Stuart Sutcliffe

Infobox Person
name = Stuart Sutcliffe


image_size = 200px
caption = An Astrid Kirchherr photo of Sutcliffe in 1960.
birth_date = 23 June 1940
birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland
death_date = Death date and age|1962|4|10|1940|6|23|df=yes
Hamburg, West Germany
occupation = Artist, Bassist, Singer
spouse = Engaged to Astrid Kirchherr
parents = Charles and Millie Sutcliffe
children = None

Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe (23 June 1940 – 10 April 1962) was an artist, and the original bassist of The Beatles for two years. Sutcliffe earned praise for his paintings, which mostly explored a style related to Abstract Expressionism. Sutcliffe is one of the group of people sometimes referred to as "the fifth Beatle".

Sutcliffe and John Lennon are credited with coming up with the name for the Beatles, as they both liked Buddy Holly's band, the Crickets. Sutcliffe played with the Beatles in Hamburg, where he met photographer Astrid Kirchherr, to whom he was later engaged. He enrolled in the Hamburg College of Art after leaving The Beatles, and studied under future pop artist Eduardo Paolozzi.

Sutcliffe suffered from debilitating headaches while he was studying in Hamburg, and although tests were carried out by German doctors, no reason could be found for his worsening condition. He died of a brain haemorrhage on the way to hospital in April 1962, with Kirchherr sitting alongside him in the ambulance.

Early years

Sutcliffe's father, Charles Sutcliffe, was a naval officer, who was often at sea during his son's early years. His mother, Millie, was a schoolteacher. Sutcliffe had two sisters: Pauline and Joyce.cite web |first=Elizabeth |last=Fasolino |url=http://www.easthamptonstar.com/dnn/Arts/Sutcliffe/tabid/4229/Default.aspx |title=Stuart Sutcliffe: Lost Beatle |publisher=The East Hampton Star |date=2007-11-27|accessdate=2008-03-03]

Sutcliffe was born at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion Hospital, in Edinburgh, Scotland, brought up at 37 Aigburth Drive in Liverpool, and attended the Prescot Grammar School. Spitz 2005. p105] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/young.asp Prescot Grammar School uniform] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] When Sutcliffe's father did return home on leave, he invited his son and Rod Murray (Sutcliffe's room-mate) for a "real good booze-up" and slipped £10 into Sutcliffe's pocket before disappearing for another six months. Spitz 2005. p105] [http://www.geocities.com/imagine_80_jwl/Stuart3.html The Comprehensive Stuart Sutcliffe Website (Basic info)] geocities.com/imagine_80 - Retrieved 28 October 2007 ] During his first year at the Liverpool College of Art Sutcliffe worked as a bin man on the Liverpool Corporation waste collection trucks. [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/cheque.asp Sutcliffe's cheque book -] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] Lennon met Sutcliffe when they were both studying at the College of Art, and according to Lennon, Sutcliffe had a "marvellous art portfolio", and was a seriously talented painter who was one of the "stars" of the school. Spitz 2005. p105] Spitz 2005. p107] Paul McCartney said that he was jealous of Sutcliffe's relationship with Lennon, as he had to take a "back seat" to Sutcliffe. ”The Beatles Anthology” DVD 2003 (Episode 1 - 0:27:24) McCartney talking about being jealous of Sutcliffe’s friendship with Lennon.] Sutcliffe lived at 9 Percy Street, before being evicted and moving to Hillary Mansions at 3 Gambier Terrace, with fellow art student Margaret Chapman, who competed with Sutcliffe for the best painter spot in classes. [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/painting.asp Painting by Sutcliffe in Percy Street flat] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] The flat was opposite the new Anglican Cathedral in the run-down area of Liverpool 8, with bare lightbulbs and a mattress on the floor in the corner. Lennon moved in with Sutcliffe in early 1960. Miles 1997 p50] Cynthia Lennon – “John” 2006. p63] Sutcliffe and his flatmates painted the rooms yellow and black, which his landlady did not appreciate. On another occasion the tenants, needing to keep warm, burned the landlady's furniture in the flat. [ [http://triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/sutcliff2.shtml “I heard that Stuart had painted his room”, by Norman Allanson] triumphpc.com - Retrieved 26 November 2007 ]

After talking to Sutcliffe one night at The Casbah Coffee Club, owned by Pete Best's mother, Mona Best, Lennon and McCartney persuaded Sutcliffe to buy a Höfner 500/5 model, known in Europe as a "President" bass with the money he had won in the John Moore art exhibition. ”The Beatles Anthology” DVD 2003 (Episode 1 - 0:28:02) Harrison and McCartney talking about Sutcliffe’s first bass guitar. ] [ [http://www.rockmine.com/Stu2.html Sutcliffe's President Bass] rockmine.com - Retrieved: 9 May 2007 ] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/cheque.asp Sutcliffe's cheque book -] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ]

