Think you know the Beatles? Do you know who the fabled "Fifth Beatle" was? Who was the one person who could honestly lay claim to being an honorary, or even an actuary, member of the best band ever? Think you know? Think again. Read the list below and cast your vote, or revise it if you wish. Share it if you can. Consider and discuss it. Relate and debate it! Let's rank the Fifth Beatle.
http://www.ranker.com/list/who-was-the-real-fifth-beatle-/richerb, music, bands/musicians, rock, Pop, 60s,
Billy Preston
Keyboardist Billy Preston won a Grammy for his performances with the Beatles on Get Back and Down Let Me Down before going on to make several successful records in the 1970's, including the infectious Will It Go Round In Circles... which I suppose technically made him a member of the band, on those recordings. Do these qualify him as the fifth Beatle though? If you think so then make your argument now.
Brian Epstein
As the band's original manager, Brian Epstein was certainly as responsible as anyone for the success of the Beatles and the of Beatlemania in general. He was responsible for their early look and schedule, but not the music. He wisely left that to George Martin.
Elton John
Elton John was the musical stepchild of the Beatles and their heir apparent to the claim of worldwide recording king upon their untimely demise in 1970. From 1970 - 1976 Elton John had an incredible streak of enormously successful albums and singles rivaling the Beatles mid-sixties run, including an incredible remake of Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds (featuring John Lennon on guitar) in 1975. He also appeared on Lennon's first solo #1 hit Whatever Gets You though the Night. This had lead some to suspect that he may have indeed been the fifth Beatle (or Billy Shears, perhaps - Elton John isn't his original name) coming out on his own at last, literally.
Eric Clapton
One of only two musicians on this list whose talent and body of work can even be compared to the Beatles, it was Eric Clapton playing lead guitar on the classic White Album cut While My Guitar Gently Weeps. A close friend and musical confidant of the band, and especially George Harrison, Clapton eventually wed George's first wife Patti Boyd and wrote the fabled Layla about it. He and George also co-wrote the excellent swan-song Badge for Clapton's band Cream.
George Martin
As the producer of every Beatles' album but one, George Martin certainly had more impact on the Beatles' music than any one outside of the band (and maybe even more than Ringo;). He composed and conducted the accompanying instrumentation and orchestration of most of their greatest songs. He worked closely with John Lennon and Paul McCartney to craft those classic songs, including a willingness to experiment that produced such psychedelic masterpieces as Strawberry Fields Forever, Tomorrow Never Knows, and Got to Get You Into My Life.
Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson, for any who do not already know, was an American singer-songwriter of some reknown in the late 1960's and early 1970's. He was strongly influenced by the Beatles, at least initially; and they by him, citing him as their favorite American artist in the late '60's. He famously caroused with the band, and especially with Ringo Starr (with whom he developed a life-long friendship) and John Lennon, particularly on his fabled "lost weekend" in 1974, resulting in Harry's album Pussy Willows. In spirit, maybe, and in his own mind, probably, Harry Nilsson WAS the American Beatle, if anyone was. But did that make him the fifth Beatle? You be the judge.
Pete Best
The Beatles original drummer even appeared on a couple of their initial recordings before being sacked for more accomplished Ringo Starr. It was a smart move. He simply didn't possess the chops that they would need to reach the lofty heights that they were destined to attain. Best may or may not have been the fifth Beatle; but he was definitely the ex-Beatle.
Stuart Sutcliffe
The Beatles' original bassist, Stu Sutcliffe was more of an artist than a musician. In fact, he left the band to pursue an art career before they began actively recording. He was much more of a friend and mentor to Lennon and the others than a musical equal. He likely wouldn't have made the cut when they hit the studio, like his compatriot Pete Best. Nonetheless, he did have an indelible impact on the early image of the band, including reportedly coining the name The Beatles with John Lennon.
Yoko Ono
What more can be said about Yoko Ono, accept that she did NOT break up the Beatles! That would be Allen Klein, if it was anyone. Also, she had an indelible impact on John Lennon and his music after 1967, including some of his most memorable work (Imagine, Give Peace a Chance, Across the Universe, etc..) Finally, she does appear on the Beatles (White Album) ~ Revolution #9, Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey, and The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill. Does that qualify her as the fifth Beatle? I do not think that Paul McCartney would agree.
Billy Shears
The fabled "fifth" Beatle who "blew his mind out in a car" in December of 1966 as was so chronicled on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and many other hidden messages may or may not have actually existed. Unfortunately I did not get the privilege of seeing them perform live, but I am told that there were only four on stage. Still Brian Wilson didn't perform with the Beach Boys. Also, I do not recall seeing him in Help! or A Hard Day's Night, although he may have been in A Magical Mystery Tour. Who can say for sure?