The Beatles' original drummer Pete Best retires from touring

8 April 2025, 09:57

Pete Best – The Beatles' drummer before Ringo Starr – hangs up his drumsticks.

While there's plenty of debate about the identity of the "Fifth Beatle", everyone knows who the Fab Four were: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

But Ringo wasn't the first Beatles drummer, and before he was unceremoniously dumped it was Pete Best who was the drummer in The Beatles for two years from August 1960.

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After he was controversially forced from the band in August 1962, Pete continued to drum with groups like the Pete Best & the All-Stars and the Pete Best Combo, and in 1965 released the wittily titled Best of the Beatles album.

Now Pete has suddenly retired from public appearances, with a planned show in Liverpool on August 23 being cancelled and refunds issued.

"Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had," said Pete's brother Roag Best in a post on Facebook.

"My brother Pete Best has announced today he is retiring from personal appearances and performing with the group. His daughter has informed me it's due to personal circumstances."

He added: "Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to turnout for our shows over the years. We had a blast and we hope you did too."

Pete himself added on X/Twitter: "I had a blast. Thank you."

My Bonnie (Anthology 1 Version)

While Pete Best didn't feature on any Beatles recordings released during the band's lifetime, it's him drumming on the 'My Bonnie' single by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers that was released in October 1961.

He played on the band's infamous failed Decca audition, but after George Martin suggested replacing him with a session player once they signed to EMI, John, Paul and George cajoled manager Brian Epstein into sacking Best on their behalf.

Best's playing later surfaced on ten of the songs included on the 1995 Anthology 1 compilation.

In 2008, The Pete Best Band released the Hayman's Green album, with the sleeve featuring the same portion of a Hamburg-era photograph that had been removed for the Anthology 1 album cover collage.