He was an artist and bass player born in Edinburgh, Scotland. After selling one of his paintings to buy his bass guitar he became a member of the group The Quarrymen through his friendship with John Lennon. After the name of the group had changed, it is said from his suggestion, he was often known as the Fifth Beatle.
Always self-conscious he often played with his back to the audience as he was uncomfortable on stage, and as he was a gifted artist he left the group to pursue a career in art.
Paul McCartney took over from being the second lead guitarist to bass player in his absence. His girlfriend/fiancee was the designer Astrid Kirchherr and she was said to have been instrumental in the way they dressed in their early stage appearances.
He collapsed in Hamburg from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 21 on 10th April 1962 and died later in hospital. Stephen Dorff played his character in the film Backbeat.
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