Episode #40 Stu Sutcliffe The Abstract Beatle

Published: April 19, 2022, 9:02 a.m.

b'The Beatles\\u2019 diminutive co-founder, man of mystery, king of cool, abstract artist, fragile angel, tragic hero.\\xa0Stuart Sutcliffe\\u2019s short life has been well documented, based on the recollections of some who knew him. His image has been immortalized by fianc\\xe9e Astrid Kirchherr\\u2019 iconic photos. His expressionistic paintings survive on canvas. And his voice can be detected in a few of the letters he wrote. But we don\\u2019t have a clue how he sounded\\u2014speaking, singing or (barely discernible on some lo-fi amateur recordings) playing bass. And, so far, nothing\\u2019s emerged of him on film. So, from the public\\u2019s perspective, what does he actually bring to The Beatles\\u2019 story?\\xa0The music in this episode is from rehearsals captured at the McCartney home on a Grundig reel-to-reel in April and June of 1960\\u2014before the group had a permanent drummer, before the first trip to Hamburg:\\xa0* Well, Darling* One After 909* Hallelujah, I Love Her So** Cayenne** That\\u2019s When Your Heartaches Begin* Hello Little Girl* You\\u2019ll Be Mine*\\xa0* with Stuart Sutcliffe playing bass'