CBS Photo Archive/Getty ImagesThis doesn’t happen very often. A rare piece of Beatles memorabilia offered for auction didn’t sell — in this case, a Ludwig drum kit that was used on the recording of The Beatles’ debut album.
Apparently, no one ponied up the minimum bid of $150,000 for the kit, which was used on the September 11, 1962, recording of “Love Me Do.”
Newly hired drummer Ringo Starr had played on a version of the song in the studio the week before, according to Rolling Stone, but producer George Martin was unsatisfied with the results. Andy White was recruited to play drums on a new version of “Love Me Do,” with Ringo on tambourine, as well as on “P.S. I Love You.” The bass drum head has White’s name emblazoned on it.
Nonetheless, Starr’s version of “Love Me Do,” with “P.S. I Love You” on the B-side, was released as their first U.K. single in October 1962. White’s version was used on the first Beatles LP, Please Please Me, the following March, and on the 1964 U.S. single.
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