Update (10/9/2006)

The Pete Best Band return to the USA for the third and final leg of their 2006 USA tour. Dates and details will be added as the tour is routed. So far: Thursday the 19th of October. The Granada Theatre Kansas City Kansas Details to follow. Saturday the 21st of October Hooligans Route 57 Liverpool New York (more details to follow) Tuesday the 24th of October The Dame 156 West Main Street Lexington Kentucky Tel 859 226 9204 Tickets $15.00 Doors open 8pm www.dameky.com Thursday the 26th of October Kelly Logan House Wilmington Deleware Details to follow Friday the 27th of October Point Breeze 114 Point Breeze Road Webster, MA 01570 Mass Tel: 508 943 0404 Tickets: $25.00 USD Show start: 8.30pm www.pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com Saturday the 28th of October. Chiller Theatre Crown Plaza Hotel Secaucus, Meadowlands 2 Harmon Plaza New York Tel: 201 348 6900 www.chillertheatre.com Sunday the 29th of October Chiller Theatre Crown Plaza Hotel Secaucus, Meadowlands 2 Harmon Plaza New York Tel: 201 348 6900 www.chillertheatre.com

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• Friday 7/28 and Saturday 7/29 - Royalty Theatre - Clearwater Florida
• Monday 7/31 - Smith's Olde Bar - Atlanta Georgia
• Tuesday 8/1 - Greene Street Club - Greensboro NC
• Wednesday 8/2 - Jammin Java - Vienna Virginia
• Thursday 8/3 - Legends of Waldorf - Waldorf MD
• Friday 8/4 - Laugh Factory - Times Square NYC
• Saturday 8/5 - Elks Lodge - Latham NY
• Sunday 8/6 - Hartwood Acres Outdoor Concert - Pittsburgh PA
• Wednesday 8/9 - Club Infinity Buffalo NY
• Thursday 8/10 - Winchester Tavern and Music Hall - Lakewood Ohio
• Friday 8/11 - Sunday 8/13 - The Fest for Beatles Fans - Chicago IL

Hi Steve:

I'm from Dallas, TX. A few years ago I had bought my ticket to see Pete Best in Oklahoma City (which is about 3 hrs driving North of Dallas); the day of the concert I drove up there and to my surprise, there was a note on the doors of the venue saying that the concert had been cancelled. I assumed it was because of poor sales... This year, I was excited that Pete Best is now on tour and that he had scheduled a show in Dallas, TX (May 10th)! So, I got my ticket and was ready for the concert and today I got an email from the people from the Granada Theater saying that the show is being cancelled! Not again!! For the 2nd time! This is the text from the email I got:

"We are very sorry to have to inform you that Pete Best has cancelled his May 10, 2006 performance at the Granada Theater. It's always hard for us to accept, to all the fans we're very sorry, our anticipation of this special concert was very high as well. Very recent changes in laws with passports caused the cancellation and they are working to get a date re-scheduled at Granada as soon as the passports are up to date. You will be receiving a refund on your credit card for the full ticket price. We will be refunding all service charges as well. We are working with the agent to reschedule as soon as possible, however no date is set as of yet. Thank you for understanding, we appreciate your support of the Granada. Mike Schoder, Granada Theater"

I hope they do reschedule the show! Ben Zavala

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Due to unforseen circumstances (that sounds ominous)the May tour dates are being moved to July and August and some to even later in the year. So in short there is no May tour.We do apologise to those who have booked tickets, but I am sure that you will be more than happy when we get there.I know we will.
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Pete Best will be appearing at the Abbey Road On The River Festival on:
Thursday the 25th of May
Friday the 26th of May
Saturday the 27th of May
Sunday the 29th of May.
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Pete Best and The Pete Best Band will be performing a unique show at the Laugh Factory in New York City on Friday the 29th of June. The show is up close and personal with Pete and the band. Pete will be telling anecdotes from his Beatle days backed up with live performance from the band. The show is to be pure intereaction with the audience, you got a question ask, you want to hear a particular song shout, you wanna get up and play with the band, maybe. Plenty of goodies up our sleeve for this show, so put it in your diary. One not to missed. There will be two shows. Tickets $50.00.

Tickets available now from:
The Laugh Factory
303 West 42nd Street
New York City
NY 10036
Box Office 212 586 7829

THIS SHOW IS A MUST. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE 
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The Pete Best Band return to the USA for the second leg of their USA tour in July/August courtesy of our flight sponsor Icelandair The Americas. Dates so far are as follows, more to come.Check www.petebest.com "News" for upto the minute details of tours and other activities.
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Friday the 28th of July
Saturday the 29th of July
Sunday the 30th of July
The Royalty Theatre
Clearwater
Florida
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Wednesday the 2nd of August
Jammin Java
Vienna
Virginia
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Saturday the 5th of August
The Elks lodge
11 Elks Lane
Latham
NY 12210
(Just outside Albany)
Tickets $25.00
Tel: 518 872 2573
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Sunday 6th of August
Hartwood Acres (open air concert)sCity Park
Pittsburg, PA
Show Starts 8pm
Tel 412 767 9200
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Thursday the 10th of August
Winchester Tavern
Cleveland
(more details to follow)
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Friday the 11th of August
Saturday the 12th of August
Sunday the 13th of August
Pete Best and The Pete Best Band will be attending and performing at The Fest For Beatle Fans in Chicago. We look forward to seeing you there. 
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The Pete Best Band are currently recording their latest CD "Original Work In Progress" of which the tracks "Come With Me" "Everything I Want" and "Beat Street" featured in the broadcast documentary and DVD "Best Of The Beatles" the latest tracks recorded are entitled "Step Outside" and "Red Light" CD is due for release in 2006.

Dear Steve,

Last weekend was the first chance I had to meet, see, and most importantly hear Pete Best and his band perform at the Fest For Beatlefans in NJ. As a first generation Beatlefan, who was 9 years old when The Beatles were on Ed Sullivan in 1964, I had been waiting over 42 years to finally hear Pete play live, so I could judge for myself his abilities on the drumkit. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed when I saw and heard another drummer in his band playing behind the bass player throughout the set the band played. I could not honestly make out very much of Pete's individuality on the drums since I could not tell which drummer was doing what behind each song the band played. The drum sounds were all jumbled together, and made to sound bigger and fuller as a result of two drummers. And nowhere in the set did Pete ever take a solo spot to highlight the very reason most of us where there for.......to hear Pete play the drums!!! I came away from the concert thinking; Does Pete not want his fans to hear his drumming abilities? From what little I could discern, I came to the conclusion that Ringo was (and is) the better drummer in The Beatles. I guess John, Paul, & George made the right decision in 1962 afterall!! I'm glad I had the chance to meet Pete, given his historical role in the history of the band, but hey, if you want to show Beatlefans that you should have stayed in The Beatles and enjoyed the worldwide fame you claimed the band shortchanged you of, then why the need for an additional drummer in every song played by your current band? Am I the only person to have commented on this?

Update (3/27/06) New tour dates for the Pete Best Band (from Shawn Weiss):

Saturday, April 1 - Sunday, April 2
The Fest for Beatles Fans
Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Hotel
New Jersey
www.thefestforbeatlesfans.com

Sunday, April 2
Towne Crier Cafe
Pawling, N.Y.
www.townecrier.com

Monday, April 3
Van Dyck Inn
Schenectady, N.Y.
www.thevandyck.com

Tuesday, April 4
Pete Best Autograph Session (day)
House of Guitars
Rochester, N.Y.
www.rocpic.com/hog/hog.html

The German House (evening)
Rochester, N.Y.
www.thegermanhouse.com

Wednesday, April 5
Starlight Social Club
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
www.janebond.ca/WEB.html

Thursday, April 6
West Side Concert Theatre
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
(905) 777-9777

Friday, April 7
Best Western Presque Isle County Inn
6467 Sterratania Road
Erie, PA 16415
(814) 838-7647

Saturday, April 8
The Winchester Tavern and Music Hall
Lakewood, OH
www.thewinchester.net

Friday, May 5
Wolf Den
Mohegan Sun
Uncasville, CT
www.mohegansun.com/entertainment/wolf_den.jsp

Monday, May 8
Jammin Java
Vienna, VA
www.jamminjava.com

Wednesday, May 10
Granada Theatre
Dallas, TX
wwwtickets.granadatheatre.com

Thursday, May 11 - Sunday, May 14
Ameristar Casino - Vicksburg
Vicksburg, MS
www.ameristarcasinos.com/vicksburg

Friday, May 26, Saturday, May 27, Sunday, May29
Abbey Road on the River Festival
Louisville, KY
www.abbeyroadontheriver.com

Thursday, June 29
The Laugh Factory
New York, NY
www.laughfactory.com/ts 

i just wanted to tell you about the show i saw in bayshore, long island. it had pete santora form beatlemania, he did a great version of day in the life on acoustic guitar, along with other songs. they had the johnny black band, a punkish band via cbgb's, that did rocking versions of some beatle songs, and of course pete. very nice quiet guy, he got up before the audience twice to say hello etc. the band was very good, and he is a good drummer, but ringo is better. we meet him before the show and got his autograph, he had things to buy for 20$ ea to sign, i got a drum head signed to my sons. the show was not sold out by a mile, but the people who came saw a very good show. in the past year i have seen ringo, paul and pete not a bad beatle year. by the way no one mentioned paul/ ringo et al. the johnny black band was the best, very ramones. did a great version of these boots were made for walking.

Update (10/28/05)

Pete Best meets White Sox pitcher Mark Buerhle and, below, shows off his pitching arm, both on Aug. 20. Buerhle got the final out in the 14 inning marathon game 3 to give the White Sox the win. (Thanks to PK for the photos.)

Update (10/19/05)

The Best of The Beatles DVD was released on the 25th of August in the USA & Canada. Please goto Amazon.com or www.lightyear.com/movies/bestofthebeatles.htm to check out the DVD reviews, and purchase your copy. Please note it is in NTSC format for the USA & Canada. So if you are outside those territories and purchasing the DVD, please make sure your DVD player is a multi format player.

Best Wishes Productions are proud to announce that the documentary Best Of The Beatles is being broadcast in the following countries USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Croatia, Japan, Asia & Middle East, Afghanistan, American Samoa, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, HongKong, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldive Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niue, North Korea, North Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Papau New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna Islands, Western Samoa / Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, (Kingdom Of) Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates & Yemen. Watch this space for further countries to be announced. Don't forget look out for the broadcast dates.

The Pete Best Band would like to thank our latest sponsor the clothing company Beatwear, Beatwear are currently designing a number of stage outfits for the lads. To view Beatwears clothing visit there site at www.beatwear.co.uk .

The Pete Best Band will be in concert at Alvaston Hall, Middlewich Road, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6PD on Saturday the 8th of October 2005, this show is SOLD OUT.

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The Pete Best Band return to the USA in October for their Fall/Autumn tour, dates so far are as follows.

Saturday the 22nd of October - The Mall Of America - Mall of America, 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425, Icelandair the Americas event. THIS IS A FREE EVENT.

Sunday 23rd of October - What Cheer Opera House - What Cheer, Iowa - For Tickets and Info Contact: Ridgeway Hardware P O Box 138A What Cheer, Iowa 50268 Phone: (641) 634- 2080 9a-4p weekdays http://www.iowadance.com/whoh/wcoh.html

Monday 24th of October - Winchester Tavern, 12112 Madison Avenue, Lakewood/Cleveland, Ohio 44107, TEL : 216-226-5681

Tuesday 25th of October : The Casbah, 306 King St W @ Queen, Hamilton, Tel : 905 526 6192.

Wednesday 26th October - J's Place, 7 Erie Ave, Brantford, ON, Canada, TEL : 519.759.6927

Thursday 27th October - The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6J 1J3, P:416.531.5042

Friday 28th of October - The Boulton Theatre - 37 West Main Street Bay Shore , NY , TEL : 631-969-1101

Saturday 29th Of October (day time) - Chiller Theatre - Autograph show with Pete Best - Sheraton, Meadowlands, Rt. 3 East, E. Rutherford, NJ.

Saturday 29th Of October (Night time) - Chiller Theatre - The Pete Best Band (15 minute set) - Sheraton, Meadowlands, Rt. 3 East, E. Rutherford, NJ.

Saturday 30th Of October (day time) - Chiller Theatre - Autograph show with Pete Best - Sheraton, Meadowlands, Rt. 3 East, E. Rutherford, NJ.

Sunday 30th of October (Night) - Kenny's Castaways 157, Bleeker Street, Greenwich Village, NYC, NY. TEL : (212) 979 9762

Further Dates and details to follow, we look forward to seeing you all again., and don't forget to tell all your friends.

The Pete Best Band are currently recording their latest CD "Original Work In Progress" of which the tracks "Come With Me" and "Everything I Want" featured in the broadcast documentary and DVD "Best Of The Beatles" the CD is due for release in 2006.

The Casbah Coffee Club is now open for tourism. The club is view by appointment only, you can book an appointment either by e-mail @ bookings@petebest.com or phone +44 (151)-280-3519. www.casbahcoffeeclub.com is now live, so come on over and visit our new site.

Update (9/29/04)

The latest date added to Pete's tour from Liz MacDonald of Pete Best.com:

Thursday, October 27, 2005
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St. W.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=2681

Metro Toronto: Fired Beatle Best tells his side on DVD

Update (9/24/05)

The Pete Best Band along with several Beatle tribute bands are playing the Mall of America in October. Here's the press release.

Update (9/22/05)

A review of the "Best of the Beatles" DVD from the Providence Phoenix.

Update (9/14/05)

More dates from Liz MacDonald of petebest.com:

Pete Best Band Fall Tour 2005 (United States and Canada)

Friday, October 21, 2005 - Surf Ballroom
                                              Clear Lake, Iowa
                                              www.surfballroom.com
   Leon Russell is also on the bill...check out the website for more info.

Saturday, October 22, 2005 - Mall of America
                                                  Bloomington, Minneapolis
                                                  www.mallofamerica.com
   Battle of the Bands (Beatles influence), PBB judging and performing

Sunday, October 23, 2005 - What Cheer Opera House
                                               What Cheer, Iowa
                                               www.iowadance.com/whoh/wcoh.html

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - Casbah
                                                 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
                                                 (contact info to be forthcoming)

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - J's Place (Habitat for Humanity benefit)
                                                      Brantford, Ontario, Canada
                                                      (contact info to be forthcoming)

Friday, October 28, 2005 - The Boulton Center for the Performing Arts
                                               Bayshore, New York
                                               with special guests...Pete Santora and
                                               straight outta NYC - The Johnny Black Band
                                               see on PB website...Press Release...must see.

Saturday October 29, 2005 - Chiller Theatre
                                                 Autograph show w/Pete Best (day time)
                                                 The Pete Best Band LIVE (night time)
                                                 (time to be confirmed...will be posted)
                                                 www.chillertheatre.com

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - Chiller Theatre
                                                Autograph show w/Pete Best (day time)
                                                www.chillertheatre.com

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - Kenny's Castaways
                                                www.kennyscastaways.net

Update (9/8/05)

From Liz MacDonald of petebest.com:

The Pete Best Band returns to New York Boulton Center in Bayshore, New York October 28, 2005 Pete Santora will be opening up for the Pete Best Band. Santora performed in the highly acclaimed Broadway show Beatlemania, in which he portrayed "George". Also appearing is the up-and-coming Johnny Black Band. The show starts at 7 p.m. Special VIP tickets will include a buffet and a Meet & Greet There will only be 64 VIP tickets available for purchase. VIP tickets $55 General Admission $40 To purchase tickets go to www.boultoncenter.org or contact Shaun Weiss at weissweissinc@aol.com

The Pete Best Band also wants to announce that they have begun accepting memberships for their newly-created Pete Best Band Fan Club. To become a charter member of this latest project, please contact lizmac@sbcglobal.net.

For more information on upcoming shows visit www.petebest.com.

All the Best,
Liz MacDonald petebest.com

Rediff.com: The Beatle from Madras

Update (9/5/05)

From Liz MacDonald of petebest.com: The Pete Best Band had a great time at last year's Icelandair’s “Ticket to Fly: The Beatles Tribute” at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, attracting some 50,000 people to a concert and battle of the bands competition honoring the music of the “Fab Four.” The second annual “Ticket to Fly” tribute event will be held at Mall of America October 21-23, 2005, when The Pete Best Band will again judge the band competition and present a concert of their music on Saturday, October 22, 2005. All events will be held in the Mall’s Rotunda and are free and open to the public. Pete will also be a guest at Chiller Theatre www.chillertheatre.com in E. Rutherford, N.J. which runs from October 28 - 30, 2005. Make sure to keep checking back to petebest.com for some additional information on upcoming shows.

Icelandair has announced a partnership with the Pete Best Band. Here's the press release.

Update (8/29/05)

Here's a PBS website preview of the upcoming "Best of the Beatles" documentary. (Thanks to Ingrid McNamara.)

Update (8/22/05)

Milwaukee Sentinal: He was really Best of the Beatles

Saturday night, the Pete Best Band helped the Chicago White Sox celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' concert in that city. (Thanks to Bill Cusick.)

The Boston Red Sox are auctioning a drum stick autographed by Pete Best.

Update (7/26/05)

More Best Band tour dates, from Liz MacDonald of Pete Best.com:

Tuesday August 9 Jammin Java 227 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-255-1566 www.jamminjava.com

Thursday August 11 19 Broadway Niteclub 17 Broadway Blvd. Fairfax, CA 94930 www.19broadway.com

Sunday August 14 The King's Head, Campbell, CA (2 shows 6 & 9) www.thekingshead.us

Tuesday August 16 Cobbs Comedy Club 915 Columbus Ave. San Francisco, CA www.cobbscomedyclub.com

Plus, Liz tells us the Plus...the release date for the new DVD "Best of the Beatles," the expanded version of the documentary to be aired on PBS, is August 30. Here's a description of the disc:

Best of the Beatles Every culture has its creation myths. Beatlemania is no exception. We all know how The Beatles started. John, Paul, George and Ringo playing The Cavern. Right? Wrong. Before Ringo, there was Pete Best on drums. And before The Cavern, there was The Casbah Coffee Club. It was in The Casbah that the Beatles’ sound was born. Sir Paul McCartney, in a groundbreaking new interview, says “It’s a good idea to let people know about the Casbah. They know about The Cavern, but The Casbah was the place where all that started. We helped paint it and stuff. We looked upon it as our personal club.”

Former Monkee Davy Jones met up with Pete at a recent gig they were on the same bill for. Jones had never met Best before and they swapped stories and got along famously.

A rumor we heard out of New York: One Friday, Sean Lennon dropped by Kenny's Castaway's in NYC (incidentally, the site of some live shows by his mother, Yoko Ono). His purpose: to ask about Pete Best's upcoming gig, which took place last night. Hmmmm....

Update (7/18/05)

More tour dates for the Pete Best Band from Liz MacDonald of Pete Best.com:

Saturday, July 23, MisquamicutBeach Westerly, Rhode Island, http://misquamicut.org/

Monday, July 25, Kenny's Castaway's, New York City, New York, http://kennyscastaways.net/

Thursday July 28, Van Dyck Inn, Schenectady, NY, Two shows 7 pm and 9:30 pm, http://www.thevandyck.com

Saturday, July 30. Boothbay Opera House, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, http://www.boothbayoperahouse.org/

Monday, August 1, Bodles Opera House, Chester, New York, http://www.bodles.com

Tuesday, August 2, Theodore's, Springfield, Massachusetts, http://www.theobbq.com

Thursday, August 4, Palace Theatre, Manchester, New Hampshire, http://www.palacetheatre.org

Friday, August 5, Atrium Nightclub, Worcester, Massachusetts, http://www.atriumnightclub.com

Sunday, August 7, Kelly's Logan House, Wilmington, Delaware, http://www.loganhouse.com

Friday, August 19, Pop's, Sauget, Illinois

A picture of Pete holding a clock taken at the Berlin Estrel Beatles Festival by Harmut Schulz. The festival also featured Cynthia Lennon, Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr. (Thanks to Evelyn Schwarz.)

Update (6/15/05)

We're told that the Pete Best documentary will air in the U.S. on PBS in September as part of a week-long event highlighting the '60s. (A film of early Bob Dylan will also be shown.)

Update (6/11/05)

News from the Pete Best Band:

Dear all,

Well, we have arrived back to the UK safe & sound after covering 3500 miles (Not Including Flights) in two weeks, to say you need a few days to recharge your batteries is an understatement, but it's Rock & Roll and we love it.

We would like to thank a few people who made the tour a lot easier for everyone concerned i.e. USA promoter Keith Putney for all his hard work and making the tour happen, Icelandair the Americas, Gunnar Eklund, Debbie Scott, Michael Rauchiesen and all the Icelandair team for getting us there and back safely. A big thanks to Liz McDonald and the Petebest.com street team for there important role of getting the word out to the areas that we played. Keep it up guys !!!, and last but not least all of the people who took the time to come and see the band, we hope that you enjoyed the shows as much as we enjoyed performing for you.

More details of The Pete Best Bands USA July/August tour to be announced so watch this space!!!!!

