Both Stuart Sutcliffe and Astrid Kirchherr are most well known for their friendship with the Beatles. But when people describe them, they usually dont mention that fact. When describing Stu, the one word that should never fail to come in anyones mind is " Artist", And when describing Astrid, the word " Photographer" should enter you're minds. Both Stuart's artisitc abilities and Astrids exceptional ability in photograhy had a profound effect upon the Beatles. Together, Astrid and Stuart managed to effect the lives of so many, both then and now. Although Stuart has been deceaced for quite some time time, Astrid keeps Stuart's memory alive. Through books, interviews and exhibition's, the artwork and writing of Stuart Sutcliffe can be seen by anyone around the world who cares enough to pay deep attention to one of the most creative, artistic and intelligent men of the 20th century.

General Information On Stuart: Full Name: Stuart Ferguson Victor Sutcliffe Born: June 23rd 1940 Birth Place: Edinburgh Parents: Charles and Millie Sutcliffe Parents Occupation: Father-seaman Mother-teacher Siblings: Sister Joyce & Sister Pauling ( both younger) Merseyside Address: 37 Aigburth drive School's Attended: Prescot Grammer School, Liverpool college of art Interest: Art, literature, films, and mystical philosophy Art work: Influenced by Vincent Van Gough, Zbigniew Cybulski A painting done by Stuart was entered into the John Moores Exhibition and the Walker Art Gallery. Death: April 10th 1962 and4:30pm. Stuart died in the ambulance on the was to the hospital. He was 21 years old. Cause of Death: Cerebral Paralysis due to bleeding into the right ventricle of his brain.

Click on the photo below to view a segment that Stuart wrote describing the college style John Lennon

Click on the photo below to view the newspaper article that appeared in april 1962 titled " Mother flies with sons body" Describing Stu's death and contains quotes from family memebers.

Click on the photo below to view the medical informed post-mortem on Stuart

~BACKBEAT~

For those who would like a more visual image of Stuart, I highly recommend watching the film " Backbeat" which focus's upon John and Stuarts friendship, along with Stuart's relationship with Astrid. Stephen Dorff, who plays Stuart, bares a striking resembalence physicaly.  "When I first met (him), I got the shock of my life...He's the right age, but when he looked up, and I saw this shadow, my arms were geese pimpling. The way he talked, the way he smoked, his gestures, were just like Stu's. I was very impressed." - Astrid on Steven Dorff

Backbeat starts off with John lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe already very close friends. In the first scene, John and Stu are in a bar and are also very much intoxicated and start to mimic the female singer that is already on stage. Although this scene is very humerous and entertaining, it leads into a more well known incident that had happened in Stuarts life. As many wel know, Stuart and John got into a very bloody fight with some other, bigger, and dangerous guys whom badly beat up Stu. John defended Stuart as much as he could and even got his wrist broke in the process. While Stuart was down on the ground after being punched, one of the guys kicked him in the head, which many believe is what triggered Stuart to have the brain hemorrage that lead to his death in 1962. From the books I have read and from the interviews that I have read from both Cynthia Lennon, Astrid kirrcherr and Klaus Vooreman, they all state how much of an accurate movie Backbeat was. Astrid even took part in the development of the movie, and was shocked at how well Stephen Dorff played Stuart. During the movie when Stuart and Astrid have first met and are out with the rest of the band at a club, Stuart( Stephen Dorff)  points to a picture and Astrid ( Sheryl Lee) replies " Thats not me", she further goes on to say " I was just testing the lighting". That picture actually wasnt the actress, rather than how most movies put the actress or actor in a similar pose as the known photograph, the director of backbeat used Astrid real photograph which also shows the resembalence between Astrid and Sheryl. In many scenes through out the movie, "Stuart" is in his room painting. These scenes that are filled with drawings on the wall and othe paintings are the actual artwork constructed by Stuart Sutcliffe himself. If you look through the film closely you can see some of the pictures that Stuart has painted. The artwork in the film are ones that are not commonly seen like the ones below are.

Click below to proceed with more information and photographs of Stuart