Rock Art Show is currently offering a limited edition print of a sketch done by Stuart Sutcliffe during the early days of The Beatles, probably around early 1960. “Meet the Beatals” is a watercolor painting (circa 1957 – 1960) featuring the early Beatles in their skiffle days taken from Stuart Sutcliffe’s personal sketchbook. Superimposed on the bottom of the sketch is the text of Stuart’s letter of March 1960 which is believed to be the first documentry evidence of the name change from The Quarrymen to “The Beatals.”

The text of Stuart’s letter reads:

Dear Sir,

As it is your policy to present entertainment to the habitués of your establishment, I would like to draw your attention to the (Quar then crossed out) “Beatals.” This is a promising group of young musicians who play music for all tastes, preferably rock and roll. They have won many competitions including Carroll Levis and auditions for A.T.V.

Yours Sincerely,

Stu Sutcliffe (Manager)

More details about the Limited Edition Print can be found HERE.

Besides the Stuart Sutcliffe Collection, the auction will include over 350 lots of Beatles Autographs, concert posters and ephemera, records, toys and memorabilia. There will be items from $100.00 to $100,000. 00 so everyone can buy something for investment or for fun.

A full color catalog is available from ItsOnlyRockNRoll.com for $30.00 postpaid. There will be a live auction beginning at 2:00 p.m. Las Vegas time as part of The Fest For Beatles Fans. Seats are available with the purchase of a catalog. Bidding will be available in advance by contacting ItsOnlyRockNRoll.com and on eBay in conjunction with Victorian Casino Antiques of Las Vegas.

The latest edition (19th April – 3 May, 1962)of Mersey Beat included the following Beatles related items:

•  ”News From Germany,” a report on The Beatles reception and debut at the Star-Club in Hamburg.
• An obituary for Stuart Sutcliffe
• A notice from The Beatles Fan Club looking for new members.
• A report that Ringo Starr would be spending his third summer as drummer for The Hurricanes at the Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Skegness.

 

John, Paul and Pete fly from Liverpool to Hamburg to begin a seven week engagement at the Star-Club. The still sick George is scheduled to fly out the following day. It is the first time any of them have flown and are in a state of excitement when they arrive at Hamburg airport. At the airport they are met by Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe’s fiance, who informs them of the death of their ex-bass player the day before.

 

In Hamburg, Germany, Stuart Sutcliffe collapses and dies from a brain hemmorage at the age of 21.

The Beatles played a night time engagement at The Cavern.

The latest issue of Mersey Beat published on this date included several Beatles related items:

• A two line advertisment (presumably from Brian Epstein) offering The Beatles services as performers giving their business address as “12/14 Whitechapel” and the phone number as “Royal 7895.”
• A short mention is given to the fact that Stuart Sutcliffe has recently returned to Hamburg following a short visit to Liverpool.
• A report that John Lennon and Paul McCartney have written over 70 songs together to date.
• Columnist “Virginia” speculated on the rumers that Hurricanes drummer, Ringo Starr, would be joining The Seniors for a series of one-night gigs.

You can find the full article HERE.

The Beatles opened at the Top Ten Club on the Reeperbhan (#136) in Hamburg at the start of their second trip to the German city. Their contract would be extended twice during their stay and they would end up playing a staggering 503 hours over the next 92 nights.

The Beatles sets would run 7 hours a night on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends, with a 15 minute break every hour. This was the crucible that gave birth to The Beatles as we know them, the gruelling shcedule honed their musical abilities to a previously unimagined level transforming them from just another Liverpool group into the best.

The boys lived in a small apartment above the club.

It is during this trip that The Beatles (with the exception of drummer Pete Best) adopt thier famous hair style copied from former band member, and now Hamburg resident, Stuart Sutcliffe. It was Sutcliffe’s German girl friend, Astrid, who first trimed his hair into the style that would become known as “The Beatles cut.” While no-longer a member of the group, Sutcliffe would still occasionally join them on stage.

The Beatles lunch time session at The Cavern started earlier than usual today with them being on stage from 12:00 noon to 1:00pm.

They then moved on to the Liverpool Jazz Club to participate in a five hour long afternoon “Beat Session”  alternating with Gerry & The Pacemakers and Rory Storm & The Wild Ones, a catch all name to cover Rory plus various “guest” musicians from other local bands. The Beatles first on-stage appearnce at this event was at 2:00pm giving them an hour to move their gear the short distance between the clubs and set up.

It is also around this date that original bass player Stuart Sutcliffe returns to Hamburg to pursue his romance with photographer Astrid Kirchher as well as sign up at the State College of Art in Hamburg to continue his painting. 

Stuart was in fact the forth member to join the group, when he was recruited by his best friend John Lennon to play the bass. Stuart left the group in Hamburg to pursue his passion for art and to be with the girl he had fallen in love with. While in Hamburg Stuart tragically died of a brain hemmorage at the age of 21 before The Beatles acheived their word-wide fame.

Full Press Release can be found here.