Pete Best Reveals Why He Was Kicked Out Of The Beatles | Letterman

The Beatles original drummer says it wasn't his drumming skills that got him booted from the band.
(From "Late Night," air date: 7/14/82)
#beatles #petebest #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate - but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[@MrWtonckens]

Pete finally got his royalties when The Beatles' Anthology CD's came out because his drumming was on one of the CD's from the Beatles' early days. Pete's got a comfy pension now. Good for him.

[@paulweston285]

$14M

[@indieshack4476]

@@paulweston285 Not sure where $14 million comes from, his current net worth is estimated at around $600k

[@WhyX11]

@@paulweston285 Or between £1 million and £4 million

[@brucenator]

I heard he died shortly after this interview, so he doesn't have a pension now.

[@indieshack4476]

@@brucenator Pete Best? He's doing fine, alive and well at 81 years of age.

[@drplasencia8984]

The poor man candidly speaks about a very painful and hugely impactful part of his life and the crowd laughs. Juvenile and insensitive crowd. It seemed like only Mr. Letterman understood the situation. Respect to Mr. Best.

[@pointsoflightradio9785]

I agree. Dave showed class but many in the audience were being classless POS and total douchebags

[@playlist9980]

The Letterman audience was always like that. Like drunk chimps.

[@ggrrtt33]

The Letterman audience members are told in no uncertain terms if they are going to attend they must provide a laughter track, whether or not they find it funny. It's not their fault if they were not forewarned there was going to be a serious interview which did not require laughter. Very awkward.

[@Pdubb19]

Least he can say I was the Beatle first drummer or at least say I was part of the the Beatles not many people can say that because there's only a couple people that can or could

[@Unclemoparman]

😂😂😂

[@ptmccann1]

This is the first time I've heard him speak. I'm amazed by how soft spoken he is.

[@CharlieOBrienTF]

I love it, wish more people were as natural and unassuming. Those sort of talk shows are full of loud mouths saying nathin these days. My uncle sounds alot like Pete.

[@spy1965]

Seems as he has a clicking sounds as he talks.

[@ianstoyan]

​@@spy1965yes. My nextdoor neighbour's gardener speaks exactly like him. Not many of these true scousers left now.

[@andydixon2980]

@@spy1965 That's him keeping in time.

[@Nick-tj8ek]

​@spy1965 He needs a glass of water

[@mikehunt6218]

Much respect for Pete he handled the whole situation like a champ 🏆

[@Ljay-us7rc3ev8t]

yep he lie's good.

[@HonkyReduction-b2g]

He didn't handle it very well actually. He sued The Beatles for defamation and got a nice settlement.

[@Retfie719]

I think the attempted to commit suicide in the middle of the 60s

[@mariojcollado1384]

Pete Best conducted himself with class, serenity, and wisdom. He took the "higher road" with grace; this is real success beyond the glamour of artistic fame. Congratulations!

[@Pneumanon]

This has to be the most respectful interview Dave Letterman has ever done, and good on him for it.

[@robertpolnicky7702]

How about the one with Cindy Crawford.

[@Pneumanon]

@@robertpolnicky7702 I'll check it out, thanks.

[@robertpolnicky7702]

@@Pneumanon I was being a little sarcastic. Dave had a problem with pretty women. I have the same problem. The interview was funny though.

[@Pneumanon]

@@robertpolnicky7702 Just watched a couple of his Cindy Crawford interviews, they seemed to get on alright!

[@crotchet1586]

What's with the audience tho? They're sniggering away in the back ground for no apparent reason 🤔

[@Fregulus5]

He later joined the Civil Service, working for JobCentre in Liverpool, eventually rising to training manager for Northeast England... training people for new careers after losing their old ones. He did well for himself, and he had the ultimate "I got fired from an awesome job" story!

[@Posijax]

Every turn in life impacts the end result of one's identity.... Mr. Best has much to be proud of 😉

[@IrishStock3]

How ironic.

[@Civil_War_Now]

Pretty cut throat. And it fits the pattern of the personalities involved who just sued and sued each other. The Beatles are not nice lads and I’m happy I went with Zep.

[@alexnelson9512]

@@Civil_War_Now *_John Lennon was a toxic ingredient in the whole Beatles story!_*

[@marknewbold2583]

@@Civil_War_Now are you 12?

[@axs203]

You never know how your life will pan out. Pete Best came across as a decent person which is more important than success or money. Good on you Pete!

[@There-Is-No-Virus]

Exactly. Success does not mean money, it means fulfilment.

[@mikemulligan5510]

He comes across as decent ... until he blames getting kicked out on "jealousy." That's just not believable and doesn't come across as remotely honest.

[@antonnakic8539]

He stood in the way of them getting a record contract. He was with them when they first walked into a recording studio, but Producer George Martin wasn’t happy with him.

[@TheGlssr60]

Yes, most people that are filthy rich are saying to themselves, "Dammit! Why am I cursed with all this money, fame and notoriety when I could have just been a decent person"?

[@axs203]

Gosh this thread brings out the cynics

[@HerAeolianHarp]

I appreciate the sensitivity Dave brought to this interview. I feel for Pete.

[@geoffreykruszynski8103]

Pete has a very calming relaxing sound to his voice. Very therapeutic.

