Pete Best - Haymans Green

Pete Best, the original drummer for The Beatles, will release a CD entitled Haymans Green on September 16.

The autobiographical album exposes Pete Best's thoughts and feelings as he takes us from the time he was a Beatle, which included the famous Hamburg, Germany tour dates, BBC, Polydor, Decca, and EMI recordings, before mysteriously getting fired, to the anguish of losing the gig and then finding his own way as the famous band went on to super-stardom.

The eleven tracks recorded by The Pete Best Band are a musical documentary encapsulating Pete's mindset and reflections about those now famous days, as well as the trials and tribulations of life in general.

Haymans Green -- the street where The Casbah Club is located -- is where The Beatles began. Pete commented, "The excitement around the club and The Beatles was overwhelming for us all. When that ended for me I found myself Broken -- the title one of the tracks on the CD. We were on the verge of international stardom and the dreams I had helped build with my fellow Beatles were snatched away. I was left to crash and burn, Broken. I chose to stand tall. As the song says, 'When I'm beat, you won't see me down. When I'm weak, I'll turn it around' –- or at least I'll try. I think I did."

The album, in true Liverpudlian flavour, shows Best as one of the cornerstones of the original sounds of the Beatles. As reflected in another track Everything I Want, Pete says, "It's about my life. The measure of it. Even without the dizzying heights of my fellow Beatles, I still have everything I want."

The CD is available through Lightyear Entertainment/Caroline/EMI.

Haymans Green

The eleven tracks are biographical, taking in different extracts of Pete Best's life. They have been written with Pete in a fashion that not only depicts his life, but the trials and tribulations of life in general. The following song descriptions, however are from Pete's perspective.

1. Come With Me

My mother, Mona Best, opened Liverpool's first beat club. It was to become the venue where not only The Beatles started, but every group that came out of Liverpool. The Casbah was the catalyst for The Beatles and Merseybeat. Come With Me to the Casbah.

2. Step Outside

It was 1968. I had toured and recorded for years. I'd tried every avenue to get through the door as a young musician. It was time to step outside the situation, to look around, weigh my options, and walk away. I had a family to bring up. I stepped outside the music.

3. Start Again

The Beatles' baptism of fire in Hamburg. Playing eight hours a night and then partying, recovering just in time to start again. It was gruellin', but made us a force to be reckoned with.

4. Grey River

Liverpool, my home town, the gateway to the world, sits on the banks of the River Mersey. The song is about the river, the city, the people, its history. It's about being proud to be from Liverpool.

5. Gone

It's about my friends and colleagues that have passed. It's upbeat, it's not remorseful, it's about remembering the good times I shared. They're gone, but not forgotten.

6. Dream Me Home

It's about my life on the road today; even though it's hectic and your time is consumed with the touring schedule, you still miss home. It's in your dreams.

7. Everything I Want

It's about my life, the measure of it. Even without reaching the dizzy heights of my fellow Beatles, I still have everything I want. A wonderful wife, beautiful children, good friends, health, happiness. Everything that's important to me.

8. Beat Street

The Beatles began to play Mathew Street. The other groups were copying The Shadows who were very lightweight. The Beatles were raw, Rock'n'Roll. Everything changed on Beat Street -- now they were copying us.

9. Broken

On the verge of success and international stardom, I had the dreams I helped build with my fellow musicians snatched away. I was left to crash and burn, broken. I chose to stand tall. When I'm Beat you won't see me down, when I'm weak I'll turn it around, or at least I'll try. I think I did.

10. Red Light

Hamburg of the 1960s had the largest red light district in the world. We were young men in a rock band, a long way from home, and the girls had a very soft spot for us. We had no complaints.

11. Haymans Green

My family home, and one time Beatle headquarters. It sits on top of the Casbah Coffee Club. The house is steeped in memories for me. It has now become the holy grail of The Beatles trail!

All songs written by Pete Best, Roag Best, Phil Meli, and Paul Parry. Except tracks, 1, 7, and 8 written by Roag Best, Phil Melia, Paul Parry

Pre-order Haymans Green now!

© 2010 British Beatles Fan Club