The current moment is a dream for Beatles fans, with a wave of new releases keeping the legacy of the band alive. Beyond Peter Jackson’s acclaimed Get Back documentary, audiences have recently enjoyed Beatles ’64, a film capturing the frenzy of the group’s early American takeover. Even more content is on the horizon, including four biopics featuring major Hollywood stars and the long-awaited fourth installment of the Anthology series.
This surge of fresh material offers deeper insight and a richer understanding of what many consider the greatest pop group in history. Yet within this renewed spotlight, the story of former drummer Pete Best resurfaces once again. Fans are left wondering how he might be depicted in the upcoming biopics — or if he’ll appear at all — and whether Anthology 4 will include any of his early drumming contributions.
Pete Best, famously dismissed just before The Beatles achieved worldwide fame, endured years of hardship as he tried to move beyond the band’s enormous shadow. He stepped away from music entirely for two decades before making a return to performing in 1988, by which time his life had moved far beyond the world of rock stardom.
The original Anthology project revisited the band’s beginnings, and Best received official credit on seven tracks included in the first volume. The release was a massive success, selling over 400,000 copies on its first day in 1995, and it brought Best a major financial boost.
Author Philip Norman reveals that it was Paul McCartney who made the crucial call to Best, offering him the long-overdue payment. “Some wrongs need to be righted,” McCartney reportedly said, telling the former drummer that there was money owed to him and he was free to accept it or not.
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