the Reluctant Beatle page 7

 the Reluctant Beatle page 7 by ric gustafson

John's friend Stu Sutcliffe tried to play bass guitar. He was constantly told by Paul and George that he was not good. The Silver Beatles had an agent named Allan Williams. He began booking the group into Liverpool ballrooms. At this time, the name of the group was changed to the Beatles. 

Allan Williams booked the Beatles into a Hamburg Germany night club. Between August and November 1960 the band performed at the Kaiserkeller Club. The group needed a drummer. Pete Best, one of Mona Best's sons, agreed to be their drummer.

Allan Williams had to sneek the band into West Germany. The band had only passports. They had no work permits or official documentation. On top of that, George was seven months shy of 18. Bruno Koschmider decided to have the group perform at the Indra Strip Club. The club was on a quiet side street. Living quarters was one concrete room and two broom cupboards.

The band was used to playing for about 20 minutes. At the Indra Club, the band was required to play for hours each weeknight and longer on weekends.

To fill the hours, the band played everything from rock and roll, country, folk, blues, Chuck Berry and Ray Charles.

With all the hours playing, the group could tell they had two problems on their hands. One was Stu Sutcliffe's bass guitar playing. The other problem was drummer Pete Best.

research help: ' George Harrison the Reluctant Beatle' by Philip Norman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric