Chas Newby

Charles Newby (18 June 1941 – 22 May 2023) was a British musician who was briefly the bassist for the Beatles for several gigs in December 1960, while Stuart Sutcliffe was still in Hamburg focusing on his art career.[1]

Chas Newby
Birth nameCharles Newby
Born(1941-06-18)18 June 1941
Blackpool, England
Died22 May 2023(2023-05-22) (aged 81)
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar
Years active
  • 1959–1961
  • 2016–2023
Formerly of

Career

When the Beatles returned from West Germany for the first time, they were in need of a bass guitarist. Pete Best suggested Chas Newby.[1] Newby had been with The Black Jacks (Best's group), and was now attending university; however, he was on holiday, and so he agreed to play with the Beatles.[1]

Newby appeared with the Beatles for four engagements in December 1960 (17 December, Casbah Club, Liverpool; 24 December, Grosvenor Ballroom, Liscard; 27 December, Litherland Town Hall; 31 December, Casbah Club). John Lennon asked him to go to West Germany for the Beatles' second trip, but Newby chose to return to university.[1] After Lennon and George Harrison both declined to switch to bass guitar, Paul McCartney, who previously played guitar and piano, reluctantly became the band's bass player.[2]

Personal life and death

Newby taught mathematics at Droitwich Spa High School in Droitwich Spa and most recently lived in Alcester, where he played in a charity group, the Racketts. Since 2016, Newby had been performing as a member of the Quarrymen, the band that was the precursor to the Beatles.[3]

Newby died on 22 May 2023, at the age of 81.[4]

References
  1. "The Story of Chas Newby, a Member of the Beatles for Two Weeks". Ultimate Classic Rock. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  2. Spitz, Bob (2005). The Beatles: The Biography. Little Brown. ISBN 0-316-80352-9.
  3. "Hot News". Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. Horton, Adrian (23 May 2023). "Chas Newby, one-time Beatles bassist, dies at 81". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2023.


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