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Best Wishes Productions is delighted to be able to announce to Petebest.com members, that Best Of The Beatles - The Pete Best Story, is to be broadcast on the 25th of July in the following countries, Japan, Asia & Middle East, Afghanistan, American Samoa, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niue, North Korea, North Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna Islands, Western Samoa / Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, (Kingdom Of) Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates & Yemen. More countries details are to follow, so watch this space!!!!!!

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The Pete Best Band will be performing on the 29th of June 2005 at the Spanish Cavern Club in Malaga. Details to follow.

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The Pete Best Band will be performing in Sardinia on the 19th of June. Details to follow.

Update (6/4/05)

From Keith Putney:

Paul Parry of the Pete Best Band is OK-just a combination of exhaustion and dehydration apparently. He did the last two shows of the U.S. tour, in Dearborn, MI and Elkhart, IN and felt fine.

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Billy J. Kramer and Joe Orlando from Billy's band the Cryers joined the Pete Best Band on stage in Louisville, KY July 26; Billy sang lead on Roll Over Beethoven.

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New Pete Best Band dates-more details soon:

Saturday July 23 Westerly Rhode Island with Davy Jones of the Monkees Friday July 29 Sellersville 1894 Theatre Sellersville PA rescheduled date from April

Thursday August 4 Palace Theatre Manchester NH with the Zombies

Saturday August 20 Akron Ohio with Peter Noone's Herman's Hermits

Update (5/28/05)

Louisville Courier-Journal: Pete Best and his band

Update (5/24/05)

Keith Putney tells us Pete will be live on the Bob and Tom Morning Show today (Tuesday).

Upcoming tour dates from Liz Macdonald of Petebest.com:

Tuesday May 24
The Buskirk-Chumley Theater
114 E. Kirkwood
Bloomington IN 47408
812.323.3022
box office 812.323.3020
www.buskirkchumley.org
plus special guests Billy J Kramer and the Cryers


Wednesday May 25
The Basement
(of Fat Eddie's)
391 Neil Ave
Columbus OH 43201
www.promowestlive.com
Tickets www.ticketmaster.com
plus special guests Billy J Kramer and the Cryers

Thursday May 26
Jim Porter's Good Time Emporium
2345 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, Ky 40206
502-452-9531
or
Info Line: 502-452-9532
www.jimporters.com
plus special guests Billy J Kramer and the Cryers


Friday May 27
The Intersection
133 Grandville Ave SW,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 451-8232
www.intersectionlive.com


Saturday May 28
Tenny Street Roadhouse
22361 West Village drive
Dearborn MI 48124
tickets:
313-278-3677, or
www.tennystreet.com


Sunday May 29
Concord Mall
3701 South Main St
Elkhart IN 46517
Show starts at 7 p.m.
http://www.thegreatrace.net

Grand Rapids Press: Beatles drum alum lives on the bright side

Update (5/20/05)

Toledo Blade: Pete Best says Hamburg got Beatles ready to rock

Update (5/17/05)

Terry Ott on his interview last week with Pete Best:

I had the good fortune to interview Pete Best today on AM900 CHML in Hamilton, Ontario. Pete and the boys are getting ready to storm the USA-plus one date in Canada-and Pete gave us a tasty bit of news concerning a documentary he has been working on for some time now, tentatively titled, "The Pete Best Story." This doc will have over 60 interviews with various movers and shakers from Liverpool and greater England music scene, and Pete told the CHML listeners that the flick is about 2 weeks from being wrapped.

The big news though, is the possibility that former band mate Paul McCartney, may-and we stress may-be one of those interviewed for the film. Perhaps Pete should ask Macca point blank, "so just why the bloody 'ell did you really give me the sack, then," or something to that effect. In a rock music world of giant egos and bluster, Pete is a genuinely nice guy.

From Sean Anglum:

Steve,

Just wanted to let you know that Rudolph Peter Best was a guest this morning (5/13) on the nationally syndicated radio "Bob and Tom Show." Tho' I didn't get to hear the entire interview segment (it was a phoner), the parts I heard didn't bring to light anything we haven't already heard from Pete. But it was damn good to hear a great Liverpudlian accent on the radio this morning. When talking about the other Fabs returning from holiday with their "Beatle" haircuts, Pete said that he carried on with his own hair style, a "Tony Curtis," spoken with that great Scouse sound. Cool.

There is a short piece on Pete and a well-known photo of the Fabs w/ Pete on the www.bobandtom.com website. Steve, keep up the "gud whurk." (Liverpudlian!)
-Sean

Update (5/10/05)

The latest tour dates for the band, from Keith Putney:

Dear Steve,

Here's the final itinerary for the Pete Best Band for May:

In store autograph and photo session
Tuesday May 17 at 3 p.m.
House of Guitars
645 Titus Ave
Rochester, NY 14617  
585- 544-3500 
Only ticket holders for the German House show in Rochester will be allowed to 
meet Pete and get photos and autographs at this event!  


Tuesday May 17
German House
315 Gregory street
Rochester NY 14620
doors 7 p.m.
show 8 p.m. 
Tickets at House of Guitars

Wednesday May 18 
Club Infinity
8166 Main Street
Williamsville, New York 14221
(716) 565-0110
(888) 223-6000 Tickets.com
http://www.clubinfinityonline.com
Beatlemagic(formerly known as the Revivals, opened for PBB at Bemus Point, 
opening this show)


Thursday May 19 
J's Place
7 Erie Ave.
Brantford,Ontario     
Canada
(519)759-6927
tickets:available by phone at above number, or in person at J's Place


Friday May 20
Maumee Indoor Theatre
601 Conant Street
Maumee OH 43537
For tickets and information call Ty at 419-897-8902
http://www.maumee.org/recreation/mit.htm

Sat. May 21
White's Bar 
2609 State St
Saginaw, MI 48602
Phone # (989) 792-2631
www.whitesbar.com 
Tickets at Mid Michigan Music-Saginaw (989)799-9443
www.midmichiganmusic.com


Tuesday May 24
The Buskirk-Chumley Theater
114 E. Kirkwood 
Bloomington IN 47408
812.323.3022 
box office 812.323.3020
www.buskirkchumley.org
plus special guests Billy J Kramer and the Cryers

Wednesday May 25
The Basement
(of Fat Eddie's)
391 Neil Ave
Columbus OH 43201
www.promowestlive.com
Tickets www.ticketmaster.com
plus special guests Billy J Kramer and the Cryers


Thursday May 26
Jim Porter's Good Time Emporium
2345 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, Ky 40206
502-452-9531
or
Info Line: 502-452-9532
www.jimporters.com
plus special guests Billy J Kramer and the Cryers
www.billyjkramer.com, www.thecryers.com


Friday May 27
The Intersection
133 Grandville Ave SW, 
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 451-8232
www.intersectionlive.com


Saturday May 28
Tenny Street Roadhouse
22361 West Village drive
Dearborn MI 48124
tickets:
313-278-3677, or
www.tennystreet.com


Sunday May 29
Concord Mall
3701 South Main St
Elkhart IN 46517
Show starts at 7 p.m.
http://www.thegreatrace.net
Contact Ron or Dan 574-296-5890


Replacement dates for those postponed at the Palace Theatre in Manchester NH, 
and Sellersville Theatre Sellersville PA , are being worked on for late July 
or early August.

Some additional tour info from Pete Best.com:

The Pete Best Band will be performing on the 8th of June 2005 at the Spanish Cavern Club in Malaga. Details to follow.

The Pete Best Band will be performing in Mykonos in Greece on the 16th of June 2005. Details to follow.

The Pete Best Band will be performing in Sardinia on the 19th of June. Details to follow.

Pete Best will be appearing as a guest at The Berlin Beatles Festival at the Estrel Hotel on the 16th and 17th of July 2005.

Update (5/4/05)

From the Pete Best Band:

Dear All,

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Mark has come out of his coma. He has fully recovered, i.e., no internal organ or brain damage. Mark will remain in hospital for the foreseeable future for further tests and to build his strength up. However, it may be sometime before he returns to the road. Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes. We will never forget the support you gave.

Thank you,
The Pete Best Band

And more news, from petebest.com:

We are making you aware that the postponed USA tour is back on. The Pete Best Band will be with you in May. Playing the axe in Mark's place is ex King B front man/guitarist Tony Flynn.

USA TOUR MAY 2005 DATES:

In store autograph and photo session
Tuesday May 17 at 3 p.m.
House of Guitars
645 Titus Ave
Rochester, NY 14617
585- 544-3500
Only ticket holders for the German House show in Rochester will be allowed 
to  meet Pete and get photos and autographs at this event!

 Tuesday May 17
 German House
 315 Gregory street
 Rochester NY 14620
 doors 7 p.m.
 show 8 p.m.
 Tickets at House of Guitars

 Wednesday May 18
 Club Infinity
 8166 Main Street
 Williamsville, New York 14221
 (716) 565-0110
 (888) 223-6000 Tickets.com
http://www.clubinfinityonline.com
 Beatlemagic(formerly known as the Revivals, opened for PBB at Bemus Point,  opening this show)


 Thursday May 19
 J's Place
 7 Erie Ave.
 Brantford,Ontario
 Canada
 (519)759-6927
 tickets:available by phone at above number, or in person at J's Place

 Friday May 20
 Best Western
 Presque Isle Country Inn
 6467 Sterrettania Road
 Erie, Pennsylvania 16415
 Phone: 814-838-7647  Fax: 814-836-1475

 Sat. May 21
 The Club Soda
 340 East Michigan Ave.
 Kalamazoo, MI  49007
 269 342 8067

Pete Best will be appearing and signing autographs at the                                                                                                                                                    National Restaurant Association show in Chicago,                                                                                                                                                                  2301 South Lake Shore Drive,                                                                                                                                                                                                   on Sunday the 22nd of May and Monday the 22nd of May.

 Tuesday May 24
 The Buskirk-Chumley Theater
 114 E. Kirkwood
 Bloomington IN 47408
 812.323.3022
 box office 812.323.3020
www.buskirkchumley.org

 Wednesday May 25
 20th Century Theatre
 3021 Madison Road
 Cincinnati, OH 45209
 Phone:  (513)731-8000
 Fax:    (513)-731-6691
www.the20thcenturytheatre.com


 Thursday May 26
 Pamela Brown Auditorium
 316 West Main Street
 Louisville, Kentucky 40202-4218
  Box Office: 502-584-1205 or 1-800-4ATL-TIX
 Box Office Fax: 502-561-3337
www.actorstheatre.org


 Friday May 27
 The Intersection
 133 Grandville Ave SW,
 Grand Rapids, MI 49503
 (616) 451-8232

Saturday May 28
 Tenny Street Roadhouse
 22361 West Village drive
 Dearborn MI 48124
 tickets:
 313-278-3677, or
www.tennystreet.com

Sunday May 29
 Concord Mall
 3701 South Main St
 Elkhart IN 46517
 Show starts at 7 p.m.

