Product Description

At art college in Liverpool in 1959, Stuart Sutcliffe met John Lennon and they soon became close with Lennon persuading Sutcliffe to use the proceeds of a painting he had sold to buy a bass guitar and join his band along with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Before long, with drummer Pete Best now in the line-up, they won a contract in Hamburg playing sleazy clubs in the seedy Reeperbahn area of the city, amidst the casual sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll of the era. The newly-christened Beatles were on their way. With the band on the brink of success, Sutcliffe left the group to concentrate on his first love, art, and his new love, German photographer Astrid Kirchherr. But Stuart's health soon began to decline. On the 10th April 1962, Stuart suffered a seizure and slipped into a coma. As Astrid cradled his head in her hands, Stuart died of a cerebral haemorrhage cutting short the life of the promising young artist. Interviewees include Stuart's fiancée and Beatles stylist/photographer Astrid Kirchherr, early Beatles manager Allan Williams, Stuart's sister, Pauline Sutcliffe, Liverpool flatmate to Sutcliffe and Lennon, Rod Murray and esteemed American art historian and writer Donald Kuspit.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51181 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-03-20
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Synopsis
Former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe was the subject of the motion picture BACKBEAT, but his true bittersweet story is explored in this documentary. The ill-fated musician is discussed by many people who were close to him, including his infamous lover, Astrid Kirchherr.

Review
The Lost Beatle is an intriguing but all too brief account of Beatle life before the big time. Focussing on the pre-Ringo days when the line-up consisted of John, Paul, George, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe, the film follows the latter's departure, his artistic pursuits, relationship with Astrid Kirchherr and his premature passing in 1962. --The Guardian

Review
It is the tragic tale of one of the earliest members of the world s most popular band, a man who was John Lennon's best pal and credited with giving them their distinctive style, but died within a year of quitting the band. Featuring some of his closest friends and colleagues, the documentary charts Sutcliffe's story. This unique production blends archive footage, interviews, along with Sutcliffe's own words and art, to paint a truly remarkable picture of this influential man --DVD Reviewer