The term “fifth Beatle” has been used for so many different people over the years, with many fans having it as a close tie between George Martin and Brian Epstein. Others like Stuart Sutcliffe, Pete Best or Neil Aspinall also get mentioned.
The first one to be given the title by the press was Jimmie Nicol after he stepped in for Ringo in June 1964 for their world tour, when Ringo Starr was rushed to hospital on the verge of the tour starting.
However, as featured on the cover of The Beatles: What If? is one man who could have become the fifth Beatle back in 1962, but who was he?
he is the guy at the top of the picture of The Beatles, expertly drawn by artist David Rainey on the cover below.
Got it yet?
His name was Roy Young, and he was the booking manager at the Star Club in Hamburg, the club that The Beatles opened in April 1962. He was also Britain’s answer to Little Richard, with an incredible singing voice and a boogie-woogie piano style to rival The Beatles’ hero, Little Richard.
On stage, Roy had his piano, and he was often pictured on stage playing with The Beatles.
Can you imagine what adding a piano permanently to The Beatles would have changed?
This is one of those key “What If” moments in Beatles history examined in The Beatles: What If? by David Bedford and Andrew Phillips.
David interviewed Roy Young and got his incredible story, which you can read in the book. See how close he came to being the first Fifth Beatle!
You can order it for US/ Canada or UK/Europe below.
The Beatles What If? Limited Edition Hardback (US & CANADA)
How different would the world have been without The Beatles? What If history was different?
This book explores the many times The Beatles story could have turned out so differently. What if it didn’t happen the way it did?
Order here for the US and CANADA only
Roy Young gave Jerry Lee Lewis a ‘run for his money’ (ahem) with his version of ‘When I get paid’. His work with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers still sounds good today!
He worked with some of the biggest names in pop music. A great talent and a lovely man too.