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Who Was The Nicest Beatle!
23 July 2012
6.47pm
FlyOn13
New Jersey, USA
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Ringo. No Doubt. a-hard-days-night-george-10

“I was special. I always have been. Why didn't anyone notice me?"
-John Lennon

2 August 2012
10.34pm
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IMDeWalrus
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I’ve read a lot of accounts from Beatles insiders who said Ringo was by far the nicest member of the band.   I think John was quoted as describing Ringo as “just as nice as he seems to be”, or something like that.    As for the others, Paul is probably the one with the most charm — he seems to use it in a rather controlled, PR sort of way, from what I gather, but nevertheless, he’s nicer than the most successful musician in pop history needs to be.  

As for George — even one of his closest friends, Tom Petty, told ROLLING STONE magazine that “let’s face it, there was a cranky George, and if he thought you deserved it, he’d let you have it” (or words to that effect).    And George clearly had issues dealing with fame and all the trappings of being a “public idol”.   There was a story in ROLLING STONE just after George died that I thought was interesting — it was from writer Anthony De Curtis, who described a photo shoot the magazine was doing shortly after the release of CLOUD NINE in 1987.  George was grumpy and the photographer’s wife was trying to get him pumped up by saying “Don’t you want to be on the cover of the ROLLING STONE??” — at which point, George brings the entire shoot to a halt, glares at her and says “Can I possibly explain to you how little that means to me….. I’ve been on every magazine cover there is… I couldn’t care less”.   Certainly doesn’t sound like a nice guy to me… yet moments later, when the shoot wrapped up and everyone, including De Curtis, bolted from the room, George chased after him and said “I hope you weren’t offended by that — that was for THEIR benefit”.   Hmmm.. maybe he was a nice guy after all, but just had limits as to how far he could be pushed around.   It really seems to depend on who’s telling the story about George.   Philip Norman in the book SHOUT describes Harrison as relentlessly crabby and miserable (count how many times you read “unsmiling” in that book, as it refers to George).   But others who knew him well (such as Tony Barrow in his book a few years ago) have described him as a very warm individual, with a droll sense of humour.  

 

And as for John — well.. as someone else in this thread said, John himself likely wouldn’t have described himself as the nicest Beatle.  “Mercurial” is probably a better word. 

But I gotta tell ya —  I’d have loved to have met all four and made my own judgements.

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay..

GOOD MORNING!

GOOD MORNING!!

GOOD MORNING!!!

2 August 2012
11.26pm
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vonbontee
Inside Von Bontee's mind
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It’d have been easy for Ringo to be the nicest since all he really had to do was show up and play drums; he hardly wrote anything so he didn’t have to put pressure on the others to have his songs recorded. Also, being the last one to join the band may have helped engender an air of deference to the others, just because of seniority (despite his being the oldest, obviously.)

GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty. 

         offtopic-1.png

https://rateyourmusic.com/~Myo.....Von_Bontee

3 August 2012
12.31am
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kedame
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I’m biased, but I’ll say it’s between Paul and Ringo. Paul enjoys people. He’s sort of an extroverted introvert. I think you would have fun talking with him and hanging out. He would remember details and respond without being crabby. I would never want to work for him, though. All the stories I’ve ever read about Paul being a bastard usually have to do with someone telling him what to do in the studio. I wouldn’t want to be the person to tell Paul no because I imagine it would be a tough task. He seems like a genuinely caring person, though. He helps people, like paying for Horst Fascher’s (sp?) daughter’s surgeries and Neil Aspinall’s cancer treatment. And then there’s this (from tumblr):

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It was noon on a warm Monday in early July (July 2nd to be exact) and due to the impending holiday, one of the quietest weeks on even the busiest New York streets. I was on a lunch break from work and making my way to a dentist appointment. At the northwest corner of 5th Ave and 54th St, a man in shorts and a t-shirt exits a tinted SUV on 5th Ave and walks just a few feet in front of me, down 54th St. On the phone with my sister, I say, “Holy Sh*t! Paul McCartney just walked past me!” My sister responds, “Follow him and get a picture!” In somewhat of shock, I continue in the opposite direction of Sir Paul McCartney .