[@johnsean8491]

I heard an interview with him as The Pete Best Band was playing my home city (Edmonton, Canada). this was probably in the 2000s. He seemed alot more at piece with his life. He said "we all know what happened to John, and George lived in fear and was attacked in his own home. I'm still a celebrity in Liverpool and a minor celebrity in most of England, so, no regrets"

[@JosephPerez-kh7xh]

Ciertamente, lo que hicieron los Beatles con Pete Best no fue una broma. Se puede decir que George y Paul le tenían un sentimiento de aversión a Best. Por eso cuando conocieron a Ringo en Hamburgo, sobre todo George, lo quisieron incorporar al grupo. Pero Ringo no era tonto, los escucho tocar y se dió cuenta que no tenían nada y que no iban a tener futuro a corto plazo. De ninguna manera se iba a salir del grupo de Rory Storm, que en ese entonces era un grupo más profesional y traía mejor sonido que los Beatles. Lo más delesnable de los Beatles, es que si sabían que Best no encajaba con ellos, se lo debieron haber dicho desde la primera vez que fue con ellos a Hamburgo. Se la jugo con ellos desde que fue el baterista oficial de los Beatles, también hizo el trabajo rudo junto con los otros, esto es, era un equipo. Y cuando conocieron a Epstein y luego a George Martin que fue con Pete Best, no con Ringo, se dieron cuenta que estaban por lograr el éxito y así si, mandaron llamar a Ringo y este ni tardó ni perezoso, ahora sí acepto unirse a los Beatles. Otra observación, Martin nunca dijo nada malo sobre Pete Best. Lo que él dijo fue que respetaba la desicion de los otros tres y que el nunca corrió a Best. Dijo que en los estudios de grabación se sustituia a quien fuera necesario y el público no se enterario, cuando menos a corto plazo. Así como George Harrison fue sustituido por Eric Clapton las veces que fuera necesario y no por eso iban a correr a Harrison. Aunque alguna vez John pensó en sustituir a Harrison por Eric Clapton, pero seguramente Clapton no hubiese aceptado. Una vez dicho lo anterior, el Karma alcanzo a los que hicieron el complot en contra de Best. Abur

[@TheHaratashi]

It's peace not piece.

[@HankFinkle11]

@@JosephPerez-kh7xhthat’s not entirely true. Martin didn’t think much of Best’s drumming and said he’d use studio players. That was the impetus for Ringo replacing him. And Clapton played on one Beatle song, at the invitation of Harrison.

[@lisica8458]

@@HankFinkle11 Clapton ought to have been a Wilbury.

[@odonovan]

I can't believe the audience was giggling and laughing at some of the serious things he said. Dave's audience had some real azzholes in it, that night.

[@brucenator]

yeah, I heard that Paul McCartney was in the audience in disguise and kept giggling at the most inappropriate times.

[@fabulousflashbacks3139]

yes! I totally agree, jeez, what is wrong with these idiots? so disrespectful!

[@sunnyskies-md5rk]

Yes, so inappropriate. I am sure the ones who laughed have nothing going for themselves.

[@jude2235]

The Letterman audiences always seem to be giggly and disrespectful, laughing at nothing..

[@sunnyskies-md5rk]

@@jude2235 Agreed.

[@timelliott4117]

What could anyone possible say to this poor man? He has class, dignity and is a gentleman.

[@angelabluebird609]

Not really. There's really no reason for him to go on tv complaining. Bands change personnel all the time. They were kids then. If Pete had stayed, the success nor the music would have been the same. Sounds like sour grapes.

[@timelliott4117]

@@angusmount3913 hi

[@hanslund308]

@@angelabluebird609 Who would have sour grapes after a bad ditch? That is natural, specially if you get ditched by your friends.

[@angelabluebird609]

@@hanslund308 Not really. A gentleman of class and dignity would not publicly whine. Change of personnel in bands is common. He is also paid the royalties he is due, no small amount, either. I'm from a musical family and married into a musical family. This is just silly. The Beatles were and are magic, with John, Paul, George and Ringo. That is how it happened and how it is.

[@modernchampionmusic81]

@@angelabluebird609 hardly whining is he ?I think you underestimate the cataclysmic effect this would have on your psyche especially given the magnitude of their success and he was treated quite shoddily

[@jumpingjacks5558]

Pete seems like he is an honest person. I can't imagine the heart ache he has dealt with for practically his whole life. He seems to have done the best job he could. I'm glad he is getting the recognition he deserves

[@raccuia1]

Indeed. I wonder what the reason was that he got fired. Was it his drumming, was it jealousy for whatever reason, was it something else. Like a who shot Kennedy question.

[@sexobscura]

@@raccuia1 you've made a *very* astute analogy

[@pjmurphy920]

@@raccuia1 Not a good analogy. The U.S. gov't assassinated JFK because he wanted to stop Viet Nam and get rid of the Federal Reserve so he died.

[@NaturalRagman]

@@raccuia1 George Martin said he couldn't keep a beat. He told them to keep him if you want but he can't play on records.

[@raccuia1]

@@NaturalRagman The little I have heard of Pete Best drumming, including the Decca records audition and various other KZbin videos, I tend to err on the side of his drumming prowess. I think The Beatles made the right call with Ringo. I have watched YT vids of Pete Best being interviewed and he comes across as a good fella. I hope he was able to cope with the churning stomach and emotional pain through the years.

[@christopherseat9871]

He's a inspiration for those who don't give up on life. Pete Best ♥️🤘🤘🤘🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@stevebloor2617]

About 14 years ago, I was a bus driver in Liverpool and one summer evening a guy...who clearly had had a drink or three... in a very friendly manner, stood at the front of the bus and said 'do you know who I am? I said no and he said, I'm Pete Best, I was the Beatles drummer and he promptly pulled out a harmonica from his pocket and started playing it...and he was brilliant!...to this day I still wonder if it was him?

[@tbone35453]

Comes across as a decent bloke. I wish him well.

[@joaoyapur1247]

top bloke

[@caesarvolz6945]

Agreed. Be well Dave.

[@GrantTarredus]

He certainly does. I’m impressed by his manner.

[@paulweston285]

Made $14M out of Anthology

[@brucenator]

I heard he always comes on and starts looking for balloons, but nobody gets his humour.

[@barbj9785]

The thing is Pete Best will always be remembered as the first Beatles drummer who signed a contract with the other Beatles.

[@shawnpa]

True. I’ve heard his story many times.

