The Beatles Decca Audition – Rare Letter From Brian Epstein

The Beatles Decca Audition is one of the most discussed moments in early Beatles history. What really happened, and does this letter from Brian Epstein reveal something extra? Nigel Pearce investigates!

I understand that I centre in on the Apple years, but the situation regarding Decca Records will always need to be re-affirmed and discussed as it is an integral part of Beatles history, and also that all important growing curve that the band undertook during 1962 before “Love Me Do” was officially released for the first time in October that year.

It all started really sometime in December 1961 when Decca A & R man Mike Smith came to The Cavern, and this single event caused quite a commotion in itself!!  (How Mike Smith was encouraged to the Cavern has still a little mystery about it, though Tony Barrow, who worked at Decca, definitely helped!). Brian Epstein entertained Mike Smith and amongst a quota of things delved into the Liverpool scene. At this stage Brian kept this information from the group at first, but told them soon after. Mike saw The Beatles perform and informed Brian that he liked very much what he had seen them do and the reaction. His comment was “I will see what I can do”. The outcome of all this was that an audition was secured at Decca’s studios in Hampstead,  London on New Years Day Jan 1^st 1962 – No Bank Holiday then at all; perhaps there should have been.

They journeyed to London and stayed at The Royal Hotel paying the princely sum them of 27/- shillings a night. That equates in today’s money to 1 pound and 35 pence including Breakfast in Woburn Place – very swish indeed!!.

They arrived at Decca’s Hampstead studios at 11am in a bitter cold wind with ice and snow laying on the ground, and apparently Mike Smith himself was late. This only served to heighten the tension still further. It is worth remembering that at this time there were no tapes of any songs that Brian had to play so all of their material had to be played for recording purposes.

Apparently the session was done in a very impersonal and somewhat brutal fashion, and The Beatles felt that there was no encouragement or warmth from the Decca staff at all. This unfortunately gave everyone, including the Decca staff, an edge of unease  on the day.

With no promise of further progress, the session was done and all returned to Liverpool and carry on and wait for things to happen.

February 1962 came and Brian found himself back in London at Decca, apparently to have lunch with some people, so Brian had built up some hopes that things might well be a little positive – how wrong!! He was to be hit and hurt like never before, and it hit home like a sledgehammer to the stomach.

There were two people to meet Brian, Dick Rowe and a Mr Beecher Stevens. As the pre lunch meeting turned to coffees, it was Dick Rowe that delivered that brutal – and now infamous – statement – “Not to mince words Mr. Epstein, we don’t like your boys sound. Groups of guitarists are on the way out.” 

A very hurt Brian cut in and replied with the following statement: “You must be out of your minds. These boys are going to explode, and I am completely confident that they will be bigger than Elvis Presley!!”

Dick Rowe and Beecher Stevens were amazed at his reply and then rammed their point home with: “The boys won’t go Mr. Epstein. We know these things. You have a very good record business in Liverpool, just stick to that”.

With this statement, the meeting was apparently deemed over and they went for lunch. Brian took this opportunity to impress further the impact of the group on the local scene and was tirelessly pursuing and pushing their talent. Brian did sense just a little crack in their self-determination not to record the group.  After this apparent onslaught from Brian, it was Dick Rowe himself who came up with a possible solution, and Tony Meehan’s name was mentioned, with the caveat that Tony would produce a few records and give his experience, but that this would cost 100 pounds to be done.

This hurt and also annoyed Brian tremendously, but Brian went back to Decca the next day and met with Tony Meehan. After a wait, they both went to another room and once again, this time through Meehan, the cold shoulder and heart of Decca reared itself with the following comment.” Look Mr. Epstein, Mr Rowe and I are very busy men, we know what you want, and need. We will fix a date for a tape to be made of these Beatles and if you phone my secretary, I will make sure that I am available to do the session etc. This will cost you 100 pounds”. With that the meeting was deemed over and after this passage of time, Brian left Decca for the third time and knew that Decca records was not for The Beatles in any way. A date was fixed for this session and Brian had already decided that the group and himself would not attend at all. The rest they always say is history.

So this letter was sent by Brian to Decca Records in London, and has become one of the most talked about and glossed over periods in their history.

Decca tried with all of their PR might to block it out when The Beatles became world famous, and it followed Dick Rowe around for the rest of his life. What happened to Beecher Stevens is never talked about, but that decision was not just Dick’s alone, but it seems he has taken all the flak, and others have quietly hidden away.

So I hope that this does explain and clear the air, but it is worth noting that EMI also turned the group down in 1961, and again I have a copy of that rejection letter. It will appear one day I am sure!

What do you think of the Decca Audition? Was it a disaster? Were there some good elements to it? Would you have signed them? Let us know in the comments.

Nigel Pearce

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