Pete marks Paul McCartney’s birthday with a very cheeky request

Paul McCartney turned 82 on Tuesday, prompting one of his former bandmates to share a birthday message for the legendary Beatles singer, albeit with a cheeky request.

Pete Best, who was the band’s drummer in the early 1960s, posted the tribute to McCartney on social media on Wednesday and wished the rock icon a happy birthday.

But Best also made an appeal to be McCartney’s opening act in Manchester, England, where he will play in December.

“Happy birthday anyway. Not far behind,” the drummer wrote. “Get in touch if you want me to open for you in Manchester. Proposals. That would be something.”

As you might expect, there is some history between the two former Beatles.

Best was famously replaced by Ringo Starr as the band’s drummer in August 1962, after reportedly failing to impress producer George Martin with his timekeeping skills.

Best has claimed that he was never given an explanation as to why he was pushed out of the group. Yet he told The Irish Times in 2020 that he is not upholding his dismissal against McCartney.

So far, the “Maybe I’m Amazed” singer hasn’t responded to Best’s generous offer to open for him, but that’s par for the course.

Although McCartney reportedly contacted Best around the time of the Beatles’ ‘Anthology’ albums release in the 1990s, Best told The Irish Times that he has not spoken to any of his former bandmates since leaving the group .