Exhibition "The Beatles Story" at the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. (archive image) © IMAGO/Sanjin Strukic/PIXSELL
He once shared the stage with the Beatles. Now former bassist Chas Newby has died.
Liverpool – Chas Newby was on stage in the early days of the legendary band The Beatles. Now the ex-musician has died at the age of 81. Meanwhile, the brother of former Beatles drummer Pete Best has confirmed the death of his former bandmate.
Roag Best wrote via Facebook on Tuesday: "Both Pete and I and the entire Best family were completely devastated when we heard the very sad news that one of the family's closest friends, Chas Newby, passed away last night. Many of you will know him as the bass guitarist of the Beatles and the Quarrymen, but for us he was the relaxed Chas with the big smile. We will really miss him. Forever in our minds. God bless you, Chas."
"Devastated": Companions mourn ex-Beatles bassist Chas Newby
Previously, tributes to Chas Newby had already spread on social media, reports the English Guardian. The Cavern Club Liverpool, where the Beatles once began their career, wrote via Facebook: "It is with great sadness that we receive the death of Chas Newby". A cause of death is not yet known.
Chas Newby was never a permanent member of the Beatles. He was only on stage with the group four times. When the Beatles returned to England from Germany in 1960, the actual bassist Stuart Sutcliff had stayed in Hamburg for some time. Replacements were needed for this time. On the advice of drummer Pete Best at the time, John Lennon and George Harrison brought Chas Newby on board as interim bassists. Newby was studying at the time, but jumped in.
Ex-Beatles bassist Chas Newby died: he never regretted his decision
Later, John Lennon is said to have asked Newby to tour with the Beatles in Germany, but the Liverpool native refused and returned to university.
"Music has never been my livelihood," Chas Newby told the Sunday Mercury in 2012. The other band members just wanted to make music: "I wanted to study chemistry". He later stated that he had never regretted his decision.
After graduation, Newby taught math at a high school and played in a charity band. From 2016, Newby, who was born in Liverpool in 1941, played in the newly formed group Quarrymen – a tribute to the band from which the Beatles once emerged.