Question 1
Here are examples of "Silver Beatles," which feature Pete Best on drums and the Decca Studio Audition on Jan 1, 1962. They played 15 songs and there is discussion over whether or not Brian Epstein made good choices for them to play.
What are your thoughts of the Decca session?
Do you think you would have chosen them based on the recordings available?
The Beatles - Decca Audition, January 1, 1962 (23:29)
Decca Audition (Links to an external site.)
Three Cool Cats - Silver Beatles (2:40)
3 Cool Cats (Links to an external site.)
Question 2
According to Pete Best, how were the Beatles different than other bands?
How was Hamburg a different experience from Liverpool?
Summarize the interviews and provide details and comments about Best's interview (The Beatles drummer for 2 years!)
Pete Best - Interview 2005 (2:42)
Pete Best 2005 (Links to an external site.)
Question 3
Watch the interview with Pete Best with David Letterman.
How do you think Best handled being fired from the Beatles?
What did you think the other Beatles really thought of Best?
Beatles drummer Pete Best on David Letterman (Part 1) (5:13)
Part 1 (Links to an external site.)
Beatles drummer Pete Best on David Letterman (Part 2) (5:59)
Part 2 (Links to an external site.)
Question 4
The Casbah Club - Paul McCartney and others talk about it.
Describe the experience
The Casbah Coffee Club (4:11)
Casbah Club (Links to an external site.)
Question 5
These songs give you a sense of what the sets were like in the early days for the Beatles (and Beatles influences).
Select two videos from the following and discuss
How do you think the Beatles changed from their early sound (after Pete Best) to what you identify as the Beatles sound?
Sample Solution