The boomer generation is destined to be mesmerized by the Beatles for as long as we walk the Earth. Seems almost embarrassing - at least it does to me - that we should be so uniquely enthralled by a pop music recording group. Embarrassed? The crowds for their concerts got so out of control that the four guys could not hear themselves play anymore. It became impractical for them to even do concerts anymore.
They transformed themselves into a "studio band" and thus the morphing with their style.
Most pop musicians struggle to fundamentally change their style and appeal, if they even try at all. This might be advanced as the theory for why so many music acts have their "run." The plug gets pulled. Well, it's done by the record company execs. Meanies? Well they operate according to real logic in the business world. They might only be faulted for how they hesitate to market something bold and different.
I'm immediately reminded of the movie "Eddie and the Cruisers." Remember this from the days when cable TV could pluck a movie out of obscurity and give it new life? Well, "Eddie" might be Exhibit 'A'. The lead character prepared some very innovative music for about the year 1960. Rock 'n' roll was established but the record execs didn't want it to get deep or philosophical. Eddie was grandiose in his vision.
I might want to laugh about how the record exec spoke when he rejected the artistically sound material.
The material was on the cusp of being groundbreaking. But let me prepare you: the people who make the business decisions with recorded music could cut you down to size brutally. So there was the record exec huffing and puffing in the studio booth: "A bunch of jerk-offs making weird sounds."
The material was on the cusp of being groundbreaking. But let me prepare you: the people who make the business decisions with recorded music could cut you down to size brutally. So there was the record exec huffing and puffing in the studio booth: "A bunch of jerk-offs making weird sounds."
Sadly this was not caricature. I know from the days when I presented a little of my own music creations. I had a really good connection for trying this once. It was not my father (a published composer in a realm quite the opposite of the Beatles).
If you do some songwriting you had better be happy with the intrinsic rewards and fulfillment. You can get the door slammed on you figuratively (or maybe literally). Life goes on.
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| Pete Best |
You know who Pete Best is, right? The drummer fired by the Beatles just as they were about to launch into rather ridiculous fame? Yes it was rather ridiculous.
Put yourself in the shoes of Pete Best. Today he might be the most famous person in the category of "got fired." But hell, as a matter of fact he was the Beatles' drummer through two years when the group was formative. He was dismissed in the most unfeeling way, which of course is the way it so often happens. And then after it happens, the people who did it will say "I guess we didn't handle it very well."
What really matters to them is that they did it. They know that.
Pete Best missed out on the limitless riches earned by the Beatles. But in the end it appears he came out OK financially by the standards most of us live by. He actually made a "haul" (by our standards) as a result of the Beatles' "Anthology" release. And I think the public felt happy about that.
The firing was based largely on the group's sound becoming more sophisticated and layered. This compared to what they did in Hamburg, Germany. Pete Best would seem capable on the "straight ahead rockers" that was the Beatles' stock in trade in their raw developmental time.
Brian Epstein saw the raw nature and smoothed over various aspects. Classier wardrobe, yes. A mass audience was truly on the way.
Seeds were planted
I think George Martin had this music concept firm in his head for some time - prescient soul - and if he hadn't signed up the Beatles, he would have had nearly equal success with a different group.
How long was the Beatles' "reign?" Well, I'd say six years, about. In the scheme of things, really a pretty short time.
Pete Best played live with the Beatles more than Ringo did. You read about Pete and you get the impression that he's really a nice guy. I'm glad he ended up getting some real "Beatle money." Very simply, his style of drumming was not going to survive into the new phase. The group needed a more versatile drummer capable of nuance.
The Beatles really became sophisticated with "Rubber Soul."
John seemed to struggle with the sheer fame. I don't think he ever intended for this. Paul seemed to grasp the challenge of sheer fame better. I wish George had not gotten so carried away with the excess-hair look, even on his face.
The "long hair" became a symbol of the times, I mean with men. And to this day, I wonder: what was it supposed to signify or accomplish? As I sit here I can think of one theory: it was a backlash to the "buzz cut" imposed on young men when they entered military service.
What if the U.S. had never embarked on its Vietnam venture? What if we all could have been led to respect the aims of our government more? To nurture us, help us all reach our potential? Instead of having to recoil at how so much death and suffering was foisted on our young men? Look what "Agent Orange" did. Of course we have to consider the death and suffering among the Vietnamese.
Moved on from Yoko?
Just as big a question: how would his music have evolved? The apex question: would the Beatles have reunited? And why would that have been so important to us? Pop music is really filled with limitless talent at all times. But my generation got attached to the Beatles like it was a religious rite. Maybe we should feel a little ashamed with that.
Hey, Pete Best ended up outliving Lennon by how many years? Best is still alive and appears content. He was spared spending his life in an unrelenting fishbowl.
Hey, Billy Joel is in the news this week for saying the "White Album" really isn't that good. Hey, the little boy saying the emperor has no clothes!
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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