About The Beatles: What If?

The NEW BOOK from David Bedford and Andrew Phillips is being published at the end of March 2025. Sign up now for more

and imagine how different the world could have been if certain twists of fate had happened.

• What If Ivan Vaughan hadn’t introduced Paul to John?
• What If The Beatles didn’t go to Hamburg?
• What If Decca had signed The Beatles?
• What If The Beatles didn’t appear on Ed Sullivan?

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WHY THE BEATLES: WHAT IF?

Authors David and Andrew have been friends for many years, having met at Beatles conventions; David as an author, and Andrew as a fan and collector. When David was researching his first book, Liddypool: Birthplace of The Beatles, he was amazed at the number of coincidences and deal-breakers in the story of The Beatles. He started making a list of “What If?” moments.

A few years ago at a Beatles convention, David and Andrew were discussing the topic of their favourite group, as ever, and the subject of one of these “What If?” events cropped up, which led to a long discussion listing as many as they could between them. By the end of the discussion, they had decided to write a book and began outlining some of the most significant ones they could think of.

They were spurred on when, in 2019, the film Yesterday came out, with the premise of the film being the biggest “What If?” ever: “What If The Beatles never existed?” This focused their thinking.

How different would the world have been without The Beatles?

This new book, The Beatles: What If? explores the many times The Beatles story could have turned out so differently. What if it didn’t happen the way it did? Some events wouldn’t have made much difference. Some would have changed the journey, but they still would have found fame. Others would have been catastrophic and meant the end of the road.

• What If Ivan Vaughan wasn’t friends with both John and Paul and introduced them to each other?
• What if Brian Epstein didn’t become their manager?
• What if Decca Records signed The Beatles after their audition?
• What if it was The Fab Five – John, Paul, George, Pete and Roy?
• What if Ringo didn’t join The Beatles?

Through 70 scenarios throughout the career of The Beatles, from 1956 to 1970, the authors take you on a journey through the high points, and some low points too, to discuss each key moment: what did happen, and what could have happened if history had turned out differently.

You may agree or disagree. But what it does demonstrate is that the story of The Beatles needed so many stars to align, it is almost inconceivable that it did happen.

The only What If left? What if you don’t buy this book?