On Jan. 1, 1962, music columnist turned band manager Brian Epstein drove 10 hours to London with his brand-new, unsigned act the Beatles so they could audition with Decca Records. They didn't perform any original songs, thinking it best to stick to well-known covers. Decca listened to 15 tunes then sent them back to Liverpool saying "guitar groups were on the way out" and that the Beatles didn't have a very good sound. Six months later, the soon-to-be Fab Four tried again, this time with George Martin at EMI Studios. Martin liked what he heard and signed them right up. Original drummer Pete Best (far left) was soon replaced by Ringo Starr.