Chas Newby - Beatles Bass Player

17 December 1960 - The Beatles play at the Casbah with Replacement Bass Guitar Player Chas Newby

Who was the left-handed bass-playing Beatle at Litherland Town Hall? Before you cry Paul McCartney: it wasn’t. It was Chas Newby, friend and former band mate of Pete Best.

I tracked down Chas to ask him what he remembered of his brief flirtation with fame.

Where were you born and where did you go to school?

“I was born in Blackpool in 1941 due to the continuing air raids in Liverpool. My mum was evacuated, as she was heavily pregnant. I grew up in Queens Road, Anfield, a street long since demolished.

I went to Anfield Road Primary School and then on to The Collegiate from 1952-59, where I befriended Pete Best, Bill Barlow and Ken Brown. We formed our own skiffle group – The Barmen. We even had a mention in the Liverpool Echo!”

Where did you play?

“As with most skiffle groups, we entered local competitions, including an appearance at the Empire, appearing alongside The Vipers and Jim Dale. We also appeared at The Cavern in 1957."

How did you start in music?

“I started playing acoustic guitar and then progressed to the bass guitar. I never wanted to be a professional musician – I had always longed to be a scientist.

After Ken Brown left the Quarrymen, he and Pete got Bill and I to form a new band, The Blackjacks. As the Blackjacks, we often played at The Casbah, which gave Pete his first taste of drumming with a band, and I became - and remain - good friends with Pete and the Best family.”

This is an excerpt from the full interview. Read the book for the full interview.