In June 1964, the Beatles were to tour Scandinavia, Holland, the Far East and Australia. On June 3, the day before the tour, Ringo collapsed at an early morning photo session for the Saturday Evening Post at a portrait studio in Barnes, London. He had a 102-degree fever and tonsilitis and was rushed to the hospital.

While having his tonsils out in London, he was temporarily replaced for the Denmark and Holland concert dates by shy 24-year-old session drummer Jimmy Nicol. Beatles producer George Martin suggested Jimmy because he had recently recorded at EMI with Tommy Quickly and he'd also recently become familiar with Beatles numbers while drumming on a recording session for an album called Beatlemania.

At first, George Harrison didn't want Ringo to be replaced and refused to go on the tour without him, but Brian and George Martin convinced him. Paul thought he was okay for the tour, but that the fans would definately know the difference if he recorded with them. And Brian thought it was a good choice because he thought he "looked like a Beatle and not an outcast".

During the tour, every time one of the Beatles asked Jimmy how he was getting on, if he was liking it and was he managing okay, all he ever replied was "It's Getting Better". The others used to make fun of this, and later in 1967, it inspired Paul to do a song called It's Getting Better on the Sgt. Pepper's album.

Ringo was discharged from the hospital on June 11, and he rejoined the group in Melbourne on June 15, 1964.

For replacing Ringo on the tour, Jimmy received £500 and a gold Eternamatic watch enscribed: "From the Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy -- with appreciation and gratitude."

He released the song "SWEET CLEMENTINE" as a solo single as "The Sound of Jimmy Nicol".

In September 1965 Jimmy was invited to join the legendary Swedish guitar group THE SPOTNICKS. Jimmie Nicol left the group in February 1967

Jimmy died only 49 years old, in 1988.

Jimmie Nicol. Not just a temporary Beatles drummer! - IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JIMMY NICOL VISIT THIS WEBSITE.
compiled by Piet Muys

THE SOUND OF JIMMY NICOL .
SWEET CLEMENTINE.

USA, 1965

PARROT RECORDS
PAR 9752V

1- SWEET CLEMENTINE

2- ROARING BLUE

PROMOTIONAL COPY

THE SPOTNICKS.
SENTIMENTAL GUITAR.

JAPAN, 1966

POLYDOR DP-1477

1- SENTIMENTAL GUITAR

2- PIERCING THE UNKNOWN

THE SPOTNICKS.
AMAPOLA.

SPAIN, 1976

POLYDOR 2121297

1- AMAPOLA

2- JOHNNY GUITAR

The songs were recorded in 1964, without Jimmy Nicol, but this is a 1976 spanish reissue with Jimmy in the cover, in a photo taken during their Japan Tour.

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