The illustrated Friends: Stuart Sutcliffe

It's always surprising that there's ever room for debate about who the Fifth Beatle is. It surely can only be the full-time Beatle who recused themselves from the band. And that would be Stuart Sutcliffe. (And, to be fair, Pete Best is the only plausible Sixth Beatle, but if you want to argue the toss over Epstein-Williams-Ono or whoever being the Seventh Beatle, feel free.)

You're familiar with the story, of course, but just in case you're not, here's a Deustche Welle report on a cartoon retelling of Beatles Band: The Hamburg Years:



Towards the end of last year, a supposed recording of Stuart Sutcliffe singing Love Me Tender appeared:



Bill Harry, though reckons it isn't him, and Harry should know, having booked the Beatles early on.

The Stuart Sutcliffe Fan Club insists, though, that it is genuine, and they call Pauline Sutcliffe as evidence.

[Buy: Backbeat]
[Part of the illustrated Friends]