The Beatles Bible - Topic: Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Into the Sky with Diamonds on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:48:49 +0100

The alternate history category can be taken in many different directions:

- what if Eric Clapton had been a regular on Paul's bus route?

- what if Ginger Baker had been playing drums in Hamburg?

- what if Steve Winwood had playing keyboards in Liverpool? Could the Beatles have been the Fab Five?

(McCartney did once say that if Mozart had been living in Liverpool with them, he'd have been in the band!)

vonbontee on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:01:09 +0100

Really interesting, thought provoking question. So many factors to consider in this alternate history! First, assuming they could all get along together for 10+ years...

Would Keith have been happy sticking to lead guitar or would he want the occasional vocal spotlight? I don't know.

Could he have harmonized as well as George? Um, no, almost certainly not. (But this wouldn't have mattered too much for certain late-period shouty numbers like "Birthday" or "I'm So Tired"; he'd fit in well on those.)

Would he have been willing to don a suit and get a Beatle haircut? I really don't know. In his book, he ...

...ontherun on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:24:23 +0100

Interesting responses! Thanks!

seaglass eyes sunny smile on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 23:37:35 +0000

Well I've been reading the "Rolling Stones Chronicle" timeline in study hall, and it's like every other page somebody gets arrested or assaulted or divorced or married or has a baby or is hit in the face with a sandwich. It's like hell on wheels. Those people are crazy.

Into the Sky with Diamonds on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:57:50 +0000

You never know who's going to fit with whom.

Working backwards and looking at their post-Beatle careers, would you ever dream that Lennon and McCartney would be a match?

meanmistermustard on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:57:13 +0000

On the other hand Paul and George were able to put up with John's sarcastic and at times very hurtful comments - would Keith have been? There was a lot of give and take on all sides with the original threetles.

Another issue is that Keith wasnt a Liverpudlian which would present an outsider quandry, especially as it was still a gang that played some sort of skiffle/rock 'n roll. You could change the situation so that Keith was but then he wouldnt have been the Keith Richards that we know now. Same with if you changed a part of Johns upbringing, ...

The Walrus on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:24:48 +0000

meanmistermustard said

The Walrus said

meanmistermustard said

I cant see John putting up with Keith in his band for more than 5 minutes.

He did!

That was 10 years later when The Beatles were the biggest band on the planet and there was mutual respect with The Stones. It would have been different when it was Johns gang, his short temper, fists, and cruel putdowns led to all but Paul and George leaving.

Tbf I think a big part of why those two "survived" was that they were the two best guitarists. I think John was incredibly determined to become a musician and if that meant tolerating ...

meanmistermustard on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:59:14 +0000

The Walrus said

meanmistermustard said

I cant see John putting up with Keith in his band for more than 5 minutes.

He did!

That was 10 years later when The Beatles were the biggest band on the planet and there was mutual respect with The Stones. It would have been different when it was Johns gang, his short temper, fists, and cruel putdowns led to all but Paul and George leaving.

The Walrus on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:25:27 +0000

meanmistermustard said

I cant see John putting up with Keith in his band for more than 5 minutes.

He did!

meanmistermustard on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:13:05 +0000

I cant see John putting up with Keith in his band for more than 5 minutes. One wise-ass comment from either and a few guitars would be smashed along with some teeth.

seaglass eyes sunny smile on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:49:08 +0000

Keith Richards does not belong in the Beatles. He wouldn't fit at all. Just like you couldn't put Ringo in the Rolling Stones or Paul in Genesis.

I think there would be major personality as well as music clash.

...ontherun on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 03:42:32 +0000

Damn iPad... Meant Raunchy. Obviously.

...ontherun on Hey John... I've got this friend named Keith and he can play raunch!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 03:32:09 +0000

First and foremost.... I love me some George.

Having said that... What if Paul's friend who could play raunchy was Keith Richards? Do the Beatkes become the Beatles? What do they sound like? Do they crah and burn or last years beyond Abbey Road?

Thoughts?