Froggenbothom Bently: The true fifth Beatle?

Froggenbothom Bently was a well kept secret and an unsung hero in and around London recording studios in the 60s. An excellent musician, lyricist and composer, he was often called upon by groups known for their part in the "British invasion" to help out in their recording sessions. We caught up with this musical legend a few years ago, and he shared some personal recollections with us. Was he the true fifth Beatle? Certainly there were many others, including George Martin, who have been candidates for that title, including regulars in their tour groups. (see link for entourage pic):

Froggenbothom with his good buds, the Beatles

"I particulaly enjoyed hanging out with John, George, Paul and Ringo" said Bently. "They called me up a lot of times to help them out when they were in the middle of a session and felt like they were up against a brick wall with a song or something. Sometimes when they were pretty out of it from partying the night before, they would just want me to come over and cover a part for them".

Paul cuts up ribbing Froggenbothom with John

"It got so I was doing quite a bit of work with George Martin", Froggenbothom went on. "Most of the young musicians in London weren't used to the pressures of trying to crank out hits all the time. It was the first time a lot of them had had any real money, and they wanted to go out, get loaded and pick up girls, not hang around a boring recording studio every day, trying to be perfect on every track". "The Beatles were more dedicated than a lot of them, but later on, when they started experimenting more with getting high, they would often show up and sit in a corner, giggling and carrying on in silly ways". "Sometimes they'd send out for 'amusements' and they'd bring them back some game or toy or something. I remember one time they had a little bag of plastic animals and they just loved making as if they were talking to each other and making up bits of poetry". "I think I had the most fun with the slot car race track they set up one day. That held up the session for about two hours. Martin wasn't happy, but he finally just went out for lunch. When he got back, I went ahead and overdubbed some stuff for him while the rest continued to decide who was the champion race car driver".

Froggenbothom enjoys a slot car race with the boys

"The Rolling Stones were pretty crazy", Bently went on. "They'd have cases of beer and fifths of booze all over the studio, as well as other stuff we won't go into". "Everybody used to call me the "riff-master", 'cause I could always come up with these little guitar run bits that would jazz a song up nice. That fuzz riff in 'Satisfaction'? That's me. I started playing that along to the song, and they thought it was so good they went ahead and built the whole production around it. I'm a perfectionist, and I got a little upset because they didn't cut out the click sound from my turning on the fuzz box. You can hear it on the record if you listen real close". "Later on, they wanted me in the band, but after their manager saw the promotional pictures, he said no, you know, because of my ugly mug".

Trial promotion pic with the Stones

"Another good riff I came up with was the one on Herman and the Hermits' 'Silhouettes on the Shade'. Herman just loved me, and almost got me in with them, but again, it was considered much too risky to have a guy with a face like mine in a band that teenage girls were supposed to go crazy over". "But hey, I can't complain. I was definately the best paid studio musician around at that time, and though I was never mentioned in the credits or got any royalties, my pockets were always stuffed full of cash".

Froggenbothom was almost an official member of Herman's Hermits

"My presence at sessions was a well kept secret". Froggenbothom continued. "A lot of times with the Beatles, they would send a truck around and have me climb into a big box, which they'd carry into the studio so no one, especially photographers and reporters, would know what was going on". "Sometimes people ask me if I regret selling my time and ideas for cash, but hey, they couldn't let anyone know 'cause it would spoil the whole image of what was happening". "There are a few things I'm pretty proud of, like the intro riff for 'Daytripper'. They wanted something bold that sounded like Orbison's 'Pretty Woman', so I came up with that. I think the night after that session was one of the times they all helped load my box back into the truck and they came over and we drank wine and ate cheese and crackers untill the wee hours of the morning. The guys' girlfriends always hated me 'cause we'd get into rapping about what direction they ought to take the music and they wouldn't get back when they were supposed to".

Paul and Froggenbothom discuss the riff for "Daytripper"

As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Froggenbothom if he was in any way apprehensive about sharing photos from his private collection now along with what had always been such confidential information. "Oh, it's been such a long time. It's leaked out in certain circles, so it's really not an absolute secret that I was instrumental in so many of the bands' recording sessions back in the old days. No one would believe most of what I would have to say, anyway. Whenever I see any of the old guys, we just have a laugh over it all and remember how glad we were to be having so much fun while we made so much money".

Gag portrait with the fab four, or was it the fab five?

THE END

Please note the article on this page is offerred for entertainment purposes only and no aspect of the accounts of matters is necessarily true. The Beatles entourage pic is real, however, from an old teen fan mag, and has been unmodified in any way.