After a block, I realize that I need to see where Paul was going, pull myself together and get a picture with him (and maybe even exchange a few words). When in my life would I have this chance?!? I walk briskly back to 54th St, make a right and see him ahead. The street is quiet and only a duo ahead realize that Paul McCartney is in their presence. I am just steps behind him, with my iPhone camera application open and ready, when Paul turns to a man who is seemingly homeless (and overdressed in this extreme heat), bends down, smiles and speaks to him for a minute (I did not see whether money was handed over or not). The man, smiling, says a few words in response. I stood there, mesmerized by the moment, the juxtaposition — one of the wealthiest men in the world, alone on this hot New York City day, taking a moment to say ‘hi’ to someone on the streets that may not have a penny to their name.

This exchange was the perfect representation of compassion –  social class or status did not matter, as it should not. I wanted to share this image and story because humanity can (continue) to learn from Sir McCartney. And, if you’re wondering, I couldn’t interrupt the moment and therefore I didn’t end up getting my picture with Paul, but this image will do just fine.”

Brings a tear to me eye, I tell ya.

Ringo just seems like a good guy. I wouldn’t want to cross him, either, though.

"You can manicure a cat but can you caticure a man?"

John Lennon- Skywriting by Word of Mouth

3 August 2012
4.26am
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Into the Sky with Diamonds
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Kedame, great story.

I met Paul briefly maybe 20 years ago; he was very nice, even though he didn’t have to be (so was Linda).

Reminds me of the time Paul nearly knocked me over on the beach – but that’s a story for another day.

"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)

3 August 2012
7.02am
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kedame
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Kedame, great story.

I met Paul briefly maybe 20 years ago; he was very nice, even though he didn’t have to be (so was Linda).

Reminds me of the time Paul nearly knocked me over on the beach – but that’s a story for another day.

No. You must now tell me this story. You can’t do something like that to a Paul superfan. I must know what you know.

"You can manicure a cat but can you caticure a man?"

John Lennon- Skywriting by Word of Mouth

3 August 2012
9.09am
GeorgeTSimpson
Vienna, Austria
Paris Olympia
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I have met no one of them but I’ve seen a lot of interviews with paul and there he was always very nice, so I think I’m gonna take Paul. I haven’t seen many interviews with george and ringo, so I can’t say anything about them, but I’ve seen many with John, and so I’m quite sure that John isn’t the nicest beatle

Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby

4 August 2012
12.41am
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Into the Sky with Diamonds
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Kedame said, “You must now tell me this story. You can’t do something like that to a Paul superfan. I must know what you know.”

So… the semi-intentional encounter took place at  McCartney’s in-laws, specifically in their kitchen. A friend of mine is (was) related to Linda, and we were hanging out in the kitchen when Paul and Linda arrived. They were driving a very modest car, which surprised me.

There was the shaking of hands (I contemplated how long I could go without washing them), my friend chit-chatted with Paul and Linda, I might have mumbled something here or there, and that was it. Paul and Linda disappeared into the house.

But I had shaken hands with my main childhood hero, so it was a big day.

The unintentional encounter took place years before that. Long Island (next to New York City) has many long beautiful beaches. People congregate near the parking lots, so there are long stretches of deserted, beautiful sand. One day, I decided to jog between Georgica Beach and Main Beach. Other than for the occasional jogger, the mid-point between the two beaches was deserted.

In the distance, a man was at the water’s edge playing with a toddler. As I passed him, a bigger wave washed up; the man pulled the toddler out of the water and in doing so brushed up against me.

‘Scuse me.

‘Scuse me.   British accent.

Without breaking stride, I looked back. My heart must have skipped a beat as I realized who’d just bumped into me! Looking up where the beach met up with the trees I saw a cluster of people.  Family and bodyguards? I assumed so.

The toddler was James, which gives you the approximate date.

Voila; ’tis my story.

"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)

4 August 2012
1.42am
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Long John Silver
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Lucky! I don’t think I would be able to see him live in concert, not to mention shaking his hand.

 

P.S. Why is this in George Harrison section?

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.

4 August 2012
2.00am
mr. Sun king coming together
Nowhere Land
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Long John Silver said 
P.S. Why is this in George Harrison section?

