R.I.P. To A Legendary Former Beatles Member
The Quarrymen’s original bandmate and former bassist for The Beatles, Chas Newby, has away at 91. The Cavern Club in Liverpool, where The Beatles first gained notoriety, broke the news of his passing. When Stuart Sutcliffe stayed in Hamburg for a few concerts, Newby became The Beatles’ bass player. He went on to play for The Quarrymen later and is remembered for being The Beatles’ first left-handed bass player.
Mark Lewishon, a Beatles scholar, paid tribute to Newby on social media by sharing his condolences and describing him as a “charming man” who played a brief part in The Beatles in 1960.
Lewishon emphasized that Newby took part in an important period in the history of the Beatles, which included a notable performance in Litherland.
After Lennon urged him to continue touring with the band to West Germany in the 1960s, Newby decided to return to school even though he had the chance to advance his musical career.
In a 2012 interview with the Sunday Mercury, Newby said he never intended to make a living off of music and instead wanted to pursue a career in chemistry. The musical careers of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were their top priorities, but Newby took a different route.
Following his brief time in the band, Newby decided to pursue a career in education and eventually became a teacher. He said he did not regret his choice to leave the band and go back to school, despite The Beatles’ enormous success.
Until his passing, Newby stuck to this position and insisted that he had no regrets about his choice of profession. With his demise, a guy whose brief but major contribution to the formation of one of the most influential bands in history is lost.
