Chas Newby
British musician (1941–2023)
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Charles Newby (18 June 1941 – 22 May 2023) was a British musician who was briefly the bassist for the Beatles for several gigs in December 1960, while Stuart Sutcliffe was still in Hamburg focusing on his art career.[1]
18 June 1941
Career
When the Beatles returned from West Germany for the first time, they were in need of a bass guitarist. Pete Best suggested Chas Newby.[1] Newby had been with The Black Jacks (Best's group), and was now attending university; however, he was on holiday, and so he agreed to play with the Beatles.[1]
Newby appeared with the Beatles for four engagements in December 1960 (17 December, Casbah Club, Liverpool; 24 December, Grosvenor Ballroom, Liscard; 27 December, Litherland Town Hall; 31 December, Casbah Club). John Lennon asked him to go to West Germany for the Beatles' second trip, but Newby chose to return to university.[1] After Lennon and George Harrison both declined to switch to bass guitar, Paul McCartney, who previously played guitar and piano, reluctantly became the band's bass player.[2]
Personal life and death
Newby taught mathematics at Droitwich Spa High School in Droitwich Spa and most recently lived in Alcester, where he played in a charity group, the Racketts. In 2016, Newby began performing as a member of the Quarrymen, the band that was the precursor to the Beatles.[3]
Newby died on 22 May 2023, at the age of 81.[4]
