Other People With The Title Of 'Fifth Beatle' Quiz

Answer: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

The Beatles were attending a lecture by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Bangor, Wales, when they learned of Brian Epstein's passing on 27 August 1967.

Of the other choices, Shri Ramana Maharshi was an Advaita Vedanta sage of South India. Ravi Shankar is a master of the Sitar, a stringed instrument perhaps best known to western audiences as played by George Harrison on "Norwegian Wood". Ravi Shankar's involvement with the Beatles certainly made him an international star.

Ravi Shastri has no involvement with the Beatles. Shastri was an Indian Test Cricketer mainly in the 1980s.

Answer: Jimmy Nicol

Jimmy Nicol was drafted into the lineup by Brian Epstein only after first having to overcome George's initial refusal to play if Ringo wasn't going to be there.

Jimmy commenced his gig with the concert in Copenhagen on 4 June and continued until Ringo returned for the Melbourne concert on 14 June.

Pete Best of course could hardly be considered, given previous circumstances. Bobby Elliot was the drummer for The Hollies and Mick Avory pounded the skins for The Kinks. At no time were either of them a fifth for the Fab Four.

Answer: Andy White

During the recording sessions for "Please Please Me", George Martin was unconvinced with Ringo's technical ability, so he drafted in Andy White, an EMI session musician.

Answer: George Martin

Parlaphone's George Martin was the Beatles' producer from "Please Please Me" until (but not including) "Let It Be", which was produced by Phil Spector.

Answer: Klaus Voormann

Klaus Voormann was awarded a Grammy for for Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts, in 1965 for the "Revolver" cover. Klaus became aware of the Beatles after having a fight with his then girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr. He wandered into a club called the 'Reeperbahn' and heard them playing, and thus the relationship was formed.

Klaus later became the bass guitarist in Manfred Mann.

Answer: Yes

The answer is yes. Stu Sutcliffe was a proper member of a five-man Beatle lineup during the group's Hamburg days.

Answer: Billy Preston

It was Billy Preston, who even gained the rare distinction of being credited on a label. "Don't Let Me Down (w - Billy Preston)".

Whilst Eric Clapton played guest solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", that was for "The Beatles" rather than "Let It Be".

George Best was a Northern Irish footballer who died in 2005. He was sometimes referred to as the 'Fifth Beatle' because of his good looks and flamboyant lifestyle.

Regarding Yoko Ono, I shall restrict my comments in the interest of goodness and niceness! Whilst Yoko may have sat in (literally) on the "Let It Be" sessions, one can only observe that the Stones were not so foolish to let her do the same with them.

Answer: Stu Sutcliffe

It can be reasonably argued that Stu Sutcliffe was the most genuinely-named 'Fifth Beatle', as for a short time in Hamburg, he was a bona-fide member of a five-man Beatles lineup. Stu was the first Beatles to adopt the 'mop-top' haircut, a legacy of his girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr. (Yes, she was also Klaus Voorman's girlfriend, as per question 5!).

Many theories abound as to the reason for Stu's death. These range from a fight he had with John Lennon in Hamburg some time earlier, to an unrelated beating in Liverpool, to a hereditary condition.

Mal Evans was a Beatles' roadie. Mike McGear is Paul McCartney's brother, who changed his last name because he was intent on making it in the music business without the assistance of the McCartney name. He was moderately successful, as a member of Scaffold, best known for "Lily The Pink".

Pete Best is, of course, the Beatle that fate and time forgot...

Answer: Brian Epstein

Most people know that Brian Epstein worked at NEMS (North End Music Stores) and that is where he first became aware of the Beatles, after being asked for a copy of "My Bonnie".

However, prior to taking over NEMS, the Epstein family owned a furniture business next door. Brian worked as a salesman there from the age of 16.

Answer: Murray Kaufman

Murray "The K" Kaufman was a radio D.J. with W.I.N.S. at the time of the first Beatles U.S. visit. It is generally opined that he created the term and applied to himself, for self-promotional reasons!