The drummer Jimmie Nicol sitting alone at Essendon Airport in Melbourne, Australia, on June 15, 1964, after temporarily filling in for Ringo Starr during The Beatles' world tour... On June 3, 1964, the day before the Beatles were due to start a world tour, Ringo Starr collapsed during a photo shoot and was rushed to the hospital with tonsillitis and a high fever. Rather than cancel, manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin brought in Jimmie Nicol, a 24-year-old London session drummer. Within hours, he had rehearsed with the band, had his hair cut into a Beatle mop, and was wearing Ringo’s stage suit. For the next 10 days, Nicol toured Denmark, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Australia, playing to screaming crowds and riding in motorcades like a real Beatle. Then Ringo recovered and rejoined the band in Melbourne. Early the next morning, Nicol quietly left for London. Epstein reportedly saw him off with a check and a gold watch inscribed with thanks from the Beatles and Epstein. Back home, his own music career never took off, and he largely disappeared from public life. Whenever Nicol was asked how he was adjusting during the tour, he reportedly answered, “It’s getting better.” Paul McCartney later said the phrase helped inspire the 1967 song “Getting Better.” #archaeohistories