[@vangroover1903]

And the worst Beatles' drummer ever

[@walrus1300]

Actually, he wasn’t the first Beatles drummer mentioned in the interview. It was another drama before we called Tommy Moore, the fact is, he wasn’t a good drummer and didn’t keep a good time. Ringo was a better drummer, it is said metronomes were calibrated to Ringo’s timing.

[@barbj9785]

@@walrus1300 Yes they did have other drummers. I should clarify my post: Pete Best was the first official Beatle drummer who signed a contract with the Beatles.

[@sharonlee4773]

@@vangroover1903 No that was Paul..........

[@konorhalpin]

Fair play to Pete he persevered. Life isn't fair but you've got to keep going.

[@sexobscura]

[ ... unless it kills you, of course ]

[@CB-xr1eg]

Looking at this interview I'd say he was kicked out because of his total lack of personality and charisma. That and his inadequate drumming skills were the 2 factors not jealousy.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@CB-xr1eg Well, he doesn't actually drum in this so there is no way you would know. None of the beatles really struck me as full of charisma and personality, they were marketed as being pretty bland. This guy would fit right in with any interview you saw with them. That he's not practiced at being interviewed would go without saying. However, we have no idea what would do it. He doesn't say 'musical jealousy' so it could have just been that he was better looking than them. Either way, Johns dead thanks to being a beatle, so no matter how much money he had, he still comes out ahead.

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@mikearchibald744 "marketed as being pretty bland"...what a load of absolute nonsense.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@CB-xr1eg Go watch interviews of them, if thats not bland, not sure what is.

[@marthamagee2055]

Poor guy. I would have been thoroughly devastated. Letterman handled this interview grace and sensitivity. Pete Best was dealt rough hand and he managed to stay a nice person. God Bless you Mr Best.

[@peppers776]

I can’t “imagine” the emotional rollercoaster ride this gentleman has experienced. He’s one tough tough man! Much respect Mr. Best. ✨🙏✨🥁

[@henrik5761]

Longer, deeper, and with an better audience this interview could have been one of the greatest

[@getfit_1.2.1]

Audience were quite rude

[@sexobscura]

if The Beatles weren't ever successful (as they certainly weren't when Best left), who'd really be as interested in this story ...

[@buffalobraves9]

I met Pete around this interview. What a wonderful nice kind and respectful man. He was dealt a bad hand but has made a good life for himself. It’s the one part of the Beatles story that I’m not happy with how they handled it.

[@thekitowl]

When you learn that they sacked one of the Quarrymen via their manager, it’s not so unusual for Pete to be dismissed the same way.

[@buffalobraves9]

@@GaryLangEngr well if you can read I wrote “not happy with how they handled it”. I never wrote that they made a mistake. Pretty big difference there Gary.

[@buffalobraves9]

@@GaryLangEngr to bring the guy in and tell him face to face. You know like the way YOU would want to be fired. Not cower and hide and make your manager do your dirty work. It makes perfect sense. You must be too dense to understand.

[@juancarlosgaete1254]

Pete got bad attitude, and John, Paul and George felt this and talked to their manager. Brian the Manager already knew this and to avoid rough time among them, the Manager decided to put him out of the band, otherwise, it would have taken to The Beatles eventually breaking up.....

[@oliverfield877]

@@buffalobraves9at the end of the day as bad as I feel for him, it’s kind of his own fault. He repeatedly would miss concerts and be unreliable, refused the Beatles haircut and didn’t really improve his skill as a drummer. This behaviour would get you sacked from most garage bands nevermind the Beatles.

[@skelter1153]

Tough break. But Pete is still relatively famous, and he's never gonna be worried about the rent. He continued to play music and also became a family man, Husband to a beautiful Wife, and Father to 2 Kids,.... as he carried with him a great outlook. 🍻 Cheers, Pete.

[@sexobscura]

... and it can (sort of) be argued that he's only famous by being carried on the coattails of the band that became enormously successful

[@skelter1153]

@@sexobscura With that line of thinking, if that's the argument, then it can easily also be argued that because of them he didn't get the chance to be as successful as he might've been had he never met them.

[@sexobscura]

@@skelter1153 Correct Fame by association

[@innosanto]

Actually he got royalties to some beatles anthologies which had his drumming in the recordings so he took Monag from Beatles recently.

[@intelligencelimited2708]

@@innosanto It was never about the Monag.

[@bobkilmer697]

This is one of the more respectful interviews I have seen Dave do.

[@mikestevenson576]

He was a very different TV animal in that first year of Late Night.

[@DasherBeats]

At least he will forever be known as the first Beatles drummer, that’s an awesome title to have.

[@trekkiejunk]

It's weird and awkward that this crowd is laughing at his story. Like him or not, it's rude, and i would have been embarrassed if i were in this audience.

[@SameAsAnyOtherStranger]

People watch Letterman to laugh. I got the sense it was more of the nervous laughter of people confronted with how but for a simple twist of fate their lives may have been much different.

[@ArtificialBanana]

The audience is warmed up before the show and is primed to laugh at the slightest thing.

[@brucenator]

I heard the audience thought he was rude and kept giggling out of embarrassment.

[@wolfgangdevries127]

It's even weirder when you come to the conclusion: the (US) audience had probably never heard of the guy. Little wonder why the are giggling. Human nature.

[@stevebell9645]

ive Seen many Roger Waters interviews where he is asked about Syds erratic behavior during what is an obvious mental breakdown and gets laughs from the audience to Rogers annoyance i wish these interviewers would read the room or talk to the audience before hand , unbelievable .

[@darrtetzy]

Cool to hear his take on what happened, but I think this was the wrong platform for him to appear. The Letterman audience was there for comedy, and I can't help but think their laughter in hearing how he was unceremoniously kicked out of of the band 1 month before they became the most popular rock band in history must have been humiliating. Certainly demoralizing.

[@andrewfurst5711]

I don't think he cared that they laughed. Not to be harsh, but Pete was on Letterman to cash in on a Beatles career that he wasn't really part of (other than he was the timekeeper while they polished their skills in Hamburg). Not many people can turn a 2 year job which ended in being fired, into a lucrative lifelong career.

