Monday, May 20, 2019

Jimmie Nicol

When Ringo Starr collapsed with tonsillitis in June 1964 on the eve of their Australian tour, the Beatles were faced with the grim possibility of cancelling their tour. Instead of canceling their tour manager Brian Epstein suggested a fill in for Ringo. After negotiations the group and their manager agreed an understudy drummer was the way to go. Producer George Martin suggested Jimmie Nicol a relatively unknown studio drummer. In the span of a day he auditioned and got on a plane with the Beatles to start their tour. Nicol hoped his time with the Beatles would give him fame and fortune, but in the span of two weeks he went from obscurity to fame and back. Years later he said playing with the Beatles was the worst thing that had ever happened to him because he got a taste of fame that he could never keep long term. For his troubles he was given a £500 gold watch inscribed: “From the Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy – with appreciation and gratitude." The watch is estimated to be worth close to a million dollars in 2019.

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