On Aug. 16, 1962, Pete Best was fired from the Beatles. The British rock band decided to fire their original drummer and replace him with Ringo Starr. The band went on to become one of the most successful and critically-renowned bands in history.
So who is Pete Best and where is he today?
Best joined the Beatles, who were then called the Silver Beatles, in 1960, according to a biography on Best's official website. The band knew Best from The Cashbah, a club they all frequented. Best left his former band, The Blackjacks, for the Beatles after getting a call from Paul McCartney and the band went on tour in Germany.
Advertisement
In 1962, after capturing success in Liverpool and Hamburg, the band secured a record contract with EMI and met met George Martin at Abbey Road Studios in June of that year for their first recording. That same year, Best was fired from the Beatles. Some speculated it was Best's mediocre drumming skills, but this never sat well with Best.
"Unfortunately, in circumstances still clouded in mystery, Pete Best was dismissed from the group he had played with for over 2 years," reads his biography. "The real reason was never given to Pete. The rest is legend..."
The firing took its toll on Best. In the mid-60s, he tried to commit suicide by gassing himself but was saved by his mother and brother.
"They gave me the most sensible talking-to I've ever had in my life," he told the Daily Mail in 2007. "They asked me what the hell I thought I was doing, saying that committing suicide was what people would expect me to do because of what had happened."
Advertisement
He vowed to never do such a thing again and accepted the cards life had dealt him.
"Some people expect me to be bitter and twisted, but I'm not. I feel very fortunate in my life," Best told the Daily Mail. "God knows what strains and stresses the Beatles must have been under. They became a public commodity. And John paid for that with his life."
In 2009, Best gave an interview to Spinner and discussed his time with the Beatles as well as his firing. He revealed that he has not spoken to the band since 1962, even though they had seen each other while playing at the same venues.
"There were things to be said but that wasn't the place to hear your differences, onstage, so there was no communication," Best told Spinner. "We'd pass like ships in the night. Some people say, 'Well, why the hell didn't you just pick up the phone?' and I've always said, 'Well, have you ever tried to phone a Beatle? It just doesn't happen.' You couldn't get to them."
Best was featured on 10 tracks on the Beatles' 1995 Anthology collection, which offered some vindication.
"Being on 'Anthology,' people had a bigger insight into what my drumming was about. From that point of view, I've always held my head up high and said, 'Yes, it wasn't the drumming ability.' There have been conspiracy theories -- the hairstyle, jealousy, antisocial, didn't speak enough, Brian [Epstein, the Beatles' manager] may have felt threatened -- it goes on and on. I've long passed that."
Advertisement
Today, Best is part of The Pete Best Band. On Aug. 25 he is scheduled to play a show Liverpool, according to the Liverpool Beat, covering Beatles' hits like "My Bonnie," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "Love Me Do."
LOOK: Pete Best, original drummer for The Beatles, performs with The Pete Best Band at the Fest for Beatles Fans 2007 at the Mirage Hotel & Casino July 1, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pete Best, the Original Beatles Drummer
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.