Sutcliffe was somewhat versed in music; he had sung in the local church choir in Huyton, his mother had insisted on piano lessons for him since the age of nine, he had played bugle in the Air Training Corps, and his father had taught him a few chords on the guitar. Spitz (2005) p173] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/choir.asp Photo of Sutcliffe in church choir] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] In May 1960, Sutcliffe joined Lennon, McCartney and Harrison (then known as The Silver Beetles). [Coleman, Ray (1984). "Lennon: The Definitive Biography". Pan Books. p212.] Cynthia Lennon – “John”. p66.] Sutcliffe's fingers would often blister during long rehearsals, as he had never played long enough for his fingers to become calloused, although he had previously played acoustic guitar. Cynthia Lennon – “John” 2006. p64] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/guitar.asp Sutcliffe’s first guitar] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] Sutcliffe started acting as a booking agent for the group, and they often used his flat as a rehearsal room. Miles 1997 p50]

In July 1960, the British Sunday newspaper "The People" ran an article entitled, "The Beatnik Horror", which featured a photograph taken in the flat below Sutcliffe's, with a teenaged Lennon lying on the floor. Allan Williams had set up the photograph. He took over from Sutcliffe booking concerts for "The Silver Beetles", as they were then known, which was Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Sutcliffe. Miles 1997 p53] The Beatles' subsequent name-change came from an afternoon in the Renshaw Hall bar when Sutcliffe, Lennon, and Cynthia Powell thought up names similar to Buddy Holly's band, The Crickets, and came up with "The Beatals". Spitz 2005. p175] Lennon later changed the name to "The Beatles", because he thought it sounded French and suggested "Le Beat", or "Beat-less". Cynthia Lennon – “John” 2006. p65] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/online/exhibitions/stewartbale/livemusic.asp Renshaw Hall bar] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 9 May 2007 ]

The Beatles and Hamburg

Sutcliffe's playing style was elementary, mostly sticking to root notes of chords. Spitz 2005. pp184-185] Bill Harry, an art school friend of Sutcliffe's and the group, and founder and editor of the "Mersey Beat" newspaper, complained to Sutcliffe that he should be concentrating on art and not music, as he thought that Sutcliffe was a competent but not brilliant bassist. Spitz 2005. pp173-174] While Sutcliffe is often described in Beatles biographies as appearing very uncomfortable onstage, and as often playing with his back to the audience, Pete Best denies this, recalling Sutcliffe as usually good-natured and "animated" before an audience. [ [http://www.rickresource.com/rrp/petebest.html An Evening With Pete Best, Part I: The Interview] rickresource.com - Retrieved: 20 Jan, 2007] When The Beatles auditioned for Larry Parnes at the Wyvern Club, Seel Street, Liverpool, Williams stated that Parnes would have taken the group as the backing band for Billy Fury, but as Sutcliffe turned his back to Parnes throughout the audition — because, as Williams believed, Sutcliffe couldn't play very well — Parnes said that he would only employ the group if they got rid of Sutcliffe. Harry has said that the story is not true, as Parnes' only concern was that the group had no permanent drummer. [http://www.beatlefolks.com/bharry2.shtml Bill Harry interview on Beatle Folks] - Retrieved 28 November 2007 ]

McCartney has said that Sutcliffe was a typical art student, with bad skin and pimples, although in Hamburg, his stature grew after he began wearing dark Ray-Ban sunglasses and tight trousers. Miles 1997 p65] Sutcliffe's high spot was singing "Love Me Tender", which drew more applause than the other Beatles, and increased the friction between him and McCartney. Lennon also started to criticize Sutcliffe, and made jokes about Sutcliffe's size and playing. Spitz 2005 p242] On 5 December 1960, George Harrison was sent back to England for being under-age. McCartney and Best were deported for attempted arson at the Bambi Kino, which left Lennon and Sutcliffe in Hamburg. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p93.] [http://beatles.ncf.ca/timeline.html#60 The BeatlesTimeline] beatles.ncf.ca - Retrieved: 9 May 2007 ] Lennon took a train home, but as Sutcliffe had a cold he stayed in Hamburg. Spitz 2005. p230] Sutcliffe later borrowed airfare money from Kirchherr in order to fly to Liverpool in early January 1961, though he returned to Hamburg, in March 1961, with the other Beatles. Spitz 2005. p242]

After meeting Kirchherr, Sutcliffe decided to leave The Beatles, and enrolled at the Hamburg College of Art under the tutelage of the pop artist Eduardo Paolozzi. Miles 1998. p65] He lent McCartney his President bass until the latter could earn enough money to buy a specially made bass guitar of his own. Sutcliffe asked McCartney (who is left-handed) not to change the strings around, so McCartney had to play it upside down. Miles 1997 pp74-75] In 1967, The Beatles included a photo of Sutcliffe among those on the cover of the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album (he appears at the extreme left, next to fellow artist Aubrey Beardsley).

