Recent news about The Beatles and related people, places or events:
McCartney Russian Concert to Air on A&E. (Jul 09)
Feds Tail John Lennon in New Play, 'Ears on a Beatle,' Premiering in MA. (Jul 07)
McCartney considering concert in Cuba. (Jun 28)
John Lennon, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin On 'Songs For Life' AIDS CD. (Jun 24)
Best Brothers' Book Documents Beatles' Casbah Days. (Jun 23)
'Skelter' Said to Lead Teens to Kill Boy. (Jun 18 9:38 AM)
Yoko Ono considers releasing new John Lennon songs. (Jun 17 1:30 PM)
McCartney Turned Down by Britain's Glastonbury Festival. (Jun 17 11:00 AM)
Original Beatles' Drummer Publishes a Book. (Jun 15 3:00 AM)
NEWS
Best Brothers' Book Documents Beatles' Casbah Days
24 June 2003
Roag Best, with his brothers Rory and former Beatles drummer Pete, have released a book documenting a little-examined yet important chapter in the history of the Beatles — the Casbah coffee bar days in Liverpool.
The book came into being when Roag was researching the memorabilia left by his late mother, Mona "Mo" Best, who operated the club.
"There was so much memorabilia — it's an incredible story," says Pete.
"We rewrite some of the myths about the early days of the Beatles. It gives credibility to some unsung heroes — especially my mother — and this humble coffee club which became the catalyst for the Merseybeat sound which rocked the world."
"The Beatles: The True Beginnings" contains an interview with Paul McCartney.
"The opening quote speaks volumes of what Paul thought about the early days of the Beatles and what he felt about my mother Mona and the Casbah. He says, 'The world knows all about the Cavern, but it's time the world knows about the Casbah — this was our particular club.'"
The book discloses that Mo maintained a good relationship with the Beatles long after her son was ejected from the group in 1962. She even donated some of the military medals used in the Sgt. Pepper photo shoots — as a favor to John Lennon.
As for Pete's long-strained relationship with Paul, he says all conflicts have been put to rest.
"There's a period in your life when you have to turn around and say, 'Forget what happened yesteryear.' Life is about today and tomorrow."
"The Beatles: The True Beginnings" is filled with never-before-seen Best family photographs of the pre-Ringo Beatles at work and play.