New Year’s Eve 1962. Inside DECCA’s studio 3 in Hampstead London, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best record a 15 track demo (compiled of rock and roll hits plus one Lennon/McCartney original). The songs were carefully selected by The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, to showcase the broad nature of their talent. After finishing the recording process, DECCA producer Mike Smith informs Epstein that everything has gone well and that within a two week period he will notify them.

A few days later, Dick Rowe (talent scout and senior DECCA A&R) rejects The Beatles, by saying that “guitar groups are on the way out” and “the Beatles have no future in show business”! For the record, DECCA preferred to sign the TREMELOES as they were local Londoners and moving them around would cost less compared to The Beatles who had to travel from Liverpool.

The following months saw The Beatles rise to fame and George Harrison on judge duty during a talent show where Dick Rowe was, by chance, a fellow judge. On the stage performing, is a band called The Rolling Stones. Harrison, floored by the band’s performance suggests Rowe to sign them with DECCA.

Thankfully, Rowe did not make the same mistake twice…