[@pdempsey]

I don't think Dave went for humor with every guest in those days. Sometimes the guest was funny, other times it was just somebody promoting a book or whatnot and Dave didn't always go for laughs. I was too young in `82 but I feel like this was true of the show in the late 80s. It was only later that it became all jokes and jams (which obviously turned out quite well).

[@brucenator]

I heard he was already demoralized long before that.

[@alistairproductions]

So what. So sensitive

[@donjohn2695]

Letterman was useless for serious subjects

[@bretviola6871]

Actually, I believe that when they were recording their first album, George Martin thought the drumming was weak and wanted someone different. But can you imagine being in a band for two years, and a month or so before something called Beatlemania strikes your given the boot. Then having to watch the band you put your blood sweat and tears into becomes the biggest, most successful band in music history. Ouch!!! I feel for the guy.

[@jamorains]

it was definitely a bad break for Pete, but...George Martin was right.

[@justiceforall6412]

No sweat and tears were expended. Have you ever listened to his drum playing from that time? He was awful. (I have the recordings) Plain and simple. He also had a habit of missing gigs. Even Lennon who usually was moot on the subject spoke publicly of Bests' substandard playing.

[@barbj9785]

It was George Martin that decided to replace Pete with Ringo. There was jealousy in the band as the girls favorite was Pete. Lennon was upset when they played at the Cavern without Pete and the fans were yelling...someone had a recording of this and Lennon agreed with the fans.

[@justiceforall6412]

@@barbj9785 No he didn't. McCartney also said as much in Ringo's induction to the R&R hall of Fame. I also have the sound and printed interview with Lennon. I also have ALL of the recordings with Best. He was awful. Don't spread lies.

[@barbj9785]

@@justiceforall6412 True, Pete wasnt a good drummer. But I did hear George Martin say they needed to make a change in the drumming. Whether he made that decision himself or not I dont know. It was handed down to Brian Epstein to tell Pete.

[@TripleB-nb8en]

My heart bleeds for this man. I cant imagine the feelings that would arise everytime he turned on the radio, tv or picked up a newspaper. It was like losing a winning lottery ticket. He remained humble and dignified. A true gentleman.

[@reneeallen7603]

A true gentleman. Terrible how they treated his departure he deserved better.

[@teastrainer3604]

Pete didn't show up for several performances, which didn't endear him to the others He also refused to get a Beatles haircut. Probably most important, as John said, "He wasn't quick like the rest of us."

[@firenze5555]

@@teastrainer3604 My mother remembered the Beatles when they had Best and she said how handsome he was and that the other Beatles were jealous of the attention that he got so they quietly replaced him with Ringo who was not a looker.

[@comanchio1976]

@firenze5555 He wasn't a good drummer. That was the bottom ine.

[@Charlie-f4q4o]

@@reneeallen7603 I'm sure you and your best mates would have been perfectly sensitive if you was offered a record deal at 19 years old but had to lose some dead wood from the group

[@teastrainer3604]

@@firenze5555 That's why Pete went straight to the top and they crashed and burned, right? Lennon said in a polite way that Best wasn't very bright, and that's obvious.

[@dynamixii3228]

Comes across as a lovely guy, that must have been a very hard interview to push through. Good for him that he eventually saw royalties from his earlier work.

[@kenray3205]

He seems very honest and straightforward

[@windzor]

Pete is in the Beatle recordings, he is therefore a Beatle forever.

[@JesusVazquez-jz2qm]

That statement deserves a yeah, right.

[@paulnodalo9130]

Pete was never a Beatle but was on the recordings that was rejected by Decca.

[@windzor]

@@paulnodalo9130 I think he is on Anthology.

[@dennisdemark8151]

...he will always be a "Founding" member.🥁 Ringo wasn't...he was a replacement. no disrespect to Ringo.

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@paulnodalo9130 were* rejected by Decca, not was*

[@mpista7182]

Why are there so many jerks in the audience laughing at Pete's story ? How rudely heartless

[@jerryjones7838]

I have the utmost respect for this man. Had it been me, I'd not have been around to talk about it. I hope life has treated him well. As for Dave's audience: What a bunch of jerks.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

He was in the Beatles for 2 years which is very cool indeed. Its sad for him that he was sacked but I bet he has some good memories of those early days. My bands were never successful but I dont regret doing it. doing it is whats important, not the money

[@fredzep01]

That house Pete's talking about called Casbah Coffee Club, is where the Beatles and a lot of other groups began, and you can still go in and see where it all began, it's like a big house that's been suspended in time, the place is untouched, and it's got all John and Paul's brush strokes all over it, it's probably the oldest and original pieces of Beatles history you can still actually touch. I only know this because it's around the corner from mine.

[@scottbrowning4553]

I enjoyed this interview of Pete Best from David Letterman. David of course did ask him questions, but not the kind that would be considered mean-spirited, thank goodness. Plus, it's fabulous that Pete has managed to live a reasonably healthy and productive life, in spite of being thrown a curveball. Tim Allen once said, "You don't make decisions. Life makes decisions for you." Another quote; "Sometimes you don't always get to choose your paths in life. Your paths makes choices for you." I hope that Pete will be able to live the rest of his life with being content, regardless of what he does. Also, I seems like an honest, down-to-earth, and true gentlemen. Best wishes to Pete and his family.

[@PaulieWalnuts746]

I don’t know if I could go on with my life once The Beatles became what they did. To know you were that close to success and immortality and then it was all ripped away would’ve been devastating.

