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[eppysboys]

A letter from Stuart Sutcliffe to his young sister Pauline, describing the early days of The Beatles’ experience in Hamburg.

Dear Pauline,

I didn't really expect to have to write a letter 'a ma petite soeure' but I find myself about 800 miles from home, with a letter from you in my pocket and the prospect of replying to it. I hope you don't mind if its a bit ragged, but I'm trying anyway.

It's about 5.30pm at the moment on a cold, very bleak October Saturday. Rory Storm is on the stage doing his act. I'm afraid he hasn't fooled anybody here and he must be very frustrated by the cheers which greet us most of our numbers! We have improved a thousand fold since our arrival and Allan Williams who is here at the moment, tells me that there is no band in Liverpool to touch us.

We have signed new contracts ??? the 31st of December, and we are supposed to be going to Berlin on the 7th of January, I don't know how long for but it will probably be about a month, so you won't see me till about Feburary - if then.

While writing, my mind is filled with the letters I will shortly have to write, one to my mother and one to my father. This will be the difficult one, particularly as I have made no contact with him for over a year and in view of my, what must seem to him, imbecile choice of coming to Hamburg.

As far as the latest records go we are completely out of touch, and such numbers as 'So Sad', 'Walk Don't Run', 'Nine Times out of Ten' etc are completely foreign to us except for a bastardised version of 'Walk Don't Run' which the Hurricanes do we haven't a clue. We assume that their version is distorted after listening to their 'Aparche', which we have made popular here. Allan leaves on Monday and I will try and get him to take O Sole Mio home for you, depending on whether he leaves late or early, as I have sent my copy to ???. I shall probably give him these letters to take home as well. The 'Hurricanes' have just done 'Shakin all over' another number which we have made popular. Our biggest numbers being 'What'd I say', 'Tutti Frutti', 'Long Tall Sally', 'Lucille', 'Sweet Little 16', 'Johnny B Goode', '3 Steps to Heaven' and quite a few more. All the singers have lost their voices at one time or another except Paul, at the moment George is out of action, but hopes to be singing again soon.

As far as girls go, they are many but none of us can be bothered, we all have one girl which we speak to, apart from that we don't have anything to do with them, for your curiousity I enclose a photo of a girl called Ca??? who has fallen for me, this is unfortunate as I can't be bothered much, she has a very striking face and figure but speaks no English. So that she is out of the question, her age is 17.

The Elvis L.P will be in the Jacaranda and you will be able to collect it whenever you like. Any other records ??? will be in the care of John's girlfriend.

Our time here is spent between bed, work and the resturaunt where we eat, except for occasional excursions to town for any odds and ends that we need. During the last few weeks I've been reading furiously, from the ??? to François Mauriac, which I found in a second hand book shop and bought for 50???. I've also read 'Lolita' from which the film is being made and which has caused so much discussion, unfortunately I think the book has little literary merit.

Of the love I send, give a fair proportion to Joyce and my mother, and if my father is home him too.

Lots of love,

Stuart xxxx