This month we turn the spotlight on n Vince Calandra, The Chants, and Norman Chapman If you want to know more about  Vince Calandra he did a four-hour interview for the Television Academy on his career which is available in their online archives. There are a few extracts from it on YouTube that refer to the Beatles' Ed Sullivan appearance. For info on The Chants, I recommend the Sixties City website which includes links to their full discography. There is also an extract on YouTube from the documentary "Get Back: The City That Rocked The World", with Joe Ankrah talking about meeting Paul ..read more

This month we turn the spotlight on guitarist Ken Brown of The Quarrymen and The Blackjacks If you want to know more about Ken Brown’s story I recommend, The Beatles: The True Beginnings, published by Thomas Dunne Books in 2003 ******* Thanks for listening to this episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles. If you would like to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform that would be great and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.  If you would like to make a comment or ask a question you can follow the podcast Twitter ..read more

Welcome to the first episode of Before They Were Beatles presents: The Forgotten Beatles in which we turn the spotlight on drummer Pete Best If you want to know more about Pete Best’s story we recommend,  Beatle! The Pete Best Story - Plexus Publishing  - Pete’s autobiography  (although it is going for crazy money these days - if you can find a copy it is well over $200 for the paperback) The Beatles: The True Beginnings is a nice illustrated hardback on the history of the Casbah Club by Roag Best published by Thomas Dunne Books in 2003 Finding the Fourth Beatle by David B ..read more

Coming to this podcast soon, a new series -  Before They Were Beatles presents:  The Forgotten Beatles  We all know the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, The Beatles - BUT, there are other tales still left to tell.  Who were Pete, Ken, Norman, Johnny, Colin, Rod, Stuart, Eric, and more who all played their part in the story of the greatest band in rock history? These will be the stories we share The stories of THE FORGOTTEN BEATLES =========== I hope you will join us for this fun trip to discover these fascinating stories. Tune in via the podcast platform of your choi ..read more

In this episode, I share some thoughts on the recently released, remixed, and remastered extended Red and Blue albums, and wrap things up with my reactions to the “last Beatles song” Now & Then ************************ Thank you for joining us over the last three seasons and listening to the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo - Before They Were Beatles.. - and I hope you also enjoyed this bonus episode. But there are other tales still left to tell.  Whatever happened to Pete, Ken, Norman, Johnny, Colin, Rod, Stuart, Eric, and more who all played their part? We will be sharing thei ..read more

In this episode, we complete our journey as The Beatles return to the recording studio, make their TV debut, and say goodbye to Hamburg. .********* This is the story of how one of the thousands of amateur British schoolboy skiffle bands in the mid-1950s evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity, and exploring musical boundaries. It’s also a story of tragedy, coincidence, and at times just sheer luck. It is a story of beginnings, the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo - Before They Were Beatles. .********* Before The Beatles 20th A ..read more

In this short bonus episode I’m delighted to announce the first in-person “Before They Were Beatles” event. ***************** Stereo Dinner and Pershing present “Before They Were Beatles” a one-night-only celebration of the Fab Four’s early days with historian and author Alan J Porter. The event on June 2 will feature an intimate multi-course ticketed dinner followed by access to the after-dinner concert with Liverpool’s The Savage Young Beatles.  Before they were The Beatles, a pre-Fab Four John, Paul, George, (and even a bit of Ringo) were infamous for their brand of raucous, rough, har ..read more

In this special episode, we take a look at what it takes to start a new Beatles tribute band with interviews with the folks behind The Savage Young Beatles and the organizers of the Abbey Road on the Road Festival. .********* This is the story of beginnings, the story of Tom, George, Booby, and Ed - The Savage Young Beatles. .********* Links mentioned in this episode. Tom’s “Mean Mr. Mustard” Beatles’ covers - https://www.youtube.com/@meanmrmustard6184  Little Triggers YouTube page - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvkklUXhPasw15cGTOhmIUw Abbey Road on the River - http://arotr.com  ..read more

The Beatles make their first visit to Studio Two at Abbey Road, continue to expand their gig schedule, make their final line-up change, and attract the attention of a local TV station. .********* This is the story of how one of the thousands of amateur British schoolboy skiffle bands in the mid-1950s evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity, and exploring musical boundaries. It’s also a story of tragedy, coincidence, and at times just sheer luck. It is a story of beginnings, the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo - Before They We ..read more

The Beatles make their radio debut, change leather for suits, and make a return to Hamburg. .********* This is the story of how one of the thousands of amateur British schoolboy skiffle bands in the mid-1950s evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity, and exploring musical boundaries. It’s also a story of tragedy, coincidence, and at times just sheer luck. It is a story of beginnings, the story of John, Paul, George, and Ringo - Before They Were Beatles. The music heard in this episode included: The Beatles - Money (Intro from Decca ..read more