[@Amy-cw6qs]

There’s a video that I believe was uploaded by Vice, about this guy who was with the k-pop group BTS for a while, then right before they hit it big he was kicked out. I’ll admit I don’t know a damn thing about any k-pop group or anything related because it’s just not my cup of tea when it comes to music/entertainment, but I felt that man’s pain down to my bones while watching that video. It’s a great watch, even if k-pop in general is the last thing on earth you would care to invest time in. I could be wrong on the specific channel that produced and uploaded the video, but if I’m not mistaken I think it’s called “almost in BTS”. I had forgotten about that video till I stumbled upon this one here.

[@nicholasbrowning4558]

A lot of people would love to have been in the beatles

[@user-op3fx8hi5p]

@@Amy-cw6qsactually there a few guys who almost were in bts and didn’t make the cut at the end. The 7 final members trained for years and practiced for more than 16 hours daily, some people couldn’t take the pressure and hard work so they left. No one was kicked out right before they made it big, the 7 members were the final line up for a year before they even debuted and they didn’t make it BIG BIG until 3-4 years after their debut. So while it is true some guys were almost in bts, it wasn’t like Pete who actually got kicked out, these guys either quit or were let go because the others were better. Some of them still work for the group either as producers or choreographers though so that’s cool.

[@nicholasbrowning4558]

@@inmundo6927 And he would know .lol

[@Paul-sl9zm]

​@Amy-cw6qs That guy trained with BTS, but he was never going to be in the final group. Deep down he knows he wasn't good enough. "Almost" in BTS is being overdramatic.

[@angelabluebird609]

Pete just wasn't meant to be. The Beatles were, and will always be, a magical meeting of four musicians. Changing members in bands is not unusual, and is normally done without a lot of ceremony.

[@Fred.pSonic]

You feel bad for Pete but his lifeless drumming on the Decca audition sunk him. Ringo was always the more dynamic drummer hands down.

[@jennywren9068]

Pete Best isn’t a bad guy at all. I wish him well.

[@visearms5774]

the other beatles were jealous cause he was more popular with the girls.

[@jennywren9068]

@@visearms5774 not really. They just liked Ringo’s personality better. Pete is quiet. And come on- Paul McCartney is unequivocally the handsomest Beatle. But Pete is nice enough. Too quiet and not charismatic enough to have stayed with them though.

[@haley3420]

Jenny, Pete was better looking and the girls favored him. They were calling them Pete Best and the Beatles and John despised that. Also Pete didn't conform to the mop top hair style the others had

[@haley3420]

John was a major D-Bag and Paul was too.

[@visearms5774]

@@haley3420 Ya, John is held up as a paragon of peace, yet he was a wife beater.

[@mrsuperger5429]

That audience laughing at Pete Best are disgusting. At least Pete can say that he was in The Beatles for 2 years. What have they ever done.?

[@MysticMover]

Just can't imagine how he must've felt on a daily basis during Beatle Mania. It must have been horrendous plus having to just carry on living a normal life/job with everybody he ever met wanting to talk about it on a daily basis. Bless him. The gormless laughing by the audience on this video made me feel sick.

[@cfreeman106]

Well said, especially the feeling of loss and what could've been. I feel very sorry for him, but that particular aspect, which you mention, never occurred in my thoughts.... I simply saw it as a piece of ill fortune, which most people encounter in different ways during their lifetime... but his on a much larger scale. Good on him, he still manages to talk about it with good grace. When they first appeared in the limelight -- with Ringo the drummer -- I thought they were wonderful and a welcome change to the pop scene. But years later when I learned about the ditching of Pete, my opinion of them soon changed.

[@Kim-iv4ty]

A very dignified and humble man.

[@jerrydiller8245]

That's a bad deal to treat someone like that after two years together.

[@kramalerav]

On the one hand, they had two years to replace him, but instead opted to keep him around right up until contract time. On the other hand, Best wasn’t very reliable. He no-showed for a lot of gigs where Ringo replaced him. Had Pete known at the time that Capitol was intending to sign The Beatles, he could have held up the deal in a dispute over rights to the name as a full-fledged member. Brian Epstein delayed the news until they could fire him first.

[@sushimamba4281]

In the music business, in bands, it happens quite often.

[@heelpayne420]

The crowd was eager to laugh, but Dave, gave a great interview here. I feel.for the guy, as a drummer who's been kicked out of a band 😂

[@brucenator]

I heard that Dave Payne was kicked out of RUSH before they picked up some guy named Neil.

[@jackspring7709]

Yeah, I couldn't understand what was wrong with the crowd, there.

[@CB-xr1eg]

There's no Dave on this video, it's either David or Pete.

[@grimes558]

@@CB-xr1eg what do you think dave stands for

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@grimes558 Hmm, that's a tough one. Is it an acronym?🤔

[@MrAnderswt]

When Ringo joined, it was a revelation. End of story.

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

Pete was a Beatle and he can go shopping at the mall and not get mobbed. That has got to be worth something.

[@billbarrett6285]

If anyone actually believes the Beatles were jealous of someone with such limited talent, I have a seaside mansion I'd like to sell at a reasonable price. He certainly seems full of himself.

[@jeffreyjorgensen887]

What a unique position to be in - Mr. Best has real class - it's been a long time but he comes across as content and with no rancor - nice to see someone so well adjusted to reality - may God bless him.

[@OslerWannabe]

Class? I've heard a few of the recordings on which he played, and he was clearly a below average drummer. Yet he claims he was fired because of "jealousy" over his physical beauty. I can understand his trying to cash in, and he was certainly owed something for the one or two contributions he made to the anthology. But a big payday? Only if he made a big contribution.

[@johnbourhis9606]

The guy was a class act. You never really know how life will turn out. He handled a very tough situation with class and grace.

[@isaacbeen2087]

And then blamed his being dropped from the band on jealousy? casting aspersions on the rest of The Beatles and boasting about his looks and talent in the process? The Beatles have made it clear the Pete Best was a dreadful drummer and that they intended to get rid of him as soon as possible. They were blown away by Ringo when he sat in with them.

[@dc37wwe2kmods]

God bless him! As much as I love Ringo's drumming, I really hope things worked out well for Best too.

