John Hutchinson played drums in The Big Three between 1961-1965. Being an aggressive, power house trio, loud and uncompromising, they were respected and popular in their hometown Liverpool. Guitarist Adrian Barber, a bit of an electronics whizz, made their gear - the loudest and most impressive in town. A blueprint for Cream & Hendrix, they also had dexterity to back Cilla Black's early Cavern gigs.



Around the same time The Beatles had locally become famous in Liverpool. At that time the band had Pete Best on drums. In June 1962 The Beatles met producer George Martin at Abbey Road Studios. The latter soon expressed displeasure with the technique of their drummer, Pete Best, and suggested replacement. Ringo Starr came to mind and was invited to join, officially replacing Best in August 1962.



In the few dates between Best's departure and Ringo's joining, John Hutchinson played drums with the band.



It has also been suggested that EMI's Brian Epstein, aware that Hutchinson was regarded as Liverpool's best drummer, offered him the Beatles seat, but he turned it down. Hutchinson was to comment:

"Brian asked me to join the Beatles and I said, 'I wouldn't join the Beatles for a gold clock. There's only one group as far as I'm concerned and that's the Big Three. The Beatles can't make a better sound than that, and Pete is a very good friend of mine. I couldn't do the dirty on him."

George Martin later denied that he had ever suggested sacking Pete Best. All he supposed to have said was that he would prefer having a session drummer that he was familiar with in a recording studio. In fact, this was confirmed when he used a session drummer even after Ringo Starr had joined the group.