Chas Newby, the British musician who played bass guitar for the Beatles during their early years, died at the age of 81. His cause of death has not been revealed.
On Tuesday morning, tributes to the Beatles’ first left-handed bassist, who also played with John Lennon in his first band, The Quarrymen, began to circulate on social media.
Roag Best, Pete Best’s brother, verified the news on Facebook, expressing tremendous regret for the passing of their close family friend, Chas Newby. He praised Newby’s work as a bass guitarist for both The Beatles and The Quarrymen, while also praising his genial and laid-back nature. The Best family will miss him terribly and remember him fondly.
Chas Newby obituary
British musician Charles Newby, often known as Chas Newby, was born on June 18, 1941. He briefly served as the Beatles’ bassist, taking over for Stuart Sutcliffe, who was then concentrating on his art career in Hamburg, Germany.
The Beatles were without a bass guitarist when they returned from their first tour to West Germany. Chas Newby was proposed to be brought in by Pete Best, a former member of The Black Jacks and a current member of the Beatles. Newby, who was a college student on vacation, consented to join the Beatles and play bass for them.
In December 1960, Chas Newby shared the stage with the Beatles for four performances. These performances took held on December 17 in Liverpool’s Casbah Club, December 24 at Liscard’s Grosvenor Ballroom, December 27 at Litherland Town Hall, and again on December 31 at Casbah Club.
John Lennon requested that Newby join the band on their second tour to West Germany after these concerts, but Newby opted to go back to school. Paul McCartney, who had previously played guitar and piano, unwillingly assumed the position of the Beatles’ bass player after Newby left.
Chas Newby’s net worth at death
Chas Newby’s net worth at the of his death is estimated to be $10 million dollars.