“It’s a natural question for people to
ask because of the history I was associated with,” he good-naturedly
replied in his thick Liverpool accent. “The beauty of it now is that
the band and myself are raising our own profiles. It’s not so much
about many years ago; it’s more important to ask what is happening now
and in the future. So the question gets answered and then I move on.”
But he hasn’t entirely moved on, which is evident from a listen to The Pete Best Band’s new CD, Haymans Green (Lightyear/EMI). Decidedly autobiographical, Haymans Green
is set to launch Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Virgin Megastore in New
York City’s Union Square. “It is filled with original material written
by the band and myself, mostly autobiographical, about the ups and
downs in life and certain things which are important to me,” said Best,
66.
Interestingly enough, there is ample
Mersey Beat/Liverpool sound on the CD to almost think you’re hearing
the Fab Four, circa 1965. Almost. With the invitation to “Come With
Me,” the CD’s first track, the listener goes on a pleasant, benign
journey through Best’s past. “Round and Around” is a real toe-tapper,
while the guitar riff in “Gone” mimics that in “And Your Bird Can
Sing.” With “Beat Street,” you think you’re hearing Freddie and the Dreamers all over again, with its fuzzy guitars and skippy drum beat. The whole shebang ends where the Beatles began, when they were The Quarrymen
playing in the Casbah Coffee Club, operated by Best’s mother,
Mona Best, in the basement of their Hayman’s Green house.
All those years ago: Pete Best has no regrets despite his dismissal from The Beatles in 1962.
Some early Beatles pictures, including one with Paul McCartney and John Lennon
sporting pompadours, and other interesting memorabilia, make up the art
that embellishes the CD jacket. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Best said
about having his career rekindled after so many years. “I never thought
that 20 years down the line I would be touring with a great band,
around the world, having an original CD released, portraying my life
story in music, so to speak. I still love performing, I love touring.”
Best also entered a new phase in his performing career with a cameo in this summer’s Rainn Wilson movie, The Rocker.
“We were approached by the people making this particular film, and I
was told there was a cameo for me if I’m interested. Well, of course
I’m bloody interested! It had to be done quickly. It was filmed in
Toronto. So I stepped back home again after the last tour, dropped my
suitcase, said hello to my wife, daughters and grandchildren, and got
back on the plane.
“The film runs parallel to what happened
to me. Life goes full circle for him, and he’s the winner. He’s reading
a magazine and looks up at a billboard, which has a photo of a band he
played for. ‘I used to be in that band,’ Wilson says. Then the camera
cuts to me and I say, ‘Yep, I know the feeling.’”
All You Need is Liverpool kicks off with The Fab Five at 8 p.m., then Best and his mates follow at 9 p.m., before Magical Mystery Tour,
an Oswego Beatles tribute band, takes the stage at 10:15 p.m. Tickets
cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Purchase them at
www.allyouneedisliverpool.com; at Meghan MacMurphy’s; at A&J Music,
104 E. Bridge St., Oswego; or the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, 314
Second St., Liverpool. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Chamber
and to the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. For more
information, call 382-7285.
—Molly English-Bowers
