Our Becoming The Beatles blog series takes a look into 12 lesser-known figures who influenced The Beatles in one way or another.

From fashionable haircuts to questionable business decisions, this series of blogs tells the story of those individuals only the biggest fans of The Beatles will already know.

Alistair Taylor

Alistair Taylor, also known to the band as ‘Mr Fix It’ was the personal assistant to The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, and later the general manager of Apple Corps.

https://bit.ly/AlistairTaylorTBS

Charlie Roberts

On a warm sunny day on June 22, 1957, The Quarrymen agreed to play at a party on Rosebery Street, organised by Charlie Roberts’ mum Marjorie to mark the 750th anniversary of Liverpool being award City status. It was here Charlie Roberts, armed with a borrowed camera, was able to capture the very first photo of John and his Quarrymen playing live.

https://bit.ly/CharlieRobertsTBS

Raymond Jones

It is thought that one day in 1961, a young man called Raymond Jones brought The Beatles’ existence to the attention of Brian Epstein, when he asked for their single ‘My Bonnie’ at Brian’s NEMS record store in Liverpool. This man was Raymond Jones.

https://bit.ly/RaymondJonesTBS

Dick James

Dick James is a controversial figure in the story of the Fab Four; The Beatles’ business relationship with Dick James ultimately lost John Lennon and Paul McCartney possession of their own songs but he put in the work to facilitate their early success.

https://bit.ly/DickJamesTBS

The American Beetles (The Fake Fab Four)

In 1964, South American fans eagerly awaited the arrival of the Fab Four from Liverpool – but four Americans named Tom, Vic, Bill and Dave turned up instead…

https://bit.ly/AmericanBeetlesTBS

Victor Spinetti

The comic actor Victor Spinetti had a rare distinction as the only non-Beatle to appear in the films A Hard Day’s Night (as T.V. Director), Help! (as Foot) and Magical Mystery Tour (as Army Sergeant).

https://bit.ly/VictorSpinettiTBS

Norman Normal Smith

Norman ‘Normal’ Smith was the engineer on all the EMI studio recordings by The Beatles until the autumn of 1965, when he was promoted from engineer to producer.

https://bit.ly/NormanSmithTBS

Tony Sheridan

Tony Sheridan holds the accolade of having sung on The Beatles’ first commercially released music and remains the only non-Beatle to appear as lead singer on a Beatles recording which charted as a single.

https://bit.ly/TonySheridanTBS

Pete Brown

Peter Brown was Brian Epstein’s friend and personal assistant and became part of The Beatles’ trusted inner circle. So much so, he was best man for both Paul McCartney and John Lennon at their weddings to Linda Eastman & Yoko Ono.

https://bit.ly/PeteBrownTBS

Lord Woodbine

Harold “Lord Woodbine” Phillips helped but the beat into The Beatles, but his story is one that is not told as often as it should be. 

https://bit.ly/LordWoodbineTBS

Jimmie Nicol

Jimmie Nicol was the man who really became a Beatle…however his spell in the world's biggest band lasted for less than two weeks.

https://bit.ly/JimmieNicolTBS

Astrid Kirchherr

Credited with creating The Beatles’ notorious mop-top haircut, Astrid Kirchherr was a photographer and art school-graduate who first saw The Beatles at The Kaiserkeller in Hamburg’s red-light district.

https://bit.ly/AstridKirchherrTBS