Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles, was in Delhi for a performance

It’s not often that a drummer who was once an integral part of The Beatles descends on Delhi to perform. So when Pete Best got ready for his gig at the British Council, the courtyard was packed to capacity for this evening of 60s and 70s rock. Best didn’t disappoint. Now 67, he played some exciting rock ‘n’ roll rhythms from his early years with The Beatles. The man behind the drums for The Beatles from 1960-1962 was unceremoniously fired in the winter of 1962.

The concert began with a John Lennon-Paul McCartney composition, the popular One After 909 , to many cheers and whistles. Best’s hair might be a lot whiter but the energy was full on as he played with his brother Roag and bandmates Phil Melia, Paul Parry and Tony Flinn who seemed equally unplugged. An impromptu guitar routine which seemed somewhat inspired by the Indian sitar also got some applause.

Best then played the famous My Bonnie —a song they had all sung and played in 1961. The song included the slow intro and the fast version followed, which sounded as brusque and quick as the original one.

The concert did evoke The Beatles spirit while Best added his own style of drum beats to it and the result was a good mishmash of other old numbers like Its going to be rock ‘n’ roll music, Twist and shout and It’s all right. Best chose the popular Chan Romero’s Hippie hippie shake to end the show, and well, he did have the audience shouting to let it rip!

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