The Beatles and Their Watches – Part X: Jimmie Nicol’s Watch
L to R: Pete Best, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon
When people talk about the unluckiest man in the world, they often mention Pete Best, the Beatles’ first drummer, who after two years in the band (and on the cusp of The Beatles getting their first recording contract with Parlophone Records in London), was unceremoniously sacked from the group. Never mind that Best was a terrible drummer, but he has been asked about this particular misfortune constantly ever since! Imagine losing the best gig in the world at the age of 20 and then being asked about it every day of your life thereafter.
L to R: John Lennon, Jimmie Nicol, George Harrison, Paul McCartney
But I think the unluckiest man in the world was probably Jimmie Nicol, a drummer who actually was a Beatle at the height of Beatlemania between June 4, 1964 and June 14, 1964. During those 10 days at the height of Beatlemania, Jimmie, a London session musician sat in for Ringo Starr (who had tonsilitis) and played gigs in Denmark, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Adelaide and Melbourne. Jimmie literally stepped into Ringo’s shoes and even wore his tailored suit!
Not only did Jimmie participate in press conferences and play Ringo’s drums, he actually experienced the largest ever expression of Beatlemania when as many as half a million people came out to catch a glimpse of the band as they traveled from the airport to the city of Adelaide in Australia and then waved from the balcony of the Town Hall! Half a million people!
Asked several times during that week how he was settling in with The Beatles, Jimmie would always answer “it’s getting better all the time” a phrase which would later show up in the lyrics of a song on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. When Ringo had recovered, he flew to Adelaide to catch up with the group and after partying all night upon his arrival, the Beatles were asleep when manager, Brian Epstein, had Jimmie driven to the airport, where he gave him the agreed £500 fee and a Gold Eternamatic watch engraved “From the Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy – with appreciation and gratitude.” Even spelled his name wrong!
An Eternamatic watch from the 1950s. Swiss made and elegant.
Another example from 1964 - the year Jimmie Nicol got his.
Nothing can quite match the shell-shocked Nicol sitting alone in an empty airport lounge waiting for his flight back to London presumably wondering what the hell just happened. He never recovered from being thrust into the highest heights of fame and right back into obscurity.
He played with various bands thereafter – notably the Spotnicks in Sweden and with various groups in Mexico and South America. He later declared bankruptcy and became a recluse in London – shunning the spotlight and refusing to discuss his 10 day stint as a Beatle.
Sad images of Jimmie as an old man can be found online. There is no need to republish them here. It is not clear whatever happened to his watch from the Beatles.
Wm Shakespeare
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part I: The Pateks
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part II: The Accurists
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part III: Cartier & Breitling
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part IV: Ringo Starr
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part V: The Apple Watch
The Beatles and Their Watches – Part VI: Sir Paul’s Casio
The Beatles and Their Watches – Part VII: The Pocket Watches
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part VIII: Raymond Weil
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part IX: Joey Ramone's Apple Watch
The Beatles and Their Watches - Part X: Jimmie Nicol's Watch
All the world’s a stage we’re going through.
Oof!
My dad got a very nice Eterna matic in 18k gold, with a light sunny dial - from mom, but it was stolen on their next holiday... So I eventually gave him a very similar looking Seiko, instead 😎