Stuart Sutcliffe early years
Stuart Sutcliffe early years. John’s art college friend Stuart Sutcliffe joined Johnny and the Moondogs as the bass player. He purchased the bass guitar with the proceeds from the sale of his painting, The Summer Painting.
Hear The Beatles Unravelled #81
…..Stuart Sutcliffe early years
On Steve Chelmsford’s Mop Tops and The King radio show
syndicated on over 100 radio stations around the world.
Broadcast: 23 to 29 August 2024
world-wide schedule
Stuart Sutcliffe – before Hamburg
The Beatles’ original bass guitar player, Stuart Sutcliffe was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but was brought up in Liverpool. He was a couple of weeks older than Ringo.
John Lennon entered Liverpool College of Art in 1957 and soon became best friends with Stuart – who was a major influence on John.
At the time John was an angry Teddy Boy but Stuart radically changed John’s worldview.
Stuart was an exceptional artist, who loved painting.
Stuart joined Johnny and the Moondogs
In January 1960 Stuart sold his abstract expressionist piece called The Summer Painting for £65. He bought a bass guitar with the proceeds and joined John’s group – Johnny and the Moondogs.
Stuart had never played the bass guitar and his heart was never really in it.
Although, Stuart did take lead vocal on a couple of Elvis covers, Love Me Tender and Loving You.
In early 1960 John and Stuart shared a flat in Liverpool.
When the Silver Beetles toured Scotland with Johnny Gentle, they famously adopted stage names and Stuart became Stuart de Staël, after the painter Nicolas de Staël.
In August 1960 Stuart accompanied the, now, Beatles on their first Hamburg trip.
Check out – Stuart Sutcliffe Part 2 – The Hamburg Years… watch this space
Hear the segment again… watch this space
Elvis Presley Unravelled #81
Stuart Sutcliffe early years
.
Mop Tops and The King radio show
Twice a month, Derek Shelmerdine contributes the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled segments for Steve Chelmsford’s Mop Tops and The King radio show. The show is dedicated to the lives and times of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
See the complete list of Derek’s Beatles and Elvis Unravelled segments.
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled – the book
Derek Shelmerdine also wrote the book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled, the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to late 1970s punk. Not just the story of the music but also the external factors influencing it, such as the Vietnam War and Civil Rights struggle.
