Paul McCartney offers audition to mystery drummer

Paul McCartney wrote to a drummer on this day, offering an audition to join The Beatles on their first trip to Hamburg.

The Beatles had four members: McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. They had played with a series of temporary drummers in 1960 including Tommy Moore and Norman Chapman, but needed someone more permanent for their Hamburg shows.

Due to travel to Germany in just a few days’ time, they needed to act fast. They spotted a small classified advertisement in the Liverpool Echo, published on Wednesday 10 August, which simply read:

DRUMMER, young, free – KP 60 Echo.

McCartney misspelt Allan Williams’ name in his letter to the unknown drummer, which was written on 12 August 1960.

Dear Sir,

In reply to your advertisement in Echo, Wed. night, we would like to offer you an audition for the position of drummer in the group.

You will, however, need to be free soon for a trip to Hamburg (expenses paid £18 per week (approx.) for 2 months.)

If interested, ring Jacaranda club, Slater St. [ROYAL 65’64] and ask for either a member of the ‘BEATLES’, Alan Williams, or else leave a message, stating when you will be available.

Yours sincerely,
Paul McCartney of THE BEATLES

On 6 August 1960 The Beatles had already asked Pete Best to join. Best’s audition took place on 12 August, the same day the letter was written.

The mystery drummer did receive McCartney’s letter, and phoned the Jacaranda, but was too late. He was informed that the group had already left for Germany with another drummer.

McCartney’s letter was discovered in 2011, folded up inside a copy of antiques price guide What’s It Worth?. The book was bought at a car boot sale in Bootle, Merseyside for just 50 pence.

The anonymous purchaser was a coin and antique collector from Bootle. He initially took it to the Beatles Shop in Liverpool, where he was offered £3,000, but took it to the Beatles Story museum to see if they would offer more to put it on display.

The museum declined to offer a valuation on site, but put him in touch with Christie’s. It was auctioned in London on 15 November 2011 and sold for £34,850 ($55,000).

One of the best aspects of my work is the rare occasion when, out of the blue, you are made aware of the existence of something so extraordinary, it alters the knowledge of your specialist field. This letter has proved to be such a case.

My initial reaction was one of disbelief, but on seeing the item and being able to research the significance of the date and its content as well as conferring with renowned Beatles historians, it has turned out to be much more significant than mere words on paper.