Astrid Kirchherr

Kirchherr was raised by her widowed mother, Nielsa Kirchherr, in Eimsbütteler Strasse in the wealthy Hamburg suburb of Altona. Miles 1997 p64] Sutcliffe met Kirchherr in the Kaiserkeller club, where she went to watch The Beatles perform. After a photo session with them, Kirchherr invited the group to her mother's house for tea and showed them her bedroom, decorated in all black —- including the furniture -— with silver foil on the walls, and a large tree branch hanging from the ceiling. Sutcliffe began dating Kirchherr shortly thereafter. Spitz 2005. p224]

Sutcliffe wrote to friends that he was infatuated with Kirchherr, and asked her friends which colours, films, books, and painters she liked. Pete Best commented that the beginning of their relationship was, "like one of those fairy stories". Spitz 2005. p225] Kirchherr and Sutcliffe got engaged in November, 1960, and exchanged rings, as is the German custom. Miles 1997 p65] Sutcliffe wrote to his parents that he was engaged to Kirchherr, something they were shocked to learn, as they assumed he would give up his career as an artist. Spitz 2005. p235] Kirchherr and Sutcliffe traveled to Liverpool in the summer of 1961, as Kirchherr wanted to meet Sutcliffe's family and to see his home city before their marriage. Spitz 2005. p278]

Art

Sutcliffe displayed artistic talent at an early age. Spitz 2005. p105] Cynthia Lennon – “John” 2006. p47] Helen Anderson (a fellow student) remembered his early works as being very aggressive, with dark, moody colours, which was not the type of painting she expected from such a quiet student. Spitz 2005. p107]

One of Sutcliffe's paintings was shown at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool as part of the John Moores exhibition from November 1959 until January 1960. After the exhibition, Moores bought Sutcliffe's canvas for £75, which was then equal to 6-7 weeks' wages for an average working man. Miles 1997 p50]

After meeting Kirchherr, Sutcliffe decided to leave The Beatles and enrolled at the Hamburg College of Art in June 1961, under the tutelage of Paolozzi, who later wrote a report stating that Sutcliffe was one of his "best students". Miles 1997 p65] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/idcard.asp Hamburg identity card, 1961] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/report.asp Eduardo Paolozzi’s Report] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ]

Sutcliffe's few surviving works reveal influence from the British and European abstract artists contemporary with the Abstract Expressionist movement in the United States. His earlier figurative work is reminiscent of the kitchen sink school, particularly of John Bratby, though Sutcliffe was producing abstract work by the end of the 1950s, including "The Summer Painting", purchased by Moores. Rod Murray remembered that the painting was painted on a board, not a canvas, and had to be cut into two pieces (because of its size) and hinged. Murray added that only one of the pieces actually got to the exhibition but sold nonetheless. Spitz 2005. p168]

Sutcliffe's works bear some comparison with those of John Hoyland and Nicolas de Staël, though they are more lyrical. His later works are typically untitled, constructed from heavily impastoed slabs of pigment in the manner of de Staël, and overlaid with scratched or squeezed linear elements creating enclosed spaces. "Hamburg Painting no. 2" was purchased by Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery and is one of a series entitled "Hamburg" in which the surface and color changes produced atmospheric energy. European artists (including Paolozzi) were influencing Sutcliffe at the time. [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/collections/20c/sutcliffe.asp 'Hamburg Painting No. 2' 1961] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 12 May 2007 ] The Walker Art Gallery has other works by Sutcliffe, which are "Self-portrait" (in charcoal) and "The Crucifixion". [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/portrait.asp Sutcliffe's self-portrait (in charcoal)] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/online/exhibitions/beatles/art/sutcliffecrucifixion.asp “The Crucifixion” by Sutcliffe] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 12 May 2007 ]

Lennon later hung a pair of Sutcliffe's paintings in his house (Kenwood) in Weybridge. McCartney had a Paolozzi sculpture in his Cavendish Avenue home. Miles 1997 p170] Miles 1997 p258]

Death

Stuart Sutcliffe collapsed in the middle of an art class in Hamburg. Nielsa Kirchherr had German doctors perform various tests, but they were unable to determine exactly what was causing the intense headaches from which he had been suffering. While living at the Kirchherrs' house in Hamburg, his condition grew steadily worse. After collapsing again, Sutcliffe was taken to a hospital by Kirchherr (who rode with him in the ambulance), but he died before reaching the hospital. The cause of death was cerebral paralysis, after bleeding in the right ventricle of his brain. Spitz 2005. p305] Cynthia Lennon– “John”. p110.]

