December 1961- The Beatles John Lennon George Harrison Original Photo Aldershot, England. Taken By Paul McCartney!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-photographer-dick-matthews-who-3390421

By Alan Weston

Liverpool photographer Dick Matthews who took early Beatles pics dies at 80
13 Nov 2010 03:00

A TALENTED amateur photographer who took some of the earliest pictures of the Beatles died at the age of 80.

Dick Matthews, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Sam Leach Dick Matthews, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Sam Leach
A TALENTED amateur photographer who took some of the earliest pictures of the Beatles died at the age of 80.

Dick Matthews took around 200 pictures of the Beatles in their black leather jacket days before they shot to fame.

But he never got the recognition he deserved for the images, some of which went on to become internationally famous.

He collapsed from a stroke at his house in Norris Green, where he lived all his life, in September.

He died at Fazakerley hospital at the same time the country remembered its war dead - on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Sam Leach, the first major promoter of the Beatles, described Dick as his “right-hand man.”

He said: “Dick took the best Beatles pictures, there’s no doubt about that.
“I first met him in 1958, when I was doing a couple of little shows, and went into partnership with him.

“He was one of the unsung people in the Beatles story, but his pictures are known all over the world.

“He took all the black leather photos of the Beatles from 1961 to 1962, and developed them too.”

An original black and white photograph showing John Lennon, George Harrison Dick Mathews and Sam Leach backstage. The photograph was taken on the 9th December 1961 backstage at the Palais Ballroom, Aldershot. This concert due to a blunder with advertising attracted a mere 18 customers! The photograph measures 9cm x 14cm (3.5 inches x 5.5 inches). The photo has some slight creasing to the corners. Overall it is in very good condition.