[@andreschavez9671]

Worked out for the Best, if you will

[@DavidTaylorGo.Go.Go.]

I met Pete when we used one of his tour-busses on the road. We hired him and I got to chat with him as we ate up the miles. He was just sitting there driving the bus and we had a great conversation. Struck me as a very down to earth guy

[@RobertMcDougall73]

Pete Best gave a very good an honest interview, I'm sure he has had a career in many other ways than his jamming days at age 16. Boys at 16 can have fights for no reason at all, Ringo was the older Beatle, and in some ways perhaps they needed that to keep them together during their early days of keeping. time did not involve a backing track. As Pete said, he only did it for 2 years, I'm sure he hasn't been crying since, and is alive today!

[@jimlocke8281]

Pete was bumped because Ringo was the better choice. Ringo played so differently than just keeping the beat, he actually was truly another key part in making the Beatles, the Beatles.

[@fingerbob74]

Not according to George Martin and Bernard Purdie

[@jimlocke8281]

@@fingerbob74 he was according to Paul and George.

[@Vingul]

@@fingerbob74 you mean when they were cutting their very first singles/tracks, presumably. It became very evident that Ringo was a great drummer later on.

[@albadore]

Pete's 2008 album Haymans Green is actually really good. No surprise, it's rather Beatlesque, but the songs and playing are on point.

[@kstepko]

Interesting to hear his side of the story: still a good looking guy, even two decades later!

[@brucenator]

I heard the other side of his side of the story, but it didn't involve jealousy.

[@riverwalker2173]

He looks a lot like the Hall of Fame bowler Pete Webber🎳

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@brucenator What did it involve?

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@Cosmo-Kramer Lack of personality and lack of drumming skills.

[@Doopes]

Unfortunate the crowd was just laughing the entire time, this is a heartbreaking story that none of us can even come close to relating too

[@davidovics92]

heartbreaking is a bit strong... the death of a family member is heartbreaking. I'm sure it sucked for him to see the other 4 rise to the top, but no one should measure their life in money or fame.

[@Doopes]

@@davidovics92 Getting blindsided and fired by who you thought were friends is pretty heartbreaking , he even said he was depressed and very upset over the ordeal ... Multiple things can break your heart ya know, it doesn't have to be death.

[@paulneedham9885]

@@davidovics92 how would you feel if you left a lottery syndicate and they win the jackpot the week after?

[@NittyGritty420]

@@davidovics92 we can all relate to the death of a family member… he said it’s a heartbreaking story that none of us can relate to. Pete essentially fumbled the biggest bag in history. That would drive me mad

[@Fireglo]

No one can relate to? There are literally thousands of people who just missed out on fame and fortune. It's simple. There isn't a slot for everybody. Some people will not make it by a mere thread. There are much worse things people can experience than only just missing out on fame.

[@BK-uf6qr]

I was the “Pete Best” of a band so I have a sense of the feeling. I was in my Band longer than Pete and was a founder of said Band. In the last years of the band, I was in law school and ultimately became a lawyer. The other guys? They just did the band thing. Amongst other things, there was a kind of resentment that I pursued a separate career whilst they were “focusing” solely on the band. The split happened quickly and unexpectedly. When your in a band, it’s like being in a marriage or long term relationship. You spend a lot of time together, sacrifices etc. The band I was in continued to rise, got signed, toured and had other exposure. Ultimately the band broke up. It was tough at the time to see someone replace me, play songs I wrote etc. Although I must say that I liked what they did after my departure. The band was the Lovehammers.

[@scottcaldwell7480]

I feel for the guy. Anything he would ever say or do will always be filtered through the mythology surrounding the other three.

[@brucenator]

I heard that it was in the plea deal that everything he ever said was always filtered through the other four.

[@aaronmunro5818]

One thing to remember is that Best got sick early in 1962 and Ringo sat in for the first time during a couple of Beatles gigs, just as a temporary replacement. It was then that John, Paul and George realized Best wasn't as good as Ringo and they started to think about making a change. Six months later, Best got fired. The "jealously" argument doesn't make sense. Chemistry probably played a part, but the key was that Ringo was a better drummer, or at least his style fit the band better.

[@deejay5224]

Dignified man. Full respect to him

[@Mindlagoon]

Nice fella. Still have my copy of his book 'Beatle', which he kindly signed for me at the book launch in Liverpool in '84, when I was 16. He'll always be part of the story, and isn't forgotten.

[@jasona9]

I'm in North America and I have a copy of that book as well. I've never met Pete Best, that's cool that he signed a copy for you. For anyone interested in his story, the book is a good read.

[@CJRamos-jv3pb]

Some of the Decca auditions appear on the more recent Beatles Live at the BBC, and they prove Pete was a sub par drummer, at Best. The guy couldn't even keep time.

[@kstepko]

Ironically, Pete was Best in name only.

[@bobbillings]

The people here making comments that the audience was disrespectful are thin skinned snowflakes and completely out of the their minds. I have watched this just under 11 minute conversation start to finish several times. That audience was quiet as a mouse for 99% of it. Pete was greeted to a very warm welcome applause and calls as he came out. The two big audience laughs during the whole thing the audience was laughing at the comical expressions Pete made with his face in response to Dave's question's, as Dave is a semi-comedic talk show host and Pete was making light of it. And another partial audience laugh or two were at Dave. Pete was then greeted to another warm applause at the finish There was absolutely no mockery or disrespect to him what so ever as the audience were happy to have him there.

[@vrvaughn]

He was in the band because his mother had a club.. He was out of the band because the people doing the recording didn’t think he was a good enough drummer.

[@kcdurkin8498]

Simple as that.

[@brucenator]

I heard the band was in the club because their mothers didn't have a club.