On 13 April 1962, Kirchherr met The Beatles at the Hamburg airport and told them that Sutcliffe had died from a brain hemorrhage a few days before. Spitz 2005. p305] It has never been known precisely what caused the brain hemorrhage that took Sutcliffe's life. Some believe that the cause was an earlier head injury, sustained during a fight outside Lathom Hall after a live performance in January 1961 (although Sutcliffe had been beaten up before). Spitz 2005. p240] According to former manager Allan Williams, Lennon and Best went to Sutcliffe's aid, fighting off his attackers before dragging him to safety. Sutcliffe sustained a fractured skull in the fight, and Lennon broke his little finger. Spitz 2005. p241]

Sutcliffe had refused medical attention at the time (and had not kept an X-ray appointment at the Sefton General Hospital). He saw a doctor only months later in Germany, when he began experiencing severe headaches and acute sensitivity to light. [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/letter3.asp Sefton General Hospital report] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ] Kirchherr said later that some of the headaches left Sutcliffe temporarily blind. Spitz 2005. p278] Cynthia Lennon– “John”. p110.] After Sutcliffe's death, Kirchherr wrote a letter to Millie Sutcliffe, apologising for being too ill to attend his funeral in Liverpool and saying how much she and Lennon missed him: cquote | Oh, Mum, he [Lennon] is in a terrible mood now, he just can't believe that darling Stuart never comes back. He just crying his eyes out John is marvellous to me, he says that he know Stuart so much and he love him so much that he can understand me." [ [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/exhibitions/sutcliffe/letter4.asp Astrid’s letter to Millie Sutcliffe] liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Retrieved: 13 May 2007 ]

Anthology 1

The Beatles' compilation album "Anthology 1", consisting mostly of previously unreleased recordings from the band's early years, was released in 1995. Sutcliffe is pictured on the front cover, in the top right corner, as he was on the "Sgt. Pepper" album cover 28 years before. He is featured playing bass with the Beatles on three songs that the band recorded in 1960: "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", "You'll Be Mine", and "Cayenne". ”The Beatles Anthology” 1995]

Film portrayals

Sutcliffe's role in the Beatles' early career, as well as the factors that led him to leave the group, is dramatised in the film "Backbeat" (1994), in which he was portrayed by Stephen Dorff. He was also portrayed by David Wilkinson in the film "Birth of the Beatles" (1979) and by Lee Williams in "In His Life: The John Lennon Story" (2000).

Pauline Sutcliffe's memoir

In 2001, Sutcliffe's younger sister, Pauline (a former psychotherapist) published a memoir which included claims that Sutcliffe and Lennon had a homosexual relationship.cite web |first=Douglas |last=Thompson |url=http://www.dougiethompson.com/pauline-sutcliffe-the-beatles-shadow.htm |title=Douglas Thompson review |publisher=Douglas Thompson |accessdate=2008-03-03] She also wrote that the cerebral haemorrhage that Sutcliffe died of was caused by an injury inflicted by Lennon in a jealous rage while in Hamburg.cite web |first=David |last=Lister |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20011031/ai_n14423599 |title=He helped found the Beatles |publisher=The Independent |date=2001-10-31|accessdate=2008-03-03] After Sutcliffe died doctors revealed he had an indent in his skull, which must have been the result of some kind of "trauma".cite web |first=David |last=Lister |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20011031/ai_n14423599/pg_2 |title=He helped found the Beatles (page 2) |publisher=The Independent |date=2001-10-31|accessdate=2008-03-03] She claims that a few months before Sutcliffe's death, Lennon had viciously kicked Sutcliffe in the head in an unprovoked attack, as Lennon was bitterly resentful of Sutcliffe's affair with Kirchherr. The book received immense publicity. She moved to the United States in 2002, and settled in Wainscott, New York, and still owns most of Sutcliffe's art work and letters.

She said that she did not want to reveal what she believed until after the death of her mother. Among the papers she presented was a letter from Sutcliffe to his mother discussing that both men and women were attracted to him:

She commented about the media reaction to the two claims in 2007: "I didn't throw out these two themes... They were extrapolated out by the media. I think I'm quite sophisticated, but, boy, was I naive".

Notes

References

*Lennon, Cynthia] | title=A Twist of Lennon| publisher= year=1980 | id=ISBN 0-380-45450-5
*Miles, Barry | title=Many Years From Now | publisher=Vintage-Random House | year=1997 | id=ISBN 0-7493-8658-4
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