Original Beatles drummer Pete Best has announced his retirement from the music industry at the age of 83.
His brother Roag announced on X this past Saturday that he’s dropping out of the public eye due to “personal circumstances.” “Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had,” wrote Roag. “However, everything comes to pass. My brother Pete Best has announced today he is retiring from personal appearances and performing with the group. His daughter has informed me it’s due to personal circumstances.” Best reposted the tweet to his own page, writing, “I had a blast. Thank you.”
Best was the drummer for the Beatles from 1960 to 1962 with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. He joined the band as they would often play at his mother’s establishment, the Casbah Club, and he established a rapport with the group. After several years, Beatles manager Brian Epstein dismissed him from the band at the members’ request and replaced him with Ringo Starr after the group’s first recording session. Best’s drumming was later featured on the Beatles’ 1995 compilation “Anthology 1,” where he played on several tracks.
Following his departure from the Beatles, Best continued performing as part of the Pete Best Four and the Pete Best Combo before leaving the music business. Over the years, he worked as a civil servant before forming the Pete Best Band in the late 1980s.
Best is scheduled to perform at the Liverpool Beatles Museum in August, but it’s unclear if he’ll take the stage following news of his retirement.
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