The Beatles’ bass player, Chas Newby, has passed away at the age of 81.

A spokesperson took to Facebook and confirmed the heartbreaking news, writing: “It’s with great sadness to hear about the passing of Chas Newby.

“Chas stepped in for The Beatles for a few dates when Stuart Sutcliffe stayed in Hamburg and latterly he played for The Quarrymen.”

The post continued: “Interestingly, he was also the first left-handed bass guitarist in The Beatles. RIP Chas Newby thoughts and well wishes from everybody at The Cavern Club.”

Mark Lewishon, a Beatles historian, took to Twitter to pay tribute to the musician.

Describing Chas as a ‘charming man,’ he wrote: “RIP Chas Newby, fill-in Beatle and fair chap. He deputised for Stuart on a few dates when the Beatles returned from Hamburg the first time, end-1960, including the momentous Litherland date.

“Latterly he’s been one of the Quarry Men too.  A charming man, always a pleasure to meet.”

In a 2012 interview with Sunday Mercury, Chas explained why he declined John Lennon’s offer to tour with the Beatles in the 1960s.

“Music was never going to be a living for me. I wanted to do chemistry,” he said. “John, Paul [McCartney] and George [Harrison], they just wanted to be musicians.”

Chas then became a school teacher and said that he did not have any regrets about his chosen career.

“People sometimes don’t believe me when I say I’ve no regrets. But I really haven’t,” he expressed.

Speaking about becoming the Beatles’ first left-handed bass player, he told Beatles City podcast: “I borrowed a bass from a guy called Tommy McGuirk, but of course Tommy was right handed, so I got this bass guitar and it’s not as difficult as it sounds but I just played it upside down.”

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