Philadelphia, PA. (Top40 Charts/ www.rockartshow.com) - Before they were the Beatles, the Fab Four went through numerous name changes. A very little known fact is that the first time the band ever referred to themselves as The Beatles, the band spelled it "Beatals." A copy of a historic letter written by original fifth Beatle
Stuart Sutcliffe in March 1960 is now available as part of a new limited edition fine art reproduction entitled "Meet the Beatals." "Meet the Beatals" is a watercolor painting (circa 1957 - 1960) featuring the early
Beatles in their "Skiffle" days taken from
Stuart Sutcliffe's personal sketchbook. The historic letter is superimposed over the bottom of the painting. In the letter from late March 1960, Sutcliffe who refers to himself as the manager of the band, writes, "This is a promising group of young musicians who play music for all tastes, preferably rock and roll." Sutcliffe begins to refer to the band as the Quarrymen, then crosses it out and writes "The Beatals" - the first time the band ever called themselves by that name! The artwork is hand signed by
Pauline Sutcliffe, who is executor of the
Stuart Sutcliffe estate and Stuart's sister. This is the first limited edition art piece ever released by the Sutcliffe estate and only 175 numbered and signed copies will be produced. The work was officially released on June 23 on what would have been Stuart's 67th birthday and is currently available at https://www.rockartshow.com/zip/stu-sutcliffe-meet-the-beatals.html
Stuart Sutcliffe's influence on the Beatles was extraordinary. Stuart was coaxed into joining the band by his roommate, art school classmate and closest friend John Lennon. Stuart, an accomplished artist at a young age, sold one of his paintings and used the money to purchase a bass guitar. During Sutcliffe's time with the band, he gave them their name (Beatals), designed their collarless jackets and with his fiancee Astrid Kirrchher, created the "Beatles Mop Top" haircut. He quit the band while in Hamburg, Germany to pursue his art career and stay with Astrid. Tragically, Stuart died in 1962 at the age of 21 from a brain hemorrhage. In 1994, the film "Backbeat" was produced dramatizing Stuart's short life. In 2006, BBC commissioned a new documentary about Stuart's life and art, entitled, "Stuart Sutcliffe, The Lost Beatle." It received the "Creative Excellence" award at the US International Film and Video Festival.
"Meet the Beatals" is proudly published by Celebrity Arts, publishers of Ringo Starr's artwork and distributors of Paul McCartney's artwork in conjunction with Right Brain Revenue, Inc. presenters of "The Rock Art Show", (www.rockartshow.com) the largest touring rock and roll art show in the world.