Look forward to seeing you all there. Don't forget to tell all your friends and local press about the shows.

---

The Pete Best Band will be performing on the 8th of June 2005 at the Spanish Cavern Club in Malaga. Details to follow.

The Pete Best Band will be performing in Mykonos in Greece on the 16th of June 2005. Details to follow.

The Pete Best Band will be performing in Sardinia on the 19th of June. Details to follow.

Pete Best will be appearing as a guest at The Berlin Beatles Festival at the Estrel Hotel on the 16th and 17th of July 2005.

Best Wishes Productions is proud to announce that all filming for the documentary Pete Best: Best of The Beatles is completed. We have sixty seven interviewees involved. Watch this space.

Update (5/2/05)

Additional Pete Best dates, from Keith Putney:

These two shows will also feature Billy J Kramer, backed by The Cryers, who will also do a short set on their own. See www.thecryers.com.

Tuesday May 24
The Buskirk-Chumley Theater
114 E. Kirkwood 
Bloomington IN 47408
Box office 812.323.3020
www.buskirkchumley.org

Thursday May 26
Pamela Brown Auditorium
316 West Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202-4218
Box office: 502-584-1205 or 1-800-4ATL-TIX
Box office fax: 502-561-3337 
www.actorstheatre.org

Update (4/29/05)

From Keith Putney:

In store autograph and photo session
Tuesday May 17 at 3 p.m.
House of Guitars
645 Titus Ave
Rochester, NY 14617  
585- 544-3500 
Only ticket holders for the German House show in Rochester will be allowed to 
meet Pete and get photos and autographs at this event!  



Tuesday May 17
German House
315 Gregory street
Rochester NY 14620
doors 7 p.m.
show 8 p.m. 
Tickets at House of Guitars

Wednesday May 18 
Club Infinity
8166 Main Street
Williamsville, New York 14221
(716) 565-0110
(888) 223-6000 Tickets.com
http://www.clubinfinityonline.com
Beatlemagic(formerly known as the Revivals, opened for PBB at Bemus Point, 
opening this show)


Thursday May 19 
J's Place
7 Erie Ave.
Brantford,Ontario     
Canada
(519)759-6927
tickets:available by phone at above number, or in person at J's Place

Saturday May 28
Tenny Street Roadhouse
22361 West Village drive
Dearborn MI 48124
tickets:
313-278-3677, or
www.tennystreet.com

Sunday May 29
Concord Mall
3701 South Main St
Elkhart IN 46517
Show starts at 7 p.m.

This event is part of the "Great Race 25th Anniversary" weekend in Elkhart.

More dates will be added.

Update (4/5/05)

More Pete Best Band dates have been added to the Calendar of Events.

Update (3/4/05) The Pete Best Band will be playing the following dates with a very special opening act -- The Quarrymen: Lebanon, NH, April 21, Manchester NH April 22, Lincoln Park, Lincoln, R.I. April 23 and Tarrytown NY April 24. This sounds like a very rare opportunity to catch a historic bill. (Thanks to Keith Putney.)

Update (2/16/05)

An update from petebestband.com:

It is Thursday the 20th of January. Director Geoff Wonfor, slaps his hands together and says "lets film the Pete Best Band at the Cavern Club on Tuesday the 26th of January" (cue outbreak of pandemonium). We had six days to let people know that the show was happening, arrange the camera crew, light crew, sound crew, publicise the event and do the show.

All of this was successfully done, the Pete Best Band were filmed in front of a capacity house, at the Cavern Club, for those of you that made the show, we thank you very much for your support.

---

Best Wishes Productions Update Two :

If not already under enough pressure, on Friday the 21st of January, Geoff Wonfor decides that we are doing the primary, Liverpool shoot, 26th through to the 28th of January, (cue even more Pandemonium) further crews to be hired, locations to be decided and film set to be built.

Again all was successfully done, with the Best Wishes Productions and Splash Promotions teams on the verge of Exhaustion.

---

Best Wishes Productions Update Three :

Friday the 28th of January, just for good measure Geoff announces that the BWP team will be flying out to Hamburg on Monday the 31st of January to film for four days after all we did have Sunday off, again it was a great shoot & a wonderful first time experience for most of the crew.

We would especially like to thank Ulf Kruger and Jurgen Volmer for there assistance.

---

Best Wishes Productions Update Four :

Icelandair have broadened there sponsorship to encompass the Best Wishes Production team and the documentary "Best Of The Beatles". A Big thank you to all at Icelandair.

Update (2/3/05)

Some upcoming dates for the Pete Best Band (thanks to Keith Putney):

Thursday April 21st - Lebanon Opera House 51 North Park Street Lebanon, NH 03766 603-448-0400

Friday April 22nd - The Palace Theatre 80 Hanover Street Manchester NH 03101 (603) 668-5588

Saturday, April 23rd - Lincoln Park/Cobalt Lounge. 1600 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 1-800-720-PARK

Sunday April 24th - Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street Tarrytown, NY 10591 (914) 631-3390

Update (1/10/05)

Some updates from petebest.com:

Pete Best has formed a TV and film production company called "Best Wishes Productions." Their first production is a TV documentary entitled "Best Of The Beatles." Producers are looking for people who were there in the early days and have stories about the early Beatles. Email bwp2petebest.com.

The Pete Best Band will be performing at Thoresby Hall, Thoresby Park, Newark, Nottingham, NG22 9WH on Feb. 5. Tel : 01623 825025. They will also be performing in Wales at Bodelwyddan Castle, Bodelwyddan, Clwyd, N Wales, LL18 5YA. on March 19. Tel : 01745 585088.

Update (10/29/04)

Daily Kent Stater: Former Beatles drummer to hit Kent Stage Saturday

Update (10/26/04)

Keith Putney sent us this info that interviews with Pete coming up are as follows:

Pete will be on the following...

WTAM 1100 AM Cleveland Approximately 8 am Tuesday Morning Oct 26 WILLS and COLEMAN In The Morning

WAPS 91.3 FM The Summit interview will be taped Tuesday, October 26 email billgruber@913thesummit.com for broadcast time

Tuesday 10/26/2004 11:30 AM, Live interview "Studio 3" WKYC TV 3-NBC Cleveland

Tuesday 10/26/2004 approximately 5:30 pm Newsnet 5 ABC Cleveland Live interview form the Winchester in Lakewood

Wednesday 10/27 Froggy 94.7 FM Erie PA live on air interview between 12 noon and 2 pm

Wednesday 10/27 WBUF 92.9 FM Buffalo Live on air Interview between 4 pm and 6 pm live on air

Cleveland Plain Dealer: The beat goes on for former Beatle Pete Best

Also another link to West Life News.

Update (10/24/04)

Minnesota Star Tribune: Beatlemania: Seeking ticket to ride at MOA (Subscription required)

Update (10/18/04)

Word from Liz MacDonald at Pete Best.com is that the Oct. 28 Europa date in Brooklyn has been canceled.

And here's a link to the Oct. 22-23 events at Mall of America. (Thanks to Ann.)

Update (10/10/04)

The latest dates added to the tour:

Tuesday October 26 The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall 12112 Madison Ave Cleveland, Ohio 44107 216-226-5681 www.thewinchester.net Doors open 7 p.m., show starts 8:30 Tickets in advance by phone or at the venue

Wednesday October 27 Club Infinity 8166 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 (716) 565-0110 www.clubinfinityonline.com Doors open 6:30 p.m. Show starts 7:00 p.m. Tickets:www.tickets.com or at/from the club $10 advance/$15 day of show

Friday October 29 The Crazy Donkey 1058 Rte. 110 (Broad hollow Road) Farmingdale NY 11735 www.thecrazydonkey.com Pete Best Band set time is 9:00 p.m. sharp!

The Arcada Theatre postponed the Octboer 24 date; they will reschedule for 2005.

Other dates already on sale....

Thursday October 28.... 9pm Europa 98-104 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint Brooklyn, N.Y. Tickets-$20 http://www.europaclub.com TEL-718-383-5723

Saturday October 30 The Kent Stage 175 East Main Street Kent, Ohio 44240 330-677-5005 http://kentstage.org Tickets at www.ticketweb.com

(Thanks to Keith Putney for all the info.)
Update (10/8/04)

The Oct. 24 date at the Arcata Theater in St. Charles, Ill., has been canceled. (Thanks to lizmac.)

Update (10/2/04)

News from Pete Best.com:

Dear All, well as we approach the last quarter of the year, we are delighted to be able to inform you of the last shows of 2005. The year so far has seen Pete Best & The Pete Best Band, performing all over the world, meeting stars from the music and entertainment industry such as Bruce Springsteen, Tony Sirico & Vinny Pastore (Soprano's) and, next year promises to be even better.

We would also like to send out a big thank you to our partners at Icelandair for there continued support, all there help and most importantly all there input.

Pete Best's Audience with show will be at The Chesterfield Arts Centre, Chesterfield, UK on Thursday the 14th of October 2004. The show will go into detail about Pete's time with the Beatles, including slides and musical outtakes, and is rounded off with a Q&A session from the audience. For further information, please goto www.chesterfield.ac.uk/artscentre alternatively seats can be booked through the centre on telephone 01246 500578

The Pete Best Band, will be starting the second leg of their USA tour with a free concert at the world famous Mall Of America, in Minneapolis on Friday the 22nd of October ( A Icelandair Promotion ). On Saturday the 23rd of October 2004 at The Mall Of America, Pete Best and The Pete Best Band, will be judges at a national USA battle of the bands competition, details of which can be found at Pete Best news. The competition is open to solo artists, duo's, trio's as well as bands. The winners prize includes, round trip tickets to the UK, time in London, time in Liverpool including the opportunity to perform at the Cavern Club, Liverpool and to record at the the Birthplace of The Beatles, the Casbah Coffee Club Studios, Liverpool. As you can see this competition is a cut above the rest. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. Other Pete Best Band October and 2005 USA tour dates will follow shortly, please watch this space.

Thursday October 28.... 9pm Europa 98-104 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint Brooklyn, N.Y. Tickets-$20 http://www.europaclub.com TEL-718-383-5723

Saturday October 30 The Kent Stage 175 East Main Street Kent, Ohio 44240 330-677-5005 http://www.kentstage.org Tickets at www.ticketweb.com

The Casbah Coffee Club Recording Studio is now officially open. It will come as no surprise to anyone that the studio is fully booked till the end of February 2005, however, if you would like to find out more details about booking the studio to record please e-mail bookings@petebest.com , it is not everyone who gets to record where the Beatles played.

