Paul McCartney Letter Seeking Drummer Goes Up For Auction

Before there was Ringo Starr, there was Pete Best. And before there was Pete Best, the Beatles were searching in the classifieds of the Liverpool Echo newspaper for a new drummer. A newly discovered letter written by Paul McCartney shows that the Beatles offered an unnamed drummer an audition in 1960, a few days before the band left for a two month gig around Germany.

CBS reports that McCartney wrote the letter on Aug. 12, 1960 to an unidentified man in Liverpool. The McCartney letter was written in response to an ad that simply said: “Drummer_Young_Free.”

McCartney, who addressed the letter to “sir,” wrote:

“Expenses paid 18 pounds per week (approx) for two months… If interested ring Jacaranda club… Yours sincerely, Paul McCartney of the BEATLES.”

So who was this mystery drummer? Beatles experts aren’t sure, but they know one person that it’s not. Ringo Starr. At the time the letter was written Ringo Starr was already a successful drummer for the band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. It’s not likely that Starr was placing ads in the paper looking for a new job.

Sir Paul McCartney might be able to shed some light on the mystery drummer, but the former Beatle is currently on his honeymoon with his new bride Nancy Shevell.

Christie’s will be auctioning off the letter, and other pop memorabilia, on November 15th. A spokesman for the auction house said that they expect the letter to fetch around $11,000.

Do you think an old drummer has been moping around Liverpool for the last 60 years after missing his chance to play with the Beatles?