The Fifth Beatle
Who is it?
Pete Best (drummer before Ringo. John credited him as being the best drummer the Beatles had)
Stuart Sutcliffe (guitarist who died of brain hemorrhage just before Beatles got big)
Brian Epstein (manager 1961 until death in 67)
George Martin (manager following Epstein's death)
other
I'm going with Epstein for numerous reasons.
1. Paul called him the 5th Beatle
2. He brought the band from being some second rate group playing in Hamburg to being the most popular ever.
3. His death marked the beginning of the break up. He kept that group together and his death marked the beginning of the feuding.
4. Martin wasn't as effective as Epstein. He couldn't control the group and John used this and let Yoko get involved. He couldn't keep the group together.
Fifth beetle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stag_Beetle)? fuckin things hurt when they clamp down on your toes!
no no no
Fifth Beetle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle)
In all seriousness I'll agree with IDF...
Yoko Ono!
Number 9, Number 9, Number 9
Maineiacs
14-09-2007, 21:40
Billy Preston
I'd also say Billy Preston, he recorded with them in a lot of songs, and really good ones like Get Back
Maineiacs
14-09-2007, 22:01
I'd also say Billy Preston, he recorded with them in a lot of songs, and really good ones like Get Back
Not only that, but they actually were considering asking him to officially join the band, but they broke up before it could happen.
I'd have to say Stuart Sutcliffe. Pete, for all his talent (And contrasting hairstyle), was actually kicked out of the band; the band made a decision and had to say "He's not one of us" (Yes, I know it didn't quite happen like that, but you know what I mean). Stuart, however, was removed from the band by..uh...let's just call it "unforseen circumstances." Nobody chose or consented to his leaving; if any other musician has to count as a part of the Beatles, it has to be him, since he never really left the band at all.
[NS]I BEFRIEND CHESTNUTS
14-09-2007, 23:10
Apu.
Faxanavia
14-09-2007, 23:27
Firstly, it's not "Beetle", it's "Beatle". Secondly, I have to chose other, mainly because there was no fifth beatle. None. Nil. Zero. Nada. Zip.
Great Void
15-09-2007, 00:08
Paul Glenn
Bodies Without Organs
15-09-2007, 00:11
Your man who joined after Paul got killed in that car crash.
Great Void
15-09-2007, 00:13
Your man who joined after Paul got killed in that car crash.
That'd be Paul Glenn.
Bodies Without Organs
15-09-2007, 00:14
That'd be Paul Glenn.
Really? I thought it was Billy Shepherd or something? I want to say Billy Shears.
Australiasiaville
15-09-2007, 00:18
I BEFRIEND CHESTNUTS;13052953']Apu.
Damn it, beat me to it.
Great Void
15-09-2007, 00:18
Really? I thought it was Billy Shepherd or something? I want to say Billy Shears.
No. Paul Glenn was/is allergic to socks, that's why he is sockless in that Abbey Road pic.
Logopolon
15-09-2007, 01:19
Brian Kelly, the promoter that got them into The Cavern (and a helluva lot of other places besides).
He was offered the managers job after Epstein died, but told them where they could shove it...
I V Stalin
15-09-2007, 01:23
Another couple of names: how about Mal Evans (roadie) or Jimmy Nicol (replacement drummer on '64 Australian tour)?
If forced to admin a fifth Beatle it would have to be Sutcliffe or Preston...maybe Epstein.
CanuckHeaven
15-09-2007, 01:43
Who is it?
Pete Best (drummer before Ringo. John credited him as being the best drummer the Beatles had)
Stuart Sutcliffe (guitarist who died of brain hemorrhage just before Beatles got big)
Brian Epstein (manager 1961 until death in 67)
George Martin (manager following Epstein's death)
other
I'm going with Epstein for numerous reasons.
1. Paul called him the 5th Beatle
2. He brought the band from being some second rate group playing in Hamburg to being the most popular ever.
3. His death marked the beginning of the break up. He kept that group together and his death marked the beginning of the feuding.
4. Martin wasn't as effective as Epstein. He couldn't control the group and John used this and let Yoko get involved. He couldn't keep the group together.
Pete Best was called the 5th Beatle (http://www.petebest.com/)way back when.
Bodies Without Organs
15-09-2007, 02:15
If forced to admin a fifth Beatle it would have to be Sutcliffe or Preston...maybe Epstein.
Why would Sutcliffe, the fourth Beatle, be the fifth Beatle?
Monkeypimp
15-09-2007, 07:38
Yoko Ono!
Screw Yoko Ono. She completely ruined the Plastic Ono band..
The Nazz
15-09-2007, 07:52
I look at their discography, and I have to say that I think the Beatles did their best work with Martin, not Epstein. Their best Epstein album, IIRC, is Revolver, which some claim (wrongly, in my opinion, though it's close) is their best. But with Martin, they made Sgt. Pepper, MMT, The White Album, Yellow Submarine and Let It Be. That's a hell of a track record for a producer.
As to the argument that Martin couldn't keep them together, I think that's a joke. Bands break up all the time, even great ones. Hell, I can make a strong case that the Rolling Stones have inexorably damaged their legacy by not breaking up--they haven't made an interesting album in over 25 years. I think the best thing the Beatles did was realize that the run was over and left before they became pale imitations of their former selves.
Callisdrun
15-09-2007, 08:46
Who is it?
Pete Best (drummer before Ringo. John credited him as being the best drummer the Beatles had)
Stuart Sutcliffe (guitarist who died of brain hemorrhage just before Beatles got big)
Brian Epstein (manager 1961 until death in 67)
George Martin (manager following Epstein's death)
other
I'm going with Epstein for numerous reasons.
1. Paul called him the 5th Beatle
2. He brought the band from being some second rate group playing in Hamburg to being the most popular ever.
3. His death marked the beginning of the break up. He kept that group together and his death marked the beginning of the feuding.
4. Martin wasn't as effective as Epstein. He couldn't control the group and John used this and let Yoko get involved. He couldn't keep the group together.
Stuart Sutcliffe was the bassist before he left the band, not a third guitarist. When he left, Paul switched over to bass.
I would agree on Epstein's importance to the Beatles, though.
Personally I always thought that they were best epitomised by Keith Richards.
Wasn't it George Best? That Northern-Irish football player, who drunk himself to death?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Best