Expert: Elizabeth - 10/5/2011

Question
Ringo is introduced with a new name-Billy Shields.
Did John, paul and/or George also plan on changing
their names for this album ?
Also, do you know if Ringo ever met Pete Best or
Stuart Sutcliffe ?
Thanks

Answer
Paul introduces Billy SHEARS on Sgt.Pepper, not Shields.

And the rest of the band didn't plan on giving themselves new names.  Yes, Sgt.Pepper is called a "concept album," but if you listen to it, you'll realize that they actually gave up that idea for the most part.  There's the title track, the reprise at the end, and that's about it.

And Ringo definitely had met Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe.  In the early 60s, the band Ringo played for, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, was playing in Hamburg at the same time as the Beatles.  Ringo ended up filling in for Pete Best a few times when he was too sick (or too drunk) to play, even when both bands went back to the UK.

Let me know if you have any more questions.