“Fifth Beatle” Stuart Sutcliffe’s Life and Talents to be Celebrated with New Official Fan Club
With the public’s renewed interest in the “Fifth Beatle” Stuart Sutcliffe – whose story has been brought to life in the West End play, Backbeat – Stuart’s sister Pauline is launching the official Stuart Sutcliffe Fan Club.
Membership of the fan club is free, and members will receive a regular newsletter from Pauline Sutcliffe, as she opens her archives of Stuart’s work. Beatles fans all over the world will be able to see more of, and learn much about his prodigious talent, not just for music, but for his art and writing too.
In addition to knowing more about Stuart, fans who are artists and writers are encouraged to submit their creative work so that it can be showcased: something Stuart would have wanted.
Stuart’s importance to The Beatles cannot be underestimated. John Lennon called Stuart his “alter-ego”; “a spirit in (his) world” and “a guiding force”. Lennon said: “I looked up to Stu; I depended on him to tell me the truth. Stu would tell me if something was good and I’d believe him.”
Pauline Sutcliffe says:
“It gives me great pleasure to announce the launch of the official Stuart Sutcliffe Fan Club - can you believe it has taken almost 50 years?
David Bedford (author of Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles - an amazingly original book and "must buy" for all Beatle fans), has honoured us by agreeing to head up this very exciting endeavour. He will be backed up by artist Sherry Liscio who has her finger on the USA pulse, and they cannot wait to get up and running.
The Autumn of 2011 sees the opening of the play, Backbeat, at the Duke of York's theatre in London's West End - the executive producer is Karl Sydow who is renowned throughout the theatre world for his phenomenal productions - so how proud are we to be working with him! Backbeat will hopefully head to Broadway next year.
The international art tour "In Conversation with Stuart Sutcliffe" opens in Liverpool in 2012 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stuart's death. It's hard to believe, isn't it, that the Beatles entered all our lives and thrilled and delighted us all - all those years ago and continues to do so today. I'm sure they would all pay tribute to every one of you deeply loving and loyal fans who have kept their names at the forefront of everything rock-n-roll over several generations.
Without the love and support of the fans, his work, both as a Beatle and as a phenomenally talented painter would not be in the forefront of hundreds of thousands of people's lives - I counted 1.5 million references via Google last time I looked - without your loyal and loving support.
Diane Vitale (our director) and I will work closely with David at all times to keep you absolutely in touch with all things Stuart painter and Beatle. Recently, we the Estate have joined with CMG Worldwide who is now Stuart's licensing and branding agent - isn't it a coincidence that James Dean is also represented by them! Together with Diane we will continue to manage all other matters to do with Stuart.”
To join the fan club, visit http://www.stuartsutcliffefanclub.com/
About Stuart Sutcliffe:
- Stuart Victor Fergusson Sutcliffe was born on 23 June 1940 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- His family moved to Liverpool soon after. He has two sisters, Pauline and Joyce.
- He was introduced to John Lennon at the Liverpool College of Art by Bill Harry, editor of Mersey Beat.
- After one of his paintings was purchased by John Moores, he was able to purchase a bass guitar and joined the group with John, Paul and George, appearing as Johnny and the Moondogs.
- In tribute to Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Stuart suggested the name “Beetles” for the group.
- He went with John, Paul, George and Pete Best to Hamburg in August 1960.
- When the rest of the group returned to Liverpool, Stuart stayed with his new girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr.
- In 1961, he gave up his place in The Beatles to concentrate on his art, being accepted into the Hamburg State School of Art under Eduardo Paolozzi.
- He died on 10 April 1962 from a bleed on the brain.
For more information, email enquiries@stuartsutcliffefanclub.com
Official Stuart Sutcliffe Art, Artifacts and Memorabilia http://www.stuartsutcliffeart.com/
About Backbeat
Backbeat is the story of the relationships between Stuart Sutcliffe, Astrid Kirchherr and John Lennon. It is on at the Duke of York Theatre in London from 24 September.
More details at http://www.backbeatlondon.com/
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