Decca Records famously rejected The Beatles on January 1, 1962, in what's now considered one of the biggest mistakes in music industry history. After auditioning for the label, Decca's executive Dick Rowe told Brian Epstein, the band's manager, that "guitar groups are on their way out" and that "The Beatles have no future in show business."

The audition took place at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, where The Beatles performed 15 songs in just about an hour. The group, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and then-drummer Pete Best, made the journey from Liverpool to London in challenging winter conditions to make this crucial audition.

During the session, the band performed a mix of covers and original songs, including:

• "Money (That's What I Want)"
• "Till There Was You"
• "Like Dreamers Do"
• "Hello Little Girl"
• "Three Cool Cats"

Instead of The Beatles, Decca chose to sign Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, who had auditioned the same day. The label's reasoning was partly based on logistics - The Tremeloes were from London, making them easier to work with than a band from Liverpool.

This rejection turned out to be a pivotal moment for The Beatles. A few months later, they signed with EMI's Parlophone label, where producer George Martin helped shape their sound and launch their career. Under Parlophone, they went on to become the most successful and influential band in popular music history.

The Decca audition tapes survived and have since become valuable collectors' items, serving as a reminder of how even industry experts can sometimes fail to recognize groundbreaking talent. Decca's rejection remains one of the most notorious misjudgments in music business history, often cited alongside similar stories like Columbia Records initially passing on Bob Dylan.

Dick Rowe later partially redeemed himself by signing The Rolling Stones, allegedly on Keith Richards' recommendation. However, the decision to pass on The Beatles has forever earned Decca Records a place in music history as the label that made the biggest mistake in rock and roll.

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