The First Beatles Member to Play Keyboard in Front of a Live Audience: A Trivia Deep Dive
The Beatles, one of the most iconic bands in music history, had an interesting transition in their musical line-up, particularly regarding keyboard players. The band's journey began in Liverpool, and over time, various members played keyboard either occasionally or as their primary instrument. This article delves into the trivia surrounding the first Beatles member to play keyboard in front of a live audience, namely
Who Was the First Member of The Beatles to Play Keyboard in Front of a Live Audience?
It was McCartney. The story of his early contributions to the band's musical repertoire is fascinating. His journey with the band saw him take on multiple roles, including lead vocals, bass, and occasionally, keyboard. During their Hamburg residency, McCartney's guitar collapsed, leaving him temporarily without an instrument. However, his duties didn't stop him from performing. He still sang, and photographs show that the band had a small piano at some performances.
Considering a live performance at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, it is evident that McCartney occasionally played this piano. Notably, he played the song 'I’ll Follow the Sun' on the piano for the Hamburg audience. He would announce before playing that he had written a song, though he had in fact already composed many by that point. This early display of musical versatility and creativity set the stage for his later solo performances on the piano.
Early Keyboard Performances
Shortly after, when Lennon acquired his iconic Rickenbacker 325, McCartney was relieved from much of his keyboard duties, shifting his focus towards his main instrument, the bass guitar. However, this didn't mean he ever stopped occasionally playing keyboard. In 1961, an interesting trivia fact is that John Lennon played piano at Litherland Town Hall on October 19, 1961, during a performance with another band.
On this occasion, the performance was part of a cover version for "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "What'd I Say," "Red Sails In The Sunset," and "Hit The Road Jack." John took up the piano while Les Chadwick of the Pacemakers handled bass, and the other members played guitar, with Paul, George, and Gerry all contributing to the performance. This event marked an early instance of a Beatle contributing to a live keyboard performance before the band became internationally famous.
Other Early Keyboard Performers
It's worth noting that there were other early keyboard performers within the Beatles' line-up. Duff Lowe, a member of the Quarrymen, was the first to play keyboard in a professional setting for the band. In 1958, he played piano for some Quarrymen gigs and was even on the record the group cut at a local studio, featuring songs like "That’ll Be The Day" and the original "In Spite of All The Danger." However, considering the Quarrymen as part of the Beatles' earlier formation, Duff Lowe would be the answer.
If one strictly considers the four main members who achieved significant fame and success, McCartney is the definite answer. His performances on the keyboard, albeit occasional, were significant in contributing to the band's musical evolution during their early years, highlighting the diverse talents within the group before they became the legendary band we know today.