Subliminal George fan messaging. Massive George fan created the thread, put it here

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

4 August 2012
6.46am
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mithveaen
Sitarday's room
Rishikesh
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a-hard-days-night-ringo-8 LOL!!! ahdn_george_06ahdn_george_06ahdn_george_06

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

4 August 2012
2.27pm
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Long John Silver
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So it was the evil plot by OP all those years ago 

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Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.

15 August 2012
1.45am
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Elmore James
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It sure as hell wasn’t sarcastic John. John is my favorite Beatle, but he could be a real A-hole at times. 

Nicest? Of course it must be Ringo.

George was too cool to be nice.

And Paul was just too Paul.

"'I Dig a Pygmy', by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids... Phase One, in which Doris gets her oats!"

15 August 2012
9.11am
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Eilwynn
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John was sarcastic, short-tempered, and mercurial.  He also had Teh Issues.  Paul seems like he can be pretty bossy and controlling at times.  His Primadonna Girl moments, while amusing, are also… well… they’re there.  George was always very pessimistic and defensive of certain things about himself; he could be pretty rude at times if you got him in the right mood.

 

Ringo, however, just sort of radiates “nice person.”  It’s a special talent of his.  Of course, none of them were perfect — Ringo was an awful drinker for a while, and they all had their mean moments and cheated on their women horribly at times.  But I guess everyone sucks sometimes; for the Beatles, those opportunities are just more public and available than for most…

   

Overall, I guess I’d go with Ringo.

 

Also, on a completely unrelated note: I just saw someone with my same signature quote for the first time on this topic!  That has never happened to me before.  I think I’m going to like it here.

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."

- Dr. Seuss

21 August 2012
7.55pm
kevrock
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Ringo definitely. Just compare him to the others in press conferences, he didn’t speak too much, but when he did, he was normally more serious than the others. (I love watching vids of them torturing the press with not-so-serious answers)

14 November 2012
9.59pm
thewordislove94
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The Beatles were only humans…

Ringo is very easy going (at least when he was in the Beatles).

John Lennon being nice before 1975? LOL

Paul is very nice to fans, but as a Beatle, he was very controlling.

George is my favorite, so of course I picture him in my mind as a wonderful person. In interviews, Astrid, Klaus, and Jurgen talked about how nice he was, but he had an angry side to him.

"The world is a very serious and, at times, very sad place - but at other times it is all such a joke."-George Harrison

14 November 2012
10.21pm
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Inner Light
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thewordislove94 said
The Beatles were only humans…

Ringo is very easy going (at least when he was in the Beatles).

John Lennon being nice before 1975? LOL

Paul is very nice to fans, but as a Beatle, he was very controlling.

George is my favorite, so of course I picture him in my mind as a wonderful person. In interviews, Astrid, Klaus, and Jurgen talked about how nice he was, but he had an angry side to him.

I agree. George I feel was the nicest. Just watch some of his interviews on youtube. He always has something profound to say. There is always a spiritual message. He seems to be so honest and deep with his beliefs. Very grounded.

The further one travels, the less one knows

15 November 2012
6.39pm
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Dipsy
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thewordislove94 said 
John Lennon being nice before 1975? LOL

I just laughed aloud to that, man. a-hard-days-night-john-6 John is my favorite, but even I’m aware of how much of a prick he could be…early days included!

"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know? I'm just one of those people."

16 November 2012
7.28pm
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fabfouremily
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Here´s a question – how do you define ”nice”? Generally kind all of the time (which nobody is), a pushover, somebody who doesn´t speak up for themselves, someone who throws money at people?? I don´t think this question has an answer. They all had different aspects to their personality, just like anybody, and they could all be nice at times, and not.

Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.

(Passover - I. Curtis)

16 November 2012
8.10pm
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Camarasaur8
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I agree. To be honest, I think all four of them were equally “nice” in different ways-Paul, being the kind of guy he is, comes across as very friendly nearly all the time, while George and John seem like the kind of guy you’d love to just sit down with and talk to about whatever the hell you felt like: John for his wit and stories, and George for his spiritual views. Ringo too seems a very amiable guy.

Reverse the polarity of the jelly baby!

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