Former Beatles bassist and founding member of The Quarrymen Chas Newby passed away today at the age of 91. At Liverpool’s Cavern Club, where The Beatles first achieved popularity, his passing was revealed. When Stuart Sutcliffe was in Hamburg for a few shows, Newby took over as The Beatles’ bass player. As the first left-handed bassist to play for The Beatles, he later joined The Quarrymen and is remembered for his work with them.
A “charming man” who played a little part in The Beatles in 1960, Newby was remembered and condoled for on social media by a Beatles enthusiast named Mark Lewishon.
Lewishon emphasized that Newby was part of an important period in the history of the Beatles, which included a significant performance in Litherland.
Even though Lennon wanted him to continue the band’s trip to West Germany in the 1960s, Newby decided to go back to school instead of pursuing his musical career.
In a 2012 interview with the Sunday Mercury, Newby said that chemistry was what he actually wanted to study and that he never intended to support himself through music. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were all primarily concerned with advancing their musical careers, but Newby took a different route.
After his brief stint with the band, Newby made the decision to pursue a career in education, and he eventually became a teacher. He asserted that despite The Beatles’ enormous success, he didn’t regret his choice to leave the band and go back to school.
Up until the time of his death, Newby maintained this position and said he had no regrets about his choice of career. He leaves behind a man who had a little but crucial part in the formation of one of the most influential bands in history.