The Undertaker Dies on Stage with The Beatles

Jackie Lomax
Jackie Lomax who played one song with The Beatles

On probably the same night as Ronnie the “Ted” played drums with The Silver Beatles, one young man from Wallasey, near to the Grosvenor Ballroom, thought he could play the drums with the group.

He later said; “I even played drums for them (the Silver Beatles) one night when they didn’t have a drummer. Just one song; that was enough. I was terrible.”

That young 16 year old was Jackie Lomax, who didn’t take up the drums, but the guitar, and became the frontman on Merseybeat group, The Undertakers, one of the finest groups on Merseyside. He was later signed by Brian Epstein, and even accompanied The Beatles to Shea Stadium in 1966. Lomax was advised by John Lennon to go to see Terry Doran at Apple Publishing, as he was writing songs. George Harrison approached Lomax and offered to produce his album, which he did, on Apple Records.

Full story in Finding the Fourth Beatle.

David Bedford

Ronnie The “Ted” is revealed!

Ronnie the "Ted" is revealed
Ronnie the “Ted” is revealed

On one evening in June 1960 at the Grosvenor Ballroom, Wallasey, Ronnie, the leader of a Teddy Boy gang, got up on stage with The Silver Beatles; John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Stuart Sutcliffe. He sat in the drummer’s seat, and hit the drums, as drummer Tommy Moore had not turned up. John Lennon asked if there was a drummer in the building, and Ronnie got up on the stage and played drums all night. He was terrible, but those Beatles were too afraid to say anything.

Thankfully, their manager Allan Williams managed to get them out of the awkward situation, and they escaped to live another day! Williams told Ronnie that if they didn’t find another drummer by the following week, then he would call him. Naturally, Williams never made the call!

For years, I have been searching for the identity of Ronnie the “Ted”, and finally, I discovered, with the help of my friend Peter Hodgson, to reveal the true identity of Ronnie the “Ted”.

Read the full story, in “Finding the Fourth Beatle“.

David Bedford

You can find out more about the book on this website – “Finding the Fourth Beatle”