Fact #194254
When:
Short story:
The Beatles set off on their final UK tour, supported by The Moody Blues, The Koobas, The Paramounts and Beryl Marsden. The first gig is at the Odeon Cinema, Glasgow, Scotland and, en route, George's Gretsch Countryman guitar falls from the car and is destroyed.Full article:
Alf Bicknell (Beatles chauffeur) : Mal (Evans, roadie) had already left, in the van with the gear, but the boys done a bit of rehearsing, so there was a couple of guitars left lying about. Now, we had a boot on the Rolls which opened flat-wise, so I had to put the suitcases in and strap the guitars on the top. About 30 miles north of London I pass a big truck, on the dual carriageway.
I remember Ringo saying "Where's the snow?" because the forecast said it would snow. So I says, "I think we've missed it Richie." Then he says "Alf, that truck we passed is flashing its lights."
So I get out of the Rolls and go round the back and the straps have come undone. Neil came out beside me. There were supposed to be three guitars, but now there were only two. So the truck pulls up and driver shouts, "I don't want to worry you lads, but you've just lost a banjo."
Neil and I debated for a few minutes about which of us would tell them. I got elected and I went back and told them. John said, "Alf, turn the car round and, if you can find a guitar, you can have a bonus."
"A bonus?" I said. "What bonus?"
"You can have your job back," says John. We turned the car round and went back, but all we found was the pieces of this guitar, smashed and strewn along the road.
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I remember Ringo saying "Where's the snow?" because the forecast said it would snow. So I says, "I think we've missed it Richie." Then he says "Alf, that truck we passed is flashing its lights."
So I get out of the Rolls and go round the back and the straps have come undone. Neil came out beside me. There were supposed to be three guitars, but now there were only two. So the truck pulls up and driver shouts, "I don't want to worry you lads, but you've just lost a banjo."
Neil and I debated for a few minutes about which of us would tell them. I got elected and I went back and told them. John said, "Alf, turn the car round and, if you can find a guitar, you can have a bonus."
"A bonus?" I said. "What bonus?"
"You can have your job back," says John. We turned the car round and went back, but all we found was the pieces of this guitar, smashed and strewn along the road.