As a Beatles "academic" who has appeared on radio to discuss The Beatles, written Beatles-related articles for various magazines and featured in Beatles articles in The Argus, I found the Adam Trimingham article (The Argus, March 8) very frustrating for its lack of knowledge and obvious mistakes.

Firstly, Ringo Starr will not be a pensioner this year. He became a pensioner last year, having being born on July 7, 1940 - therefore he is 66 this year.

While John Lennon freely indulged in drug-taking during the late-Sixties, so did Paul McCartney.

However, most "critics" attribute the legendary status of the songs recorded during this time to the effects of the "mind-expanding" drugs they took.

Yes, McCartney was the most prolific songwriter of the duo during this period but Lennon was not "out of his mind" on drugs, as his solo forays in to films, art and the peace movement demonstrate.

From the mid-Sixties, Lennon was solely responsible for such classics as Strawberry Fields Forever, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and All You Need Is Love.

As the decade progressed, Lennon directly contributed 13 songs to The White Album, seven to Abbey Road and two to Let It Be.

McCartney hardly carried Lennon at this time. The eternal argument is who needed who most - Lennon or McCartney?

Macca's solo career pales into insignificance compared to his Beatles-era output.

However, in Macca's defence, Mr Trimingham denigrates McCartney's album Flaming Pie. Most Beatles fans regard that as one of his best solo efforts, which admittedly isn't difficult.

-Dave Sallis, Brighton