[@twentyoneHz]

i recall seeing an interview that they also thought when you looked at the group as a whole, one of the main factors besides drumming is that “he didn’t look like a beatle”. and if you look at their group shots, they were kinda right. pete was a good looking dude w three cartoonish looking dudes; ringo pulls up as a good drummer (became the best after doing 900 gigs in two years with the beatles around the UK) and if you looked at him, he fit in with the other goofy looking blokes as well. who’s to say if pete had gotten the time to tour around with them for as long as they did before they started recording, that he may have been just as great as ringo. i recall quincy jones saying ringo was terrible as well

[@eliboybherrera7890]

@@twentyoneHz Quincy Jones can say anything that he wants but don't take it as a fact. Majority of the known drummers look up to Ringo

[@bobdearborn3130]

ironic because Ringo isnt a great drummer either.

[@kcinks]

Thank you to Letterman for making this available!

[@xtstevie]

Always liked Pete as a person & a gent & yes he struggled most of his life after being dumped by the Beatles & lets not forget from 1994 onwards he made millions off the back of the Anthology CDs etc...... And well deserved as well.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Pete held the torch for the formative years, but Ringo's understated, peerless foundation made the brand what it was.

[@brucenator]

I heard the brand was marketed by George Martin.

[@jimmyjames2022]

@@brucenator Martin produced, Epstein marketed...

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@scottjones1109]

They wouldn't have become the Beatles the world has loved for nearly 60 years without Ringo Starr.

[@majooortom4254]

i mean, ringo is AMAZINGLY tastefull drummer. it really makes those songs shine

[@TomByron-h7s]

I like Pete Best. I wish him all the best

[@xpat73]

I remember he said that when he heard that the Beatles had their first number 1 hit, he was stacking bread in a van to be delivered in Liverpool. Can you imagine??!!

[@CB-xr1eg]

He got kicked out of the band, was on the BREAD line, so he used his LOAF and got a job with a baker to make some DOUGH as he couldn't get a SLICE of The Beatles action and his music career was TOAST. Cue drum ROLL.

[@ibpsupplyman]

@@CB-xr1eg YOU ARE A REAL COMEDIAN >>>>>> AND A REAL ASS

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@ibpsupplyman Thank you, kind Sir. Much appreciated.👍

[@Vingul]

​@@CB-xr1eg LOL

[@StarfieldRailway]

The made it further in the music business than more than 99% of musicians.

[@needleinthehayy]

i can totally sympathize with how he feels. having something be so close that would’ve been amazing and brilliant, all to be ripped away right before you obtain it. he seems like such a kind and genuine guy. i love the beatles with all my heart, but i know the pain he must’ve went through was horrible. my heart goes out to him as no one deserves that experience :(

[@roddyboethius1722]

He suffered a cruel fate. So did Lennon

[@charleshendrix232]

John said he wasn’t a good enough drummer to be in the Beatles. Neither are most people. Its no reason to belittle the man. Its no reason to knock John or Paul. It was strictly business.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Both Quincy Jones and Chips Moman said Ringo was a horrible drummer . Quincy overdubbed him with a jazz drummer and Chips overdubbed him with the superior Gene Christman ! Wonder if they would have done that to Pete , especially Moman, who had a great ear for hit music and the true sound !

[@michaelcraig9449]

Pete! That must have been a disastrous blow to a young man's life! I hope he is ok now.

[@jmm1000]

hes alive and well, and finally got a very nice royalty payment

[@robd1329]

Hes a millionaire now

[@ianr1557]

​@@robd1329crazy part is the royalty payment didn't come until over a decade after this interview

[@oywee928]

@@ianr1557 He didn`t get any royalties because he had not performed on any Beatles albums, that was until 1995 when they released, Anthology 1. Which contained some songs with him. (and also bassist Stu Sutcliffe) . Im also happy to hear he is financially ok today. :)

[@ianr1557]

@@oywee928 oh I know, I just mean it's crazy to think that he had no idea he would get royalties when this was filmed... he was famous for not being famous, and had no idea he was going to be rich in 13 years

[@KungEMuller]

Wow! This is very fascinating. A lot of people have forgotten about the fact that Pete Best was part of The Beatles until Ringo Starr replaced him in 1962, and David Letterman helped everyone remember that.

[@brucenator]

I heard that everybody forgot. It was like mass amnesia.

[@KungEMuller]

@@brucenator Really!? I'm surprised.

[@copbabycombo1311]

Lol. Ur dumb. David Letterman did not help people remember. Nobody watches Letterman

[@CB-xr1eg]

Well, when you have a drummer like Ringo in the band it's easy to forget the previous occupant of the drum stool, who clearly wasn't up to scratch.

[@KungEMuller]

@@CB-xr1eg Exactly!

[@sfla4x4molonlabe66]

Well all I can say is Pete Best is a class act.. Terrible that they blew him out like that.

[@gutenbird]

Blew him out? It was the right choice. He wasn't that good. He kept missing engagements. That's how they discovered Ringo in the first place.

[@bolt4694]

1964. Fourteen years old. My first band (we called it a "combo" back then.) I was the bass player. I kinda bluffed my way into the group by telling them I could play bass. After the first few gigs they replaced me with another young bassist who had formal training on the cello. He was a fabulous bass player. I got the word on the phone that they were kicking me out. I was totally crushed. They went on to become an established blues band, and opened for many big name groups that came through St. Louis in the sixties. But with age, comes wisdom. Looking back, I completely understand why I was booted. They were serious musicians and needed a great bassist. And I wasn't the guy. Totally over it today decades later. Still playing bass in church every week, which I believe was God's plan for my life all along. No regrets. I would gladly go through it all again just to be where I am today.

[@emichin7010]

Richard Starkey was just a better drummer. It’s not that complicated why he was replaced.

[@yesterdayproductions1019]

The RECORD PRODUCER (who is ultimately responsible to the record label) wanted Pete Best replaced. No jealously involved. It was all business. At least 95% of the time (at least during those days) a band was signed to a major label BECAUSE of the Record Producer who has brought the band to the record label and AGREED to produce the final product that the label will market. It's impossible to start to make a great rock n roll record without a really good experienced drummer. It would be like trying to build a mansion on top of a faulty foundation.

