The very talented but rejected The Beatles

[Luuk]

The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records and were turned down with the remark that the time of guitar groups was long gone.
Luckily they were more successful at Parlophone (EMI) and I wonder what the guy at Decca heard from his boss when he learned about this rejection and missed opportunity to make millions..

[Ben]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

[Luuk]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

I don't know. They once were opening act for Helen Shapiro!

[javilu]

The Beatles were rejected by DECCA after recording there a 15 song demo in January 1, 1962.
DECCA (probably producer Mike Smith) chose Brian Poole and The Tremeloes over The Beatles.
Talk about bad bussiness decisions!!

[ColinB]

The Beatles were rejected by DECCA after recording there a 15 song demo in January 1, 1962.
DECCA (probably producer Mike Smith) chose Brian Poole and The Tremeloes over The Beatles.
Talk about bad bussiness decisions!!

According to legend, it was Dick Rowe !

[JamesVRoy]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

No, they auditioned when they were the Silver Beatles but refused when told they'd have to sack the bass player, Stu Sutcliffe.

[Ben]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

No, they auditioned when they were the Silver Beatles but refused when told they'd have to sack the bass player, Stu Sutcliffe.

Oh, thank you for the information.

[javilu]

The Beatles were rejected by DECCA after recording there a 15 song demo in January 1, 1962.
DECCA (probably producer Mike Smith) chose Brian Poole and The Tremeloes over The Beatles.
Talk about bad bussiness decisions!!

According to legend, it was Dick Rowe !

Many have speculated who made the decision to reject The Beatles. While various accounts of the audition have been published, most agree it was either Dick Rowe, producer Mike Smith or ex-Shadow Tony Meehan.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decca_Audition

[genesim]

At any rate, I completely understand on the Silver Beatles if it is minus Ringo Starr. As unbelievable as it is, I do not think they had "the sound" till he came along. This much is obvious from early recordings. I often talk about chemistry in a band, and this is a prime example. It is all parts that count, and that is why reunions without ALL the key players are less then what they should be.

The groups succeed after the group has the perfect combination, the same should be true for a band in its twilight.

[KiwiAlan]

Decca didn't need the Silver Beatles.

They had Elvis Presley!

[likethebike]

You can always find these little rejections in every great success story like Elvis' relative flop at the Opry or getting rejected by Arthur Godfrey. Stephen Stills and John Sebastian being rejected for the Monkees.I have always thought that the biggest star we'll eventually see from American Idol for instance is somebody who didn't even make the final cut.

Even the Tremeloes decision has its parallels. In the 1950s Buck Ram was managing two vocal groups the Penguins and the Platters who were both on indy labels. He was looking to land both on a major label. He got Mercury interested in the Penguins, who had recently scored a major hit with "Earth Angel". He insisted to the label that they throw in a contract for the Platters as well. They were so hot to get the Penguins and in with the youth market, they agreed. The Penguins, despite some fine efforts, never again made the Top 40. The throw in Platters went on to become the most successful vocal group of the ensuing half decade.

[TJ]

I used to work with Mike Smith and he was known in the building as the guy who screwed up with the Beatles.

[javilu]

Decca didn't need the Silver Beatles.

They had Elvis Presley!

From 1964 on, they did.

I used to work with Mike Smith and he was known in the building as the guy who screwed up with the Beatles.

That's what I thought, since he was the guy who auditioned them.

[KevR]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

The Silver Beatles and several other Liverpool bands auditioned for Billy Fury and his manager Larry Parnes and the Beatles lost out to another group (whose name escapes me at the moment) for the honour of backing up the UK's premier rock n roller.

Larry Parnes did however hire The Silver Beatles to back another of his "artistes" the not so famous "Johnny Gentle". The Beatles duly went on a tour of Scotland with Mr Gentle which they later described as one of their most miserable experiences ever.

[Ben]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

The Silver Beatles and several other Liverpool bands auditioned for Billy Fury and his manager Larry Parnes and the Beatles lost out to another group (whose name escapes me at the moment) for the honor of backing up the UK's premier rock n roller.

Larry Parnes did however hire The Silver Beatles to back another of his "artistes" the not so famous "Johnny Gentle". The Beatles duly went on a tour of Scotland with Mr Gentle which they later described as one of their most miserable experiences ever.

Thanks for the info Kev, I have never heard of Johnny Giant but looked him up on Google and youtube and heard him sing Mack The Knife and he was an OK singer, a bit too much like Marty and Billy though.

[KevR]

Wasn't they also rejected as the back-up singers of Billy Fury??

The Silver Beatles and several other Liverpool bands auditioned for Billy Fury and his manager Larry Parnes and the Beatles lost out to another group (whose name escapes me at the moment) for the honor of backing up the UK's premier rock n roller.

Larry Parnes did however hire The Silver Beatles to back another of his "artistes" the not so famous "Johnny Gentle". The Beatles duly went on a tour of Scotland with Mr Gentle which they later described as one of their most miserable experiences ever.

Thanks for the info Kev, I have never heard of Johnny Giant but looked him up on Google and youtube and heard him sing Mack The Knife and he was an OK singer, a bit too much like Marty and Billy though.

You're welcome Ben and here's a link to photos of the actual auditon:

http://www.beatlesource.com/savage/1960/60.05.10%20larry%20parnes/60.05.10larryparnes.html

Here you'll find the Beatles (well you can see George) on stage with Johnny Gentle:

http://www.beatlesource.com/savage/1960/60.05.20%20johnny%20gentle/60.05.20johnnygentle.html

[jetblack]

KevR - 'The Tornado's' were the group that backed Fury.

Andy

[KevR]

Thanks Andy

[Luuk]

The Tornados also had hits of their own, like "Telstar".

[drjohncarpenter]

You can always find these little rejections in every great success story like Elvis' relative flop at the Opry or getting rejected by Arthur Godfrey. Stephen Stills and John Sebastian being rejected for the Monkees.I have always thought that the biggest star we'll eventually see from American Idol for instance is somebody who didn't even make the final cut.

It's already happened -- Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award for her role in Dreamgirls.

[midnightx]

You can always find these little rejections in every great success story like Elvis' relative flop at the Opry or getting rejected by Arthur Godfrey. Stephen Stills and John Sebastian being rejected for the Monkees.I have always thought that the biggest star we'll eventually see from American Idol for instance is somebody who didn't even make the final cut.

It's already happened -- Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award for her role in Dreamgirls.

Surprisingly Bo Bice hasn't dominated in similar fashion.

[drjohncarpenter]

Surprisingly Bo Bice hasn't dominated in similar fashion.

His time will come, just give it a few more years.