The Casbah Coffee Club is now open. The club is view by appointment only through the website, and is proving to be the high light of every Beatle fans visit to Liverpool. As to be expected, the week of the Liverpool International Beatles Convention was an amazing success with hundreds of Beatles fans from all over the world, coming through the doors. So, if you are planning to be here in Liverpool at any time and wish to be part of this unique experience then please BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment.

All of us at Petebest.com, would like to thank you for your continued support, we know that our USA tour will be an enjoyable experience for all and hope that each and every one of you come, and see the band live. Don't forget after each show Pete Best will be coming out to sign autograph's and greet his fans in person. FINALLY PETE BEST WILL BE REPLYING TO ALL QUESTIONS IN PETE'S REPLY AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

Update (9/23/04)

Some upcoming Pete Best Band dates:

Sunday October 24
The Arcada Theatre
105 E. Main St.
St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone: (630) 845-8900
http://www.arcadatheatre.com/
Tickets by phone 800-511-1552
Tickets on line-www.tickets.com


Thursday October  28.... 9pm
Europa
98-104 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tickets-$20
http://www.europaclub.com
TEL-718-383-5723



Saturday October 30
The Kent Stage
175 East Main Street   
Kent, Ohio 44240      
330-677-5005
http://kentstage.org
Tickets at www.ticketweb.com

From Liz MacDonald at Pete Best.com:

Hi Steve,

I would like to let you know that the Pete Best website www.petebest.com has a newly-formed Street Team. Now, for those who don't know what a Street Team is....I shall get them up to speed. A Street Team is essentially a group of volunteers who want to help promote an artist. They are willing to print up flyers, contact media and get the word out about an upcoming appearance or show, as only a true fan can do. We are a grassroots group of fans who understand that 'word of mouth' about an artist is an incredibly powerful marketing tool. We also want as many people as possible to experience the history that Pete brings to his personal appearances and the amazing energy The Pete Best Band brings to any venue.

To become a member of the Pete Best Street Team, please contact me at lizmac@sbcglobal.net Please put Street Team in your subject line...I don't want to miss your request for membership.

The Street Team area is password protected as we want to have only fans who will be committed to promoting Pete and The Pete Best Band. Members will have to submit a working e-mail address so we can provide you with the tools needed for promotion. Your e-mail address will never be sold or used in any other way other than to provide you with your promotion information. When we do set up a list of members of the PB Street Team, your info will be posted only with your permission. Please remember, this is a work in progress, but those of us at petebest.com are so excited about this new venture, we couldn't wait to let you in on it.

Cheers!,
Liz MacDonald
Forum Moderator
petebest.com

Update (9/5/04)

News from Pete Best.com:

Dear All,

1) Well Pete Best and the Pete Best Band would like to thank each and every person who attended there shows at Little Stevens Festival Randalls Island, New York alongside many artists including Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt and Iggy Pop, Fest for Beatles Fans, Chicago and not to forget our hometown shows at the Cavern Club, Liverpool and the Mathew Street Festival which saw as many as 350000 people attending the Monday event alone. http://www.petebest.com/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=285&PagePosition=1

2) A NEW FEATURE TO PETE BEST NEWS, ENABLES YOU TO CLICK ON CERTAIN DISPLAYS AND BE CONNECTED STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE APPROPRIATE LINK.

3) We would also like to send out a big thank you to our partners at Icelandair for there continued support, all their help and most importantly all there input. Please check out www.icelandair.com for great deals on your Anglo/American flights.

4) The Pete Best Band, will be performing in Sardinia, Italy on Saturday the 4th of September 2004. Also on the bill will be the original Quarrymen and Tony Sheridan, if that is not a line up that sets your Rock & Roll pulses racing, then Metallica is a jazz band.

5) Pete Best is guest of honour at the All You Need Is Love, theatre show in Stuttgart, Germany on Sunday the 19th of September 2004 and also Halle, Germany on Monday the 20th of September.

6) Pete Best's Audience with show will be at The Chesterfield Arts Centre, Chesterfield, UK on Thursday the 14th of October 2004. The show will go into detail about Pete's time with the Beatles, including slides and musical outtakes, and is rounded off with a Q&A session from the audience. For further information, please visit www.chesterfield.ac.uk/artscentre alternatively seats can be booked through the centre on telephone 01246 500578

7) The Pete Best Band, will be starting the second leg of their USA tour with a free concert at the world famous Mall Of America, in Minneapolis on Friday the 22nd of October ( A Icelandair Promotion ). On Saturday the 23rd of October 2004 at The Mall Of America, Pete Best and The Pete Best Band, will be judges at a national USA battle of the bands competition, details of which can be found at Pete Best news. The competition is open to solo artists, duo's, trio's as well as bands. The winner's prize includes, round trip tickets to the UK, time in London, time in Liverpool including the opportunity to perform at the Cavern Club, Liverpool and to record at the the Birthplace of The Beatles, the Casbah Coffee Club Studios, Liverpool. As you can see this competition is a cut above the rest. http://www.petebest.com/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=10&TopicID=295&PagePosition=1 . Other Pete Best Band October and 2005 USA tour dates will follow shortly.

8) You can also find details of The Casbah Coffee Club Recording Studio. The studio is now built (well the building was there already, obviously), and the final stages of recording equipment specifications are being put in place. All that is left to be done in the studio, is one final piece of equipment to be wired in. So we are nearly there. So watch this space, the studio is going to open SOON!!.

9) The Casbah Coffee Club is now open. The club is view by appointment only through the website, and is proving to be the high light of every Beatle fans visit to Liverpool. As to be expected, the week of the Liverpool International Beatles Convention was an amazing success with hundreds of Beatles fans from all over the world, coming through the doors. So, if you are planning to be here in Liverpool at any time and wish to be part of this unique experience then please BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made at bookings@petebest.com

10) Petebest.com would like to thank you for your continued support, we know that our USA tour will be an enjoyable experience for all and hope that each and every one of you come, and see the band live. Don't forget after each show Pete Best will be coming out to sign autograph's and greet his fans in person.

Update (8/31/04)

Just a note: "The Pete Best Band" playing at the Annapolis Harbour Centre in Annapolis, Maryland on Sept. 1 is NOT ... we repeat NOT the ex-Beatle's band. In fact, we've also seen listings for a Pete Best Experience playing in the U.S. We'll try to keep the schedule for the Pete Best we know up to date, but check with the venue if a Best group is listed for a venue we don't show. You can ask us, too.

Update (8/30/04)

From Liz MacDonald:

Hi Steve,

I thought I would update you a bit. You probably know that The Pete Best Band opened up the Mathew Street Festival on Thursday evening with a set at The Cavern. They also play on Monday. You can find more info on that at http://www.mathewstreetfestival.com

Cheers!
Liz MacDonald
forum moderator
petebest.com

IC Liverpool: Festival Best by far

Update (8/27/04)

Keith Putney, who attended the Little Steven Underground Garage show, gives an account of what happened:

I thought you might like some notes on Little Steven's Underground Garage Festival. Sirius satellite radio broadcast the Festival live, with streaming audio available on line. Pete and the band flew to the U.S. especially for this show, at Little Steven's request. Steven came out and talked with Pete and the band for a few minutes just before they went on; Pete and Steven were obviously enjoying themselves. As the band was just about to go on stage, Steven brought Bruce Springsteen out to introduce him to Pete. Pete said later that Bruce was very cordial and wished them the best for the show, which was being filmed by Chris Columbus(Harry Potter, etc) for likely release next year. The rest of the band was unaware of Bruce meeting Pete until after the show-they had already gone out onto the stage. Bruce got his pictures with Pete, then Little Steven and Pete headed onto the stage, and Steven gave a great introduction, telling the audience some of the history about the early days of the Beatles in Hamburg.

They rose to the occasion in New York and gave a dynamic performance. Lead singer Chris Cavanagh energized the crowd during Twist and Shout, and on a show with everyone from a reunited New York Dolls, Iggy and the Stooges, the Strokes and even Nancy Sinatra, I heard from several people that they felt that the finale of the Pete Best band's set was one of the show's highlights.

Both VH1 and MTV interviewed Pete after the show, the MTV interview being a 15 minute sit down of Pete and the band with Kurt Loder. It's great to see someone that knowledgeable still with MTV.

A veritable flood of artists -- I shouldn't use the word flood, as there was a little bit of threatening weather -- quite a number of artists made sure to say hello to Pete. One of the most unusual moments was that David Peel came to the show, and I'm sure he would not be offended if I said he is as quirky as ever.

The next day, Pete and the band had the pleasure of taking in the Mets/Diamondbacks game on August 15 at Shea Stadium. Everyone had a great time-most had never been to a Major League baseball game before.

The New York trip was the band's second US visit this year, and as you know it won't be the last. As you mentioned, the band will be at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN on October 22. It's likely the band will do at least a few other shows in the USA in October following the Iceland Air gig.

I should mention that there are some pictures on the Iceland Air web site at http://www.icelandair.com/main/view.jsp?branch=5308779

Update (8/25/04)

Little Steven, Pete Best and the Boss at the Little Steven Underground Garage Festival. (©2004 Chris Cavanagh and Casbah Coffee Club LTD. A world of thanks to Liz MacDonald, forum moderator at petebest.com for allowing us to use this great pic.)

Update (8/24/04)

The Pete Best Band has recently partnered with Icelandair and will take part in a Beatles tribute Oct. 22 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. You can find info on Icelandair's website.

Credits: top photo Denice Shilling of the Allegheny County Parks and Recreation Department; bottom photo Bill and Terry Shore.

Update (7/25/04)

Some pics from the band's Springfield, Mass., concerts are at this link.

The Pete Best Band will be performing at Little Steven's Underground Garage Festival on Aug. 14 in Randall's Island, New York. Also on the bill: Iggy Pop & The Stooges, The Strokes, The New York Dolls, The Romantics, The Raveonettes, The Pretty Things, The Moonie Suzuki, The Electric Prunes, Nancy Sinatra, Davie Allen and the Arrows, the Creation, The Fonda's, Bo Diddley, The Cynics, The Chains, The Singles, The Stems, The Woggles, The Chesterfield Kings, The Paybacks, Boss Martians, The Chains, The Forty-Fives, The Shazam, The Cocktail Slippers, The Star Spangles, The Charms, The Fuzztones, The High Dials, The Contrast and The Flaming Sideburns. (Whew!!) A ticket link is here. Here's a webpage about it.

