Claim: Stuart Sutcliffe was the third bass player of the Beatles.
Evidence: The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960 , with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player.
Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe -LRB- 23 June 1940 -- 10 April 1962 -RRB- was a British painter and musician best known as the original bass guitarist for the Beatles.