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Posts Tagged ‘Stu Sutcliffe’

Died On This Date (June 9*, 2010) Ken Brown / The Quarrymen; Credited For Formation Of The Beatles

Posted by themusicsover on June 9, 2010

Ken Brown
DOB Unknown – June 9, 2010 (Presumed)

Ken Brown, standing with the Quarrymen (1959)

Ken Brown is perhaps best remembered as the guitarist in the Quarrymen who was to some, the main reason the Beatles ever formed.  While Paul McCartney and John Lennon were writing songs together, Brown was playing in the Les Stewart Quartet with George Harrison.  In the summer of 1959, Pete Best’s mother opened the Casbah Coffee Club where Brown got the group booked as the house band.  But due to a dispute over rehearsals, Stewart lost interest so Brown asked Lennon and McCartney to join the band and they quickly renamed themselves the Quarrymen.  That following October, the band found themselves in a disagreement over money, so McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Stu Sutcluffe (who had recently joined the band) left the group, soon recruited Best, and the rest is history.  In later years, Brown could be found making music in his home studio and playing occasional reunion gigs or Casbah anniversary shows.  On June 14, 2010, Brown’s body was found in his home after a family member became concerned having not heard from him for a while.  Cause of death was not immediately released, but foul play is not suspected, and it is believed that he had been dead for several days [Ed.: I settled on June 9 as the date until I hear otherwise]. Ken Brown was 70 years old when he passed away.

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Died On This Date (April 10, 1962) Stu Sutcliffe / The Beatles

Posted by themusicsover on April 10, 2010

Stu Sutcliffe
June 23, 1940 – April 10, 1962

Stu Sutcliffe was the original bassist for the Beatles. He is credited along with John Lennon, for coming up with the band’s name as a tribute to Buddy Holly’s Crickets. Sutcliffe was in the band for their first two years which included the legendary shows in Hamburg. While in Hamburg, Sutcliffe met photographer Astrid Kirchherr, fell in love and decided to leave the Beatles and stay in Hamburg to enroll in art school. His artwork was highly praised. Sutcliffe began suffering from intense headaches which at times caused him to collapse. Doctors could not determine the cause of his pain. On April 10, 1962, while en route to the hospital after a collapse, Stu Sutcliffe. He was just 21. It was never determined what actually caused the brain hemorrhage that took his life. Many believe it was caused by a head injury he sustained during a fight after a show in January of 1961.



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Died On This Date (January 28, 1983) Billy Fury / Early British Rock ‘n Roller

Posted by themusicsover on January 28, 2010

Billy Fury (Born Ronald Wycherley)
April 17, 1940 – January 28, 1983

billy-furyBilly Fury was an early British rock ‘n roll star who rivaled the Beatles with his 24 UK hit singles throughout the ’60s.  During the mid ’50s. Fury fronted a popular skiffle band, playing a popular form of music that would heavily influence the Beatles.  After scoring several hits fronting the Blue Flames (which included Georgie Fame), Fury fired the band and began auditioning for a new band.  It was the early ’60s.  When John Lennon and his Silver Beatles tried out, they were offered the gig, but only if Lennon fired Stu Sutcliffe.  He declined, but only after securing an autograph of Fury.   Fury went on to have many British hits and perform in front of countless adoring fans throughout the UK over the next several years.  He also took a shot at acting, appearing in a handful of British films.  In 1971, Fury underwent the first of three heart surgeries he’d have over the next several years.  With his career all but over due to his health problems, Fury filed bankruptcy in 1980.   In early days of 1983, Fury had a new album and tour in the works, but died of a heart attack on January 27, 1983.  He was 42.

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Billy Fury

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