Beatles photo signed by band after being ordered to stop playing before Midlands gig up for auction Birmingham Live

A photo signed by all four Beatles for a Birmingham teenager is set to go under the hammer. The world-famous group from Liverpool signed the incredible piece of history roughly 62 years ago after they were told to stop playing by the teen's dad because they were being too noisy.  ‌

The picture of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr was signed by the group before a gig at the Coventry Theatre at the start of Beatlemania.

‌Chris Barrows, selling the photo, said his late brother Phil was at the gig with their father Ron who was Steinway’s chief piano tuner for the Midlands area at the time.  "My dad came home one day and said he was going to tune the piano ahead of The Beatles’ show and other performances,” said Chris, 74, who now lives in Atherstone, Warwickshire.

‌“I didn’t go as at that time I was more interested in football...but my brother had been playing guitar for six months and went along.”
Rob French, ephemera valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers, with the signed Beatles photograph(Image: Richard Winterton Auctioneers)

The Beatles were already there when the pair arrived - and the boys’ dad was said to have asked Ringo to stop playing the drums so he could focus on his work.  

That gave Phil a chance to visit the band in their dressing room, with the budding guitarist even enjoying a quick jam with the stars.

"He played guitar with John Lennon and Paul McCartney and even had a go on Paul’s left-handed bass," Chris said.

Phil also returned with a photo signed by the group with the personal message 'to Philip best wishes from the Beatles' written in blue ink at the top of the picture.

‌John Lennon's signature is in the top left-hand corner of the picture, with Ringo Starr's autograph cloaked by the group's dark suits yet still visible due to the impression of the pen.

George Harrison’s and Paul McCartney’s signatures are on the reverse side of the photograph.

It's estimated that it could fetch between £1,500 and £2,000 at auction.   ‌

“This is a super set of all four autographs from the biggest band in the world signed right on the cusp of Beatlemania,” said Rob French, ephemera valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers, which will auction the photo at the The Lichfield Auction Centre on September 29.

He added: "The precise date of the meeting is not remembered by the vendor but it was possibly November 1963 as The Beatles played the Coventry Theatre on November 17 1963.

“What a thrill it must have been for this young music fan to not only meet The Fab Four but to get all their autographs with a personal dedication.”

Source: Harry Leach/birminghammail.co.uk