world, every day of the week.
Show Schedule for times and radio stations.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. The UK is five hours ahead.)

Listen Again – PODCAST
Beatles’ Bass Guitarists from Stuart to Paul

Beatles’ bass guitarists from Stuart to Paul

John Lennon’s art college friend Stuart Sutcliff joined Johnny and the Moondogs in January 1960. He bought his Hofner President bass guitar after selling his painting, The Summer Painting, for £65.

Johnny and the Moondogs went through various name changes before settling on “The Beatles”. This was just before their first trip to Hamburg in the summer of 1960.

When the rest of the Beatles returned from their first Hamburg trip in December bassist Sutcliffe stayed behind with his girlfriend. During their time in Hamburg Sutcliffe became great friends with professional photographer Astrid Kirchherr.

Consequently, back now in Liverpool and looking to play some local gigs the group were short of a bass player. Drummer Pete best contacted Chas Newby, who had previously played with him in Pete Best’s Blackjacks. Newby was home on vacation from his college course. As a result, the Beatles were back to full strength and Chas Newby stood in as bass guitarist for four gigs.

Newby returned to college after the Christmas break, leaving the Beatles once again short of a bass player. John initially asked George to move to bass. He was having none of it. Consequently, Paul McCartney decided to switch from six strings to four. The decision made, Paul made his debut as the Beatles’ bassist at Litherland Town Hall on 5 January 1961.

Stuart Sutcliffe hadn’t officially left the group but his days as a Beatle were all-but over.

Extracts from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

All of the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled podcasts are based on extracts from Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled. Consequently, more background to this story can be found in the extracts highlighted below.

The particular extracts for this story
Beatles’ bass guitarists from Stuart to Paul

These extracts provide further background to this story.
17 November 1959: Stuart Sutcliffe financed his bass guitar
17 December 1960: First of four gigs with bassist Chas Newby
5 January 1961: Paul McCartney’s four-string debut

About the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk. In addition to the music, the book looks at the social factors influencing the music. The Vietnam War, fear of communism and Civil rights struggle certainly helped to shape the sounds of the time.

The book is structured into three sections: Timeline, What Happened Today and Pocket Histories. Consequently, the events in What Happened Today are cross-referenced to provide more information. As a result, context is provided in Timeline and artist biographies are built up in Pocket Histories.

TO BUY – a signed copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

For all the previous editions of…
The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled

First Broadcast: Beatles’ bass guitarists from Stuart to Paul

14-20 January 2022, on the MTK network.