Update (7/22/04)

Two photos of the Pete Best Band in Pittsburgh from Denice Shilling and Bill and Terry Shore.

A report from Bill and Terry Shore:

I attended a free concert featuring the Pete Best Band at Pittsburgh, PA, the last show of their US Tour. The venue was an outdoor amphitheater where Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) sponsors a series of free concerts by a variety of artists all summer long. Lots of great music to revive memories of early Beatles. I had the opportunity to meet the band after the show, they put a lot of energy into the music and it was a hot night. All were gentlemen and signed autographs and talked afterwards. I had a great time. I've attached a few photos that I took, I hope they don't consume too much of your bandwidth during transmission. Please feel free to post them if you'd like.

Best regards,
Bill S.

Update (7/9/04)

A change in the tour schedule: July 14 is now a day off.

And from Jeff Jacomowitz:

At 7:20am Eastern time today (Friday), I happened to catch the tale end of Pete Best being interviewed on Q104.3 in New York by Jim Kerr. It was all about the Stone Pony show coming up in New Jersey. They ran down a list of songs that’s on their set including, “Johnny B Goode”, “Besame Mucho”, “One After 909” and more. Jim also brought up the fact of Pete’s mother (Mona) having a large influence on the Beatles, well after Pete was no longer a Beatle. They also talked about how good the book, “True Beginnings” is.

Update (7/6/04)

NY Post: Pete Best: Backbeat goes on for Beatle who got the boot

Update (7/4/04)

A fan review of the Sellersville, Pa., show is here.

Newark Star-Ledger: The Best of the ex-Beatles: It's still a mystery to drummer why he was dumped for Ringo

The (Springfield) Republican: Ex-Beatle draws 6,000 fans

Update (6/24/04)

One new addition to the schedule: July 10th – Stone Pony, Asbury Park, N.J. (in association with Little Steven's Underground Garage) (thanks to Keith Putney)

Update (6/11/04)

News.com.au: Sacked Beatle happy on his own

Update (6/8/04)

Pete Best was interviewed by the Austrailian newspaper The Advertiser.

Update (6/6/04)

The band will be returning to the U.S. in July, this time playing the East Coast. Here's a list of their upcoming North American dates:

• July 1st – Springfield, Mass – Sterns Square
• July 2nd –Sellersville Theatre, 24 Temple Avenue, Sellersville, PA 18960
• July 4th – Maxwells, 1039 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
• July 5th – Les Foufounes Electriques, 87 Ste-Catherine St. E, Montreal, QC H2X 1K5
• July 6th – – Barry Moores Music Hall , 323 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON CANADA , Ottawa, Canada, K2P1X9
• July 7th – – The Casbah @ La Luna , 306 King Street, West Hamilton, ON 111111 ,Ontario, Canada Ph: 905-777-7844
• July 8th – travel day
• July 9th – Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712
• July 10th – Stone Pony, Asbury Park, N.J. (in association with Little Steven's Underground Garage)
• July 11th – Tenny Street Roadhouse , 22361 West Village Drive, Dearborn, MI 48124
• July 12th – The Intersection, 133 Grandville Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
• July 13th – The Funk Box , 8-10 E. Cross Street, Baltimore, MD
• July 15th – Jaxx, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
• July 16th – Aleghanny Country Fair – South Park Ampitheatre. Pittsburg – PA
• Aug. 19-23: Beatlefest, Chicago.
  

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Update (4/9/04)

Update from Pete Best.com:

The Pete Best Band : The Pete Best Band will be performing on three seperate occasions in Hamburg, Germany. The band will be performing on the world famous Reeperbarn on the 17th, 18th & 19th of June as part of the Hamburg Beatles Convention.

The Casbah Coffee Club, the true birthplace of the Beatles is now officially open to the public. Bookings can be made by appointment only and can be done so by sending an e-mail to bookings@petebest.com .

Update (10/8/03)

A Pete Best website update contained this news about the next U.S. tour:

The Pete Best Band's scheduled tour of the USA for November 2003, has unfortunately had to be re-scheduled for July 2004. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Update (9/5/03)

You can hear an interview with Pete Best on NPR's "Fresh Air" here. (Thanks to David Ritter.)

Update (9/4/03)

We're told it looks like Pete will not be back in the U.S. in September, but in November at the earliest.

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner, but here we go. And the winner of the autographed copy of Pete Best's book "The Beatles: The True Beginnings" is Frank C. Branchini. Congrats, Frank. We'll be in touch with you. And thanks to everyone who entered.

Update (8/26/03)

An audio interview with Pete Best from NPR's "Weekend Edition". (Thanks to Trini Schultz.)

Update (8/17/03)

An update from Pete Best.com:

Dear All Petebest.com is proud to announce dates for August 2003,

On the 23rd and 24th of August Pete Best will be performing an Autograph session at the SECC Centre in Glasgow, times and venue address to follow.

On the 28th of August Pete Best will be performing his one man show, An Audience with Pete Best. The Venue is the Riverbank House Hotel, in beautiful Wexford, Ireland. Admission and contact prices are to follow.

Also one other important piece of news is Pete Best's Merchandise page is now live and people can order items such as signed photographs, Books and CD's from this page.

So be sure to come inside and check this out. Further Items to follow however your suggestions for merchandise is always welcome. On a final note Petebest.com and the Pete Best Band would like to thank all our American supporters, for there continued support during the last USA tour in July. We hope to see yourselves again during the September Tour.

Thanks for your time
Petebest.com

Update (7/29/03)

San Francisco Examiner: Not fade away

Only a few more days to get your cards in for the drawing for the autographed copy of Pete Best's book, "The Beatles: The True Beginnings." See the note above for details.

Update (7/26/03)

Redlands Daily Facts: Once and former Beatle

Update (7/25/03)

We saw the Pete Best Band Wednesday night in Campbell, CA. We'll give you a longer review soon (with pics we took), but we want to strongly urge you not to miss the show when it comes through your town.

Update II (7/22/03)

San Jose Mercury News: Beatle at the Beginning (Note: This is the version of the Pete Best interview that we wrote for a local newspaper.)

Update (7/22/03)

We interview Pete Best!

Modern Drummer: Interview: Pete Best. (Thanks to Joeltle515)

For those in the San Jose, CA., area, Pete will be a guest on Tuesday's "The Greg Kihn Show" on KUFX-FM (98.5). (For those outside the area, yes, it's the same Greg Kihn of "Our Love's In Jeopardy.") The show begins at 6 a.m. local time, though it's not known what time he'll be on. KUFX is streamed online here.

Update (7/14/03)

Kansas City Star: Beatles' first drummer happy with the way life turned out

Update (7/12/03)

Some advance news first: For radio listeners in the San Francisco area, Pete will appear on "The Ronn Owens Show" on KGO-AM (810) on July 17 at 11 a.m. While in San Francisco, Pete will also tape a segment of NPR's "Fresh Air." No air date available yet on that.
Two show reviews, first from Rod Switzer:

Hi Steve,

I saw the Pete Best Band last night (7/10) in Windsor, Colorado. I'd hoped to see them at the Hard Rock Cafe in Denver on 7/7, but the HRC knew nothing about the tour when I called them just a couple days before. Knowing they were going to Salt Lake City from Nebraska, I never thought they'd turn around and head back east. I drove the 1 1/2 hours to Windsor thinking about Pete's band driving all the way from Salt Lake. Tonight they are in Kansas City. That has got to be grueling! I would not have known about the tour if it wasn't for your web site since there was zero promo in the Denver area.

The bar, called "The Duke of Windsor", had a capacity of about 200-250 with all the chairs they set up, but unfortunately only about 60 people were there and no one sat in the specially set up chairs in front of the stage (behind the dance floor). Tickets were $15. The band was late setting up and so the local warm-up band did not start until 9:00.

Pete's band came on shortly after 10 and played for roughly an hour. They were well rehearsed and played material you'd expect. Pete does not seem to play the "Atomic Beat" (with kick drum on each beat) anymore. He and Roag made a pretty good team with Roag playing hard and doing most of the fills and Pete more-or-less adding flavor on the hi-hat and a bit more "swing" I guess you could say. To me, Pete seemed to be the driving force only on "Cry For A Shadow" and "September in the Rain". When he came out front to speak he livened up, but behind the kit he didn't look to be enjoying himself. He might have been having the time of his life, he just didn't project that at all. Overall however, the band was very energetic.

I wouldn't have blamed them if they'd just gone through the motions, but they made sure those who were there had a good time. They deserve to play more appropriate places to bigger crowds, but it is essentially an early Beatles tribute band. One friend I was with said the show was worth it if only to see the Lennonesque Rickenbacker. The bass player played a Hofner bass right-handed and the other guitar was a Country Gentleman knock off. (At least that's what my friends told me) You can see those instruments in the photo on your site. Pete plays a 5-piece Pacific kit. He sits a lot lower than Ringo. Pete clearly plays better than what exists on old early Beatle recordings.

After the show, the band was available to talk to and they were very friendly. Pete signed autographs and posed for pictures. They could easily have just packed up and left and they must've been very tired. Their graciousness is probably what I'll remember most.

Pete made a comment that was perhaps in jest. He said he made a few bob from the Anthology, but that he'd spent it all! I hope the tour gains some momentum, because they could not have earned much at this gig. They are a fun band to see so I'd recommend them to anyone who can make it to a show.

And from Matt Franchow:

Hi Steve,

I have enjoyed your website very much over the past few years and wanted to send a quick report about the Pete Best Band in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The show took place last night (Wednesday, July 9) at the Hard Rock Café. Apparently the band arrived the day before because they appeared on the ABC affiliate, channel 4 morning television show, Good Things Utah at 10am. I work at the station, but missed the appearance as I was out shooting a commercial. I do know that they performed one number and taped another to air later. Luckily, one of my friends at the station who is also a Beatles junkie was there, chatted briefly with Pete and some of the other band members and got Pete to sign the insert of my Beatles Anthology Special Features dvd.

My friend and I were invited to a “V.I.P.” pre-show party upstairs at the Hard Rock. Pete and the rest of the band arrived at about 7:30. They really just acted like a bunch of regular guys, all dressed in shorts and t-shirts, pretty much hanging out together and talking among themselves. They ate, played pool, drank a few beers and just hung out waiting for the gig.

A few fans did approach Pete at times and he seemed very pleasant and willing to chat. He was not however willing to sign autographs until after the show.

The show was scheduled to begin at 8pm with an opening act, a local band called Metal Tears. Due to some technical difficulties it did not get underway until 8:40. Metal Tears, played for almost an hour. The crowd was very small but enthusiastic and the band seemed tight and very workman like.

