Inspired By Jimmie
In which a photo of a forlorn Beatle inspired me, we podcast about him, and read an excellent book about him too.
Several years ago, I was lucky enough to be in Melbourne, Australia for business while an exhibit about The Beatles’ 1964 Australian tour was showing at a museum near my hotel. So I had to go check it out.
One image in that exhibit captured my attention - the one above - the one of Jimmie Nicol sitting alone and ignored at the airport on his way home after his brief stint as The Beatles’ drummer.
That image stayed with me and became the catalyst for The Forgotten Beatles podcast series - a desire to shine the spotlight on those musicians and singers who, even if only for a brief moment, had been a Beatle.
At last, Jimmie gets the spotlight on this month’s episode of the podcast, but given our aim to keep the episodes to around the 25-minute mark, we’ve only really scratched the surface of his story.
And his is a story that deserves more respect. Whilst doing the research for the episode I was struck by how his, albeit brief, tenure is dismissed by even the most respected of Beatles historians with him often being described as an ‘unknown drummer’ (which he certainly wasn’t - he was considered one of the country’s top drummers at the time), and that he immediately disappeared into obscurity (his story isn’t that simple). But most of all is the misspelling of his name as “Jimmy” - Yes, that’s how the press of the time printed his name, but he often stated his preferred spelling was “Jimmie,” he even had it painted that way on his bass drum. - It takes only a few seconds of online research to get it right - yet virtually every Beatles book on my shelf that even bothers to mention him (and it’s a small number) gets it wrong.
The man had a tough enough life after his time as a Beatle, without everyone spelling his name wrong as well. It’s a small thing, but it’s easy to check and correct.
Jimmie is an important part of The Beatles’ story - the one who was there literally at the eye of the storm of Beatlemania. His is a unique story.
Alan
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The Savage Young Beatles
As I write this newsletter THE SAVAGE YOUNG BEATLES have just finished a return appearance at the excellent Abbey Road On The River festival. And judging from the photos and videos I have seen online it was another rocking experience. - Sorry I missed it this year.
And it looks like the boys will also be making a return visit to The Woodlands in Widnes on 24th August.
Beatles Books From My Shelves
“The Beatle Who Vanished” by Jim Berkenstadt
The definitive look at the story of Jimmie Nicol, the drummer who stood in for Ringo during the early part of the whirlwind 1964 world tour, and whose live was forever changed by the experience - and not in a good way.
While we covered Jimmie’s story on the latest episode of The Forgotten Beatles podcast series, we only scratched the surface, This book tells the whole story, and is part biography and part mystery as the author tracks down what happened to the increasingly reclusive Jimmie in the years after his short stint as a Beatle.
A sobering read on the price and impact of fleeting fame.
The Beatles in Comics
Title / Issue Jackie #18
Publisher: D.C. Thomson (UK)
Date: May 9th, 1964
I just came across this cover recently, so I don’t really know much about this publication for go-ahead teens. Interesting to note that, as well as the close-up photo of Paul, The Beatles get two cover mentions.
Rock out to our BTWB Playlists
If you would like to listen to full versions of the songs mentioned in either the main Before They Were Beatles podcast, or the new Forgotten Beatles series, you can now find them on my new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@AlanPorterWriter
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What Else Is Alan Working On?
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See you next time.
Alan J. Porter
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