John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr signed the photograph of the group – with Starr also writing a personal dedication at the top – before a gig in the Midlands at the beginning of Beatlemania.
An iconic collection of photographs is set to go under the hammer with Richard Winterton Auctioneers on Monday, September 29, at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park.
The vendor, 74-year-old Chris Barrows, recalls how his late brother Phil found himself face-to-face with The Beatles at the Coventry Theatre in 1963. Their father Ron was Steinway’s chief piano tuner for the Midlands and had been called in to prepare the instrument ahead of a Beatles show and other performances.
My dad came home one day and said he was going to tune the piano ahead of The Beatles’ show,” said Chris, who now lives in Atherstone. “I didn’t go as at that time I was more interested in football. But my brother had been playing guitar for six months and went along.
When the pair arrived, The Beatles were already there. Ron had to ask Ringo Starr to stop playing the drums so he could work. That gave Phil the chance to step into the band’s dressing room, where the budding guitarist enjoyed a quick jam with the stars.
“He played guitar with John Lennon and Paul McCartney and even had a go on Paul’s left-handed bass,” Chris remembered.
Phil also returned with a treasured photograph signed by the group, complete with a personal dedication written in blue ink at the top: “To Philip best wishes from The Beatles.”
John Lennon’s autograph appears in the top left corner of the picture, with Ringo Starr’s signature faintly visible under the dark suits. On the reverse are the signatures of George Harrison and Paul McCartney.
“This is a super set of all four autographs from the biggest band in the world, signed right on the cusp of Beatlemania,” said Rob French, ephemera valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers. “The precise date of the meeting is not remembered by the vendor but it was possibly November 1963, as The Beatles played the Coventry Theatre on November 17 that year. What a thrill it must have been for this young music fan to not only meet The Fab Four but to get all their autographs with a personal dedication.”
At the theatre, Phil also managed to secure another signed photograph for his younger brother, although that copy has since been lost. In the years that followed, Chris picked up the drums and joined Phil, who by then had moved from guitar to keyboards. Together they performed professionally, often backing American stars on tour including Del Shannon, Bobby Vee and The Coasters.
Footage of their band Impala on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973, performing with Del Shannon on Louise, Louise and Kelly, can still be found on YouTube. Phil later moved to France and sadly passed away in September last year at the age of 75, leaving behind a lifetime of music.
Music ran deep in the family. Their father Ron also enjoyed a star-studded career, travelling across the Midlands to tune pianos for top classical performers and leading jazz musicians such as Dave Brubeck and Miles Davis.
From 1970 to 1975 he tuned pianos ahead of concerts by an extraordinary list of names including Shirley Bassey, Nana Mouskouri, The Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Hawkwind, Fats Domino, Al Green, The Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, Dionne Warwick, The Faces, Deep Purple, Status Quo, Humble Pie, Jethro Tull, Bryan Ferry, 10cc, Perry Como and Glen Campbell.
At Steinway’s request, Ron tuned a model ‘B’ grand piano for Elton John at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 1974. His services were also called upon by the NEC, including for Mike Oldfield in 1979 and Squeeze in 1990.
Estimated at £1,500 to £2,000, the signed Beatles photograph goes under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, in the Antique & Home Sale on Monday, September 29, starting at 9am.
Viewing in person takes place on Friday, September 26, between 10am and 4pm.
The catalogue goes live a week beforehand and can be viewed via www.richardwinterton.co.uk/auctions/auction-calendar.
For more information, to arrange a free valuation of autographs, posters and all other types of ephemera and memorabilia, or to enquire about a home visit for large collections or house clearances, email office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call 01543 251081.
Visit www.richardwinterton.co.uk