By the time Pete and the band took the stage, it was about 10 pm and the crowd was even smaller than it was earlier. There were only about 15 people seated on wood chairs in front of the stage, another 20 or so gathered around a railing on the 2nd floor looking down on the stage, a handful of people in the restaurant on the first floor and the employees. But, when the band was finally announced, they were met with surprisingly loud and enthusiastic applause and whistles. The band was very tight and professional as they worked their way through the hour long set. They played the same songs that have previously been reported with the addition of Johnny B. Goode at the end. I must say it was extremely enjoyable.

Some highlights for me were, “One after 909”, a rousing rendition of “My Bonnie” and “Twist and Shout”. The band was so good that after a short time I forgot about “The Beatle” and just enjoyed a great bunch of musicians. The lead singer was good, although not mixed very loud. All three guitar players were very good and sang well too. Pete of course played drums along with his little brother Roag (two drum kits). All in all it was a tremendous show.

About 15 minutes after the show ended, Pete appeared in a booth upstairs to sign items brought by fans, or the book, cd or pictures for sale on the table in front of him. He gladly obliged the 20 or so fans who waited for him. He shook hands, posed for pictures and was very pleasant although not very talkative. I bought one of the 8x10 photos of John, Paul, George and Pete and he signed it to me in black sharpie over the bass drum. It is something I will treasure.

Anyway, thanks for the great website and I hope you will share this. If anyone has an opportunity to see The Pete Best Band, I would highly recommend it.

Update (7/9/03)

From Keith Putney:

Hi Steve,

Just wanted to let you know about some changes in the Pete Best Band tour dates. The Tulsa show has been moved to Kansas City and is now being held at:

Fri JULY 11TH Uptown Theatre 3700 Broadway, Kansas City MO

The following shows have been removed from the schedule. (These shows were tentative, never confirmed):

Mon—JULY 14TH— THE ORPHEUM THEATRE 15 West Aspen Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 Phone: (928) 556-1580 http://www.orpheumpresents.com

Tues JULY 15TH Hard Rock Café 3 South 2nd Street, Suite 117, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Telephone:602-261-7625 http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes/Cafes.aspx?Lc=PHOE

FYI: The Rembrandt show was unfortunately cancelled at the last minute due to weather conditions. The sherriff instructed the band that a severe thunderstorm was approaching and that it was too dangerous to proceed with the show. I have been asked by the promoter in Rembrandt to bring them back in September as many people were disappointed at not being able to see the band after all of the promotion for the show beforehand (newspaper article, parade, etc.) I'm unsure at this point as to whether we will be able to do so.

And Scott Southwell reports that, although Pete didn't play in Rembrandt, fans did get to meet him:

Steve, Saw the post about Milford and thought I'd update you on Rembrandt. I live about an hour from Rembrandt in Sioux City and was also surprised of how small the town is.

When I drove into the town some people were setting up on their main street. I went up to one of the people working there about the concert and he directed me to the bar that was sponsoring the event. The lady in charge said that Pete was in Storm Lake for their parade and that he would be back around 5 o'clock.

I decided to go to Storm Lake since there was nothing to do in Rembrandt (I got into Rembrandt around 3). I went to the town and caught the tail end of the parade, but no sign of Pete. The lady at the bar said that he was signing autographs in Storm Lake, but she wasn't sure if he was going to sign in Rembrandt. I drove the ten minutes back to Rembrandt and talked to the lady again. She said that they were here, but just about ready to leave! I ran to my car to get my Anthology book and my Mersey Beat poster that I had wanted him to sign. I caught him just in time and he signed both items for me and also posed for two photos. The lady had to tell me to stop shaking as I was so nervous. I told him that I was looking forward to the show and was hoping the weather would hold off. The tickets were $15, but well worth it, especially since I actually got to meet Pete himself.

Opening bands played, but that was just to pass the time. Pete arrived back from his hotel in Storm Lake around 8:30 and walked into the bar. The band before Pete took a break at 9:30 (Pete was scheduled to go on at 10:30 after some fireworks) and then the rain came down. It started raining hard, just as it did the previous day. The policeman cancelled the show, which was a huge let down.

I walked into the bar and stood there with the other 50 people that had came to the concert. Pete was across the street at a gas station and soon came into the bar to chat with the people that were there. I talked to the bass player and the lead guitarist of his band (very nice and very English) and talked to Pete some more. The band members apologized to me numerous times, saying that I would have loved the show.

The bass player got the poster advertising the show autographed for me and I talked to him a little more. He asked me if I was going to the show in Milford and I said that I would try to make it (We had a music festival in Sioux City that day, which was a let down and I wish I would've drove to Milford to see Pete). The bass player told me that he would put me on the guest list for the Milford show just in case I made it up to the show.

I told Pete that it was an honor meeting him and told his band that it was great chatting with them and then left for my ride home. I was disappointed that there was no refunds, but having met Pete, gotten his autograph, and a picture was well worth the $15 for the show.

I would've loved to see him play, but because he didn't I got the chance to chat with the original Beatles drummer and his band for around an hour. It was truly an honor to meet him and he, along with his band, are tremendous and wonderful guys. It was a day that I will never forget. Meeting Pete was something that I never thought would happen, and when it did, it was truely amazing.

Update (7/8/03)

From Keith Putney:

Fans have organized special dinners with Pete Best at the stops in Los Angeles and Campbell on the current tour. Seating is extremely limited -- between 10 and 15 people for each event. If you are interested, you should contact the organizers as soon as possible. In the Los Angeles area, the date is still to be determined, although it is likely to be either July 19 (Saturday) or July 22 (Tuesday). E-mail jaygilbert@adelphia.net and put the subject of the email "Pete Best Dinner". In the San Francisco Bay Area, it will be held on July 23 (Wednesday) in Campbell. Contact for Campbell is cojehali@aol.com, and again, headline the email "Pete Best Dinner".

CNN: The man who was a Beatle (Thanks to Steve Host.)

Update (7/7/03)

From Jes Gonzalez:

hiya, Steve,

I just got back from seeing The Pete Best Band's performance in Milford, Iowa. Thought I'd send you my report.

Actually, yesterday morning, the Fourth, I left early for Rembrandt, Iowa, to see Pete's band perform at the Rembrandt Fourth Of July Celebration. Rembrandt is about three hours from my home in Mason City, Iowa. The night of the third was a rough one in Iowa, with thunderstorms and heavy winds, and I didn't know what to expect when I got to Rembrandt; plus, I'd never been to Rembrandt, so I wondered what a day there would be like. Well, it turns out that the city is of a population less than 250 and no bigger than, I'm guessing, ten city blocks. As I drove into town, I thought, 'this has to be a joke'. The city isn't run-down or anything; it's just so small. Even now, I wonder how or why The Beatles' original drummer was scheduled to perform there. I never did find out this weekend; if anyone knows how this was arranged, I'd be interested to find out.

Well, Rembrandt seemed to be hit pretty hard by the rainstorms the night before: there were tree branches and debris all over. Some of the bleachers set up down the main street were blown over, and the outdoor stage set up for Pete's performance looked a mess. I wondered if a parade or performance would even be held, but there was no one around to ask; I drove around this little town for at least fifteen minutes and saw nobody. Even now, I have no idea what all happened to the city's holiday plans; again, if anyone knows, it'd be nice to hear.

South of Rembrandt about 15 miles is Storm Lake, Iowa (where reports were that the band would perform). So, I headed that way to see if any alternate plans were made there. But everyone there that I asked (in gas stations and restaurants) had no idea about alternate plans or even that Pete was to perform in the area. I even bought a couple papers there, but neither had any info that I could see. So, I drove back to Rembrandt. Drove through a couple times, but still didn't see anybody, so I split again.

This time I headed north to Milford, where Pete was scheduled to perform today. Milford is about 35 miles from Rembrandt and larger, with a population over 2000. Pete's band was scheduled to perform at the city's movie theater, the Pioneer. I drove by it, but didn't see any advertising for the show. It wasn't till I stopped into a Casey's convenience store that I saw a poster advertising the gig. So, I noted the time and ticket prices and headed back home to Mason.

Brought my friend Ethan with me back to Milford today. He kidded me the whole drive up about my day Friday, and we both wondered if today would be as unfruitful. I felt much better as we approached the theater and saw, in big marquee letters, The Pete Best Band advertised.

The Pioneer Theater is a 75-year-old movie house. It has just one screen and seats about 200 people (I had time to count the seats). We went in and bought our tickets ($20), got some drinks and popcorn, and took our seats. The band was on stage testing their mics, which started out cool to watch and think, 'that guy back there on the right used to be a Beatle'. But the band weren't having such a good time, as there were electrical problems and mics not sounding right; they had to bring in other equipment and get that set up and tested, and time dragged on. It was obvious that the musicians were unhappy about the situation, but everybody was patient with each other and kidded with us in the audience about it all as we waited.

Scheduled to open the performance were Harrisong, featuring Pete Santora, who played George Harrison in Beatlemania on Broadway. Santora did a nice job entertaining the audience while the mic problems were corrected. He even arranged that the approximately 30 of us present for the 6PM show could stay for the 8PM show (although my friend and I didn't).

Well, eventually things were ready for the show to begin. Harrisong performed a few Harrison-Beatle songs ("I Need You", "Don;t Bother Me", "You Like Me Too Much") and even one Traveling Wilbury song ("Handle With Care"). They're just two guys, Santora on vocals and guitar and another guy on sequenced music. They did a nice job.

And finally Pete and his band came out. They did all the songs that have been reported here that they would: "Hello Little Girl", "Besame Mucho", Sweet Georgia Brown", "Till There Was You", plus "One After 909", "I Saw Her Standing There", "Why", "P. S. I Love You", "Some Other Guy". My favorite performance was of "What'd I Say". The final song was, of course, "Twist And Shout", and for that we all got up on our feet and came down to the stage to sing along. It was a very entertaining show.

After the performance, some guy dragged out onto the stage a large case full of promo photos and copies of The Best Brothers' The True Beginnings book about The Casbah Club, and announced that Pete would return soon to sign autographs. I bought a copy of the book and stood in line. When Pete came out, he was very accommodating in signing materials fans had brought along with them (posters and albums), even without their having purchased his book (as I'd heard would be a condition for an autograph). He even stood with fans for photos. I got his signature in my book and thanked him for coming to Iowa and told him 'take care' as I left; Pete just smiled and said 'thanks'.

Overall, it was an interesting weekend. While all of yesterday was a disappointment and the conditions surrounding the performance at the Pioneer left a lot to be desired, the band and their show were very charming and made up for what was lacking. I encourage attendance at any of the other shows of his tour. And I'm happy that I got to finally meet a Beatle.

