LONDON — A 1960 letter found folded up in a book sheds new light on the early days of the Beatles.
The handwritten letter from Paul McCartney offers an audition to a drummer willing to travel with the group for a two-month gig in Hamburg, Germany.
Pete Best was the group’s drummer at the time — he would be replaced by Ringo Starr about two years later shortly before the group attained worldwide fame.
The identity of the drummer being offered an audition is not known.
He had placed an ad in a Liverpool paper, which drew McCartney’s response.
It is not known if the proposed audition ever took place
Christie’s auction house said Monday the letter dated Aug. 12, 1960, is expected to draw more than 7,000 pounds ($11,000) when it is sold Nov. 15.