First Left-Handed Bassist of The Beatles Passes Away at the Age of 81

According to foreign media reports, Chas Newby, a musician who previously served as the bassist for the legendary rock band 'The Beatles,' has passed away at the age of 81 on May 22. The cause of death has not been disclosed yet. The brother of Pete Best, the former drummer of The Beatles, and a close friend of Chas Newby have confirmed this news.

In the 1960s, while on a tour in West Germany, The Beatles were searching for a bassist to replace Stuart Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe, who was John Lennon's university classmate, joined The Beatles but decided to return to university soon after. It was then that Newby, a college student at the time, caught the attention of The Beatles. Reportedly, Newby was on vacation and agreed to perform with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. He participated in several shows in West Germany and interestingly became The Beatles' first left-handed bassist.

Although the performances were successful, John Lennon was eager for Newby to continue the West Germany tour, but Newby declined as he had to return to school to continue his studies.

Afterward, Newby led a low-profile life. In an interview with the Sunday Mercury in 2012, he stated, 'Music was never going to be my life; I wanted to study chemistry. Whereas John, Paul, and George, they wanted to be musicians.'