I dig your site, Steve.

peace,

Jes

And from Todd Jacobson in Minneapolis:

Dear Steve:

On Thursday July 3rd, I attended the Pete Best show at O'Gara's bar in St. Paul. O'Garas is a large neighborhood bar, perhaps most famous for having been the home of Charles Schultz (of Peanuts fame) when he was growing up (on the second floor , above the bar). The crowd was energetic but small. It was great to be able to dance to Beatles tunes played by Pete Best!! It was a hot & humid evening in the Twin Cities. I felt sorry for the bandmembers who dressed in black leather--it probably doesn't get to 90 degrees in Liverpool! The Pete Best Band includes Pete on drums, Roag Best (sp??) on drums, a bass player, two guitarists, and a lead singer. The band was very good. They played the Beatles songlist from Hamburg/The Cavern/Decca Audition days. Songs included: Slow Down, Please Mr. Postman, Love Me Do, Cry For a Shadow, Why, Ain't She Sweet, Sweet Georgia Brown, Blue Suede Shoes, September in the Rain, Besame Mucho, I Saw Here Standing There, Three Cool Cats, Some Other Guy, plus several others. The Encore was Twist & Shout.

Pete mostly sat behind the drums. He came out twice to talk to the crowd, but most of the intros were made by the rest of the band.

All in all, a very enjoyable show.

And from David Freis:

Steve,

With all of the Pete Best news of late, I thought I would share a PIC of me when I met Pete at the Beatles Convention in Orlando, FL back in 1994. Get a load of that ridiculous price I had to pay to get his autograph! I know he needs the money but...Oh well, I am glad I parted with the money.

Update (7/5/03)

Greeley Tribune: The Beatles' Best Years

Fort Worth Star Telegram: More of Beatles' Best is yet to come, with a book, tour
(Thanks to João Paulo Petersen.)

Update (6/26/03) Here's the official tour announcement. In addition to the dates listed, more are to be added:

Dear All, Petebest.com is proud to announce the dates and venues for Pete Best's forthcoming tour of the USA, The has been appropriately titled

------ The True Beginnings Tour ------,

The Pete Best Band has decided on this name for two reasons:

1. The True Beginnings is the Title of the Best Brothers Newest book.
2. For those of you that have experienced The Pete Best Band live before I am sure you will agree that it was a great experience, but that experience will only get better, for the Pete Best band play songs that you may never ever have heard live before, such as early classics like Besame Mucho, Hello Little Girl, My Bonnie, Till There Was You, Like Dreamers Do, Sweet Georgia Brown & Saw Her Standing There.

As you have probably noticed these songs are very early songs from the Beatles Repertoire, and the bonus of all this is that you will have an Original Beatle with his own band playing all these great songs for you. The Pete Best Band play a set of songs that Pete Best Played on initially from 1960-62, I realise that there are thousands of Tribute Bands all around the world but one thing is for sure, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE REAL THING!

-

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The Pete Best Band -- The True Beginnings Tour -- USA 2003
 
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Thursday JULY 3RD
O GARAS
164 Snelling Ave. N, St. Paul, MN 55104
O'Gara's Garage Live Entertainment Hotline, (612)676-2133
http://www.ogaras.com/
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FridayJULY 4TH
REMBRANDT IOWA
Venue to be added
 

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Saturday JULY 5TH
MILFORD PIONEER  THEATRE
905 Okoboji Ave.
Milford, IA 51351
http://www.pioneertheatre.com
 
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Sunday JULY 6TH 
KNICKER BOCKERS, 901 O St, Lincoln, NE
402-476-6865
 
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Monday JULY 7TH 
Hard Rock Café, 500 16th Street, Suite 120, Denver, CO 80202
Telephone : 303-623-3191
http://www.hardrockcafe.com/locations/cafes/Cafes.aspx?Lc=DENV
 
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Weds JULY 9TH 
Hard Rock Café, 600 E. Trolley St, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 
Telephone:801-532-ROCK 
http://www.hardrockcafe.com/locations/cafes/Cafes.aspx?Lc=SALT
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Thurs JULY 10TH 
DUKE OF WINDSOR, 522 Main St, Windsor, CO
970-686-5775
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Fri JULY 11TH 
TULSA CONVENTION CENTRE, 100 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK
918-596-7177
http://www.tulsaconvention.com/
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Sat JULY 12TH 
ROSE STATE COLLEGE
6420 SE 15th St
Oklahoma City, OK
405-733-7311
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*Mon—JULY 14TH—
THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
15 West Aspen Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Phone: (928) 556-1580
http://www.orpheumpresents.com
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Tues JULY 15TH 
Hard Rock Café 
3 South 2nd Street, Suite 117, Phoenix, AZ 85004 
Telephone:602-261-7625
http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes/Cafes.aspx?Lc=PHOE
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Thurs JULY 17TH 
BROOKDALE LODGE 
11570 Highway 9, Brookdale, Santa Cruz, CA 95007
831-338-9529
http://www.brookdalelodge.com
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Sun JULY 20TH 
BEATLEFAIR
Scottish Rite Center, 
Mission Valley, 1895 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, California, 
Tel : 619.297.0737
www.beatlefair.com
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Mon JULY 21st 
COACH HOUSE
33157 Camino Capistrano Road, San Juan, Capistrano,  CA 92675
Tel : (949) 496-8930
http://www.thecoachhouse.com/
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Tuesday JULY 22nd 
HARD ROCK CAFE 
Universal Studios, City Walk, Hollywood. CA
Tel : (818) 622-7625
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Wednesday JULY 23rd 
KINGS HEAD, 
201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell, CA,
408-871-2499
http://www.thekingshead.com/
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Thursday JULY 24th
MCNEARS MYSTIC THEATRE
23 Petaluma Blvd. No., Petaluma, Ca. 94952 
Tel : 707.765.2121 
http://www.mystictheatre.com/
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Friday  25th JULY
CLASSIC JUKE BOX
8200 Sierra College Blvd , Roseville, CA
916-791-2131
http://www.theclassicjukebox.com/
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Saturday 26th JULY
AVALON BALLROOM
1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109.
Tel : 415-673-5716
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Sunday 27th JULY
GROVE THEATRE
Upland, CA
Address To Be Added 
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Update (6/16/03) From Dan Speter:

Hi Steve,

I went to the signing at Book Revue in Huntington last night. Same format as the other reports. Just wanted to let you know that Pete and the boys were very gracious and were a pleasure to meet. Questions posed to Pete were:

“Is it true that you were with John when he purchased his first and most famous Rickenbacker 325”. The answer was “yes”. A few others, such as “Did you have to get Yoko’s permission to use John’s likeness in the book”. The answer was “No. Due to my association with the group I did not have to get her permission”. Questions also asked were “When was the last time that you saw any of the Beatles”. Answer was “Probably about 15 years ago”. And finally, someone asked him if he still had the green pearl drum kit that he used in 1962. He replied “No – I sold it for a Ludwig, a better kit”. The fan replied that the green kit was for sale on ebay which brought a laugh from Pete and the boys…

All in all a pleasant experience.

-all the best!

Update (6/14/03) From Bruce Bosso:

I went to the signing by the Best brothers of "The Beatles--The True Beginnings" at the Barnes & Noble at 66th & B'way yesterday (6/12). There were around 200 people there.

The signing started at 7 p.m. with a little talk by Roag Best about how the book came about. He had started compiling a family history on his own, and then he was approached by a book publisher who offered him a 3 book deal. So this book is the first. He jokingly compared the books to be published with the Star Wars movies, saying that although this is the first book, there will be a prequel and then a sequel. So we have two more books to look forward to.

Then Pete spoke a little about the importance of the Casbah Club in the history of the Mersey Scene. He also gave a "nod" to Paul for writing a very short intro to the book. Rory, "the Quiet One" of the Best brothers, then spoke for just a moment.

There was a Q&A session that lasted for about 20 minutes and Pete was asked about how his involvement in the Anthology I CD came about. He said that Apple had called him and asked to use him on the recordings along with his likeness, and he agreed. He said that he appears on 10 of the 60 tracks of Anthology I, and he appreciated the acknowledgment (and compensation) for his contributions to The Beatles' early sound. He also said that The Pete Best Band will be touring shortly in the US with details to be posted soon on http://www.petebest.com.

All three brothers signed each book purchased, and Pete would sign one piece of memorabilia provided a book was purchased. Photos were allowed. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and all of the Best brothers were very friendly and Pete especially was extremely gracious.

I met one of The Fab Faux there (Frank Agnello). They are a locally-loved band that faithfully recreates Beatles songs in concert (including songs like "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" and "I Am The Walrus"). I haven't seen them yet although I know several folks who rave about them and dates are scheduled in the area. Notably, they are playing for free next Tuesday, June 17, at 7:30 at the plaza at the World Financial Center here in lower Manhattan. The WFC is next to where the World Trade Centers used to be on the Hudson River side, and the plaza is located right by the river. Frank said that this show will be about an hour and they will be playing from their "A" list which includes Beatles songs done with strings and horns (they're bringing extra musicians for the gig). Their web site is http://www.thefabfaux.com. They've played in Liverpool as well and are a big hit over there. Perhaps you can publicize this free show. As always, I love your site and all the efforts you put into it. Best wishes, Bruce Bosso/Brooklyn

(6/10/03) Pete and the band will be making appearances in the U.S. from June 11-14. Here's a partial schedule:

"The Beatles - The True Beginnings" US Book Signings:

Wednesday 11th of June : Borders Meet & Greet, Arrive @ 6pm, Event 6-9pm, Borders Books, 100 Broadway NYC, 734-477-1637

Thursday 12th of June : Book Signing, Signing @ 7pm, Barnes & Noble/Lincoln Center, 1972 Broadway,NYC, 10023. 212-595-6859

Saturday 14th of June : Book Signing, Signing @ 2pm, Bookends, 232 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ. 201-445-0726

Saturday 14th Of June : Book Signing, Signing @ 8pm, Book Revue, 313 New York Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743, 631-271-1442.
All three brothers will be present at these events.

Other upcoming events:

June 11: 2:48 p.m. ET, "Fox News Live" interview

June 13: 9:10 a.m., "Mancow Muller Show"

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The Pete Best band will be touring the USA in July and September of 2003. The July tour will be the first leg of the tour and September will be the second leg, both tours will last roughly one month and will incorporate most major US cities.

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Pete Best.Com Update: PeteBest.com has given Pete Best fans around the world the opportunity to ask Pete questions regarding his time with the Beatles, thorough his web site forum at Pete's reply which is based at http://www.petebest.com/forum/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=12. There is still time to get your questions in. PeteBest.com will also have its merchandise page live in the near future.

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(More info about Pete's tour to come.)

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