July 27, 2011 20:23

Original Beatles drummer Pete Best gets road named in his honour

Two streets in Liverpool to be christened after successful Facebook campaign

Photo Gallery: The Beatles
Photo: PA

Pete Best, original drummer for The Beatles, is to have two roads named after him in Liverpool, one of which will also honour his mother, Mona Best.

The news came after a Facebook campaign was supported by over 10,000 people seeking recognition for the drummer. Talking to the BBC, Best said:

I feel very humbled, very flattered and very honoured that the city of Liverpool, council members and the people of Liverpool have thought to honour me in such a fantastic way.

The roads will be named Pete Best Drive and Casbah Close.

His mother, Mona Best, will be remembered with the latter, as a tribute to her work with The Casbah Club. Pete explained how the venue, set up by Mona, was instrumental in The Beatles' success.

The Casbah Coffee Club was the catalyst for the Merseybeat sound. It was the original birthplace of The Beatles on August 29, 1959. I just wish that she was still here to receive the honour herself because she was the mother of merseybeat.

Pete Best played drums for The Beatles from 1960 to 1962, before he was replaced by Ringo Starr. He now performs with his own band, The Pete Best Band.

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