[@babywah3290]

I suppose George Martin was jealous as well. He didn’t want Best playing in the recording sessions, plus Pete was unreliable as he missed gigs. If he were truly as good as Ringo, he would’ve made it with another band at some point. After the Beatles made it big, a signing craze began in Liverpool and all throughout the UK in the 60’s with tons of bands.

[@CB-xr1eg]

a "signing" craze?

[@babywah3290]

@@CB-xr1eg When Seattle blew up in the early 90’s it was called “the new Liverpool”. Decca, who initially turned down the Beatles, started signing rock bands in the UK after the Beatles became famous. The Swinging 60’s of London would not exist without the success of the Beatles.

[@ronatopaz2793]

He really helped me with great advice at a crucial time in my life when I had an experience which was almost as cruel as something he endured when he was still in the Beatles. I got to thank him 9 years later, reminding him of our conversation, and I will never forget the warmth of his smile. His brother Rory is also very sweet and a good listener. You could say they are the Best of us. lol.

[@wesgraham2262]

I can’t believe what the Beatles put their friend through… having their manager dump him with no explanation or reason. And then the Beatles took off in a most phenomenal way. What heartbreak and betrayal.

[@paulweston285]

Could someone please get him a glass of water !

[@NicknLex]

I was just thinking that.

[@goodbonezz1289]

I’m not the only one thinking that…

[@CB-xr1eg]

Also some charisma and personality. What a dull, dour man he is, no wonder he was fired. The others all had charisma charm and wit, this guy doesn't know what those words mean.

[@ibpsupplyman]

@@CB-xr1eg BEING AN ASS YET AGAIN >>>>> GET LOST TROLL

[@tonybaker7484]

?

[@parisbest105]

We love you, Pete Best!!! 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕

[@jolokia2788]

The random laughter in the audience at completely inappropriate times. I vaguely remember this airing 40 years ago. I wouldn't have been able to keep it together like Pete did.

[@senormedia]

1. Because Ringo was a better drummer. Full stop.

[@comet206]

i was just watching a video yesterday with a former producer talking about how in the old days 50s/60s, when bands hit the studio for the first time, they often ended up firing the drummer and bringing in a studio musician or just someone who they knew was a tighter drummer. as a musician who likes to record and produce myself i can tell you that when it comes to recording, every little mistake stands out WAY more than in a live setting. when you're live you get a lot of volume and projection and small little mistakes don't stand out as much. but in a studio man when you're listening to a raw track being played back, it's just a very bare bones sort of sound, and if it's not super tight it sounds like junk. even in 2024, it's no different. the only difference is we have a lot more tools to fix those problems if we need to.

[@big106razor]

Dave's audience in the early years always had awkward moments of laughter.

[@robertreasor7522]

To be that close to being in the biggest most famous band in the world then miss out has to prey on a person's mind. Paul said in an interview about ten years ago that being a Beatle feels like it happened to somebody else not him. That it felt like somebody else's life. I found that to be a very interesting comment. To be as young as these guys were and have to deal with that level of fame boggles the mind how these kid's kept it together performing and writing such incredible music. It's just incredible!

[@shauncorless8965]

You gotta feel for him ,,,how can you ever get over that ,

[@edwardcricchio6106]

There are so many defenders of the other 3, if you dare say anything about how they dumped Pete. They also get very angry if you say they were jealous of his good looks.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

That's because they are nerds who identify with their fellow nerds, John, Paul, George and Ringo. Pete was a jock, both boxing and rugby in school, and much smarter academically, as he was the only Beatle to pass his exams to get into a real college -- all the others could only attend art school. The Beatles' nerd-fans get angry is because they refuse to admit that their precious little Ringo -- who is as short, scrawny and ugly as they are -- didn't get the job on merit, but rather because he was no threat to outshine JP&G like Pete was doing. It's a classic case of, "revenge of the nerds".

[@vincevirtua]

You'd never get famous and be on a talk show for being kicked out of a band these days.

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

depends if that band is The Beatles or not of course. Popular opinion is there will never be another band quite like them.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

I have a feeling Pete has good friends in his life after the Beatles.

[@beetlerunner]

Give this man a glass of water for gods sake

[@TheJthom9]

Not only did he put in 2 years, provided a club venue and worked day and night in Hamburg, he got let go and lost four good friends

[@shwally56]

Met Pete Best about 30 years ago after a small performance in the area..very nice guy and humble…can’t even imagine what he went through when the Beatles soared to the heights no band will ever be

[@hotdog7988]

Seems like a top bloke, but they made the right decision. Ringo had the drumming chops and the personality that they needed.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@chrismcdowell7138]

Not much of consolation, but being part of musical history has to be something to feel good about. Besides close and distant family members, Pete Best, Stuart Sutcliffe, Astrid Kirchherr, Jimmie Nicol, etc., will always be remembered for their part, of that history. Most of us don’t even get that 15 minutes of fame. Being even a footnote, at any level (deserved or not), has to be more than most of us will ever achieve.

[@chrismcdowell7138]

@@brmc6145 - Yes, Mr. Best received royalties from the Anthology release. Except for making us aware, not sure how your response has any relevance to the comment? Unless the monetary value is of importance, in a person’s value? If so, Mr. McCartney was of significantly more importance, to the Beatles, because his net worth is 1.2 billion. While Mr. Lennon’s importance is not comparable, to the Beatles, since his estate’s net worth is only half that. I can understand the point of your response, but I would say something’s are much more important, than it’s monetary value? Mr. Preston’s value, to the Let it Be sessions, was quite significant, but not if you match it to the actual dollars he earned, which was probably only session fees. So, not to start a war, I’m taking your response as just making us aware that Mr. Best did get monetarily rewarded, ‘for his troubles’. But I personally remember Pete Best, for much, much more, than his net worth.