| Ken Brown | |
 | |
| Born | 20 August 1940 Enfield, England |
| Died | June 2010 (aged 69) Essex, England |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Association with the Beatles | Rhythm Guitarist |
Kenneth Brown (20 August 1940 — June 2010) was an English guitarist who was known for playing in Johnny And The Moondogs, which was a precursor to The Beatles.
History[]
Early life[]
Brown was born in 20 August 1940 in Enfield, Middlesex. In the next year, his family moved to Liverpool, where he grew up. Around 1958–59, Brown was playing guitar with skiffle group The Les Stewart Quartet, alongside George Harrison.
With The Beatles[]
In August 1959, the group had disbanded following a dispute. However, Harrison and Brown wanted to play in the Casbah Club, in which the quartet had previously booked for. Initially trying to perform as a duet, the club's owner Mona Best wanted the two to form a band. After trying find members, Harrison requested John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who had joined the group. The four all played guitars, and there was no drummer in the group.
The popularity of the band had increased in part of Lennon and McCartney's vocals, with the notoriety of John growling Three Cool Cats being essential. In 10 October 1959, Brown was injured but the group would play a show. They played without them, but yet Brown was paid by Best. The three other members argued that since Brown shouldn't be paid since he didn't pay, with Brown's defense being that it was up to Best. In the end, they kicked out Brown from the band and claimed that it was their last time playing in the Casbah, which was a lie.
Post-Beatles career[]
After Brown was kicked out, he formed a group in 1960 with the same name of Lennon's original band, The Blackjacks. The group consisted of Brown, Pete Best (son of Mona Best), and Chas Newby (the last two would become Beatles members). The group disbanded after Best left to be a Beatles member (Newby followed after the temporary departure of bassist Stuart Sutcliffe).
He relocated to London, but later Essex in his later years.
Death[]
Brown had been known to have been suffering from emphysema in his last years and mysteriously died in home in Essex around June 2010. His body was found in 14 June 2010, though authorities believe he died 5 days earlier.
Instruments[]
Guitars[]
- Unidentified Höfner guitar (?–?)
Gallery[]
