Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           RingoagreedtogetthesameuglyhaircutasJohn,Paul,andGeorge,andinsistedonwritingsongsaboutoctopusesandsubmarines.Theotherguyssaid,Sure,fuckit,whynot?

           WithinsixmonthsofBest’sfiring,Beatlemaniahaderupted,makingJohn,Paul,George,andPeteRingoarguablyfourofthemostfamousfacesontheentireplanet.

           Meanwhile,BestunderstandablyfellintoadeepdepressionandspentalotoftimedoingwhatanyEnglishmanwilldoifyougivehimareasonto:drink.

           TherestofthesixtieswerenotkindtoPeteBest.By1965,hehadsuedtwooftheBeatlesforslander,andallofhisothermusicalprojectshadfailedhorribly.In1968,heattemptedsuicide,onlytobetalkedoutofitbyhismother.Hislifewasawreck.

           Bestdidn’thavethesameredemptivestoryDaveMustainedid.Heneverbecameaglobalsuperstarormademillionsofdollars.Yet,inmanyways,BestendedupbetteroffthanMustaine.Inaninterviewin1994,Bestsaid,“I’mhappierthanIwouldhavebeenwiththeBeatles.”

           Whatthehell?

           BestexplainedthatthecircumstancesofhisgettingkickedoutoftheBeatlesultimatelyledhimtomeethiswife.Andthenhismarriageledhimtohavingchildren.Hisvalueschanged.Hebegantomeasurehislifedifferently.Fameandglorywouldhavebeennice,sure—buthedecidedthatwhathealreadyhadwasmoreimportant:abigandlovingfamily,astablemarriage,asimplelife.Heevenstillgottoplaydrums,touringEuropeandrecordingalbumswellintothe2000s.