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Post by christine~ on Jan 31, 2008 18:54:32 GMT -5
Memorial Plan for Beatles ManagerFrom BBC NEWSThursday, 31 January, 2008 16:08 GMTA memorial to the former manager of the Beatles could be created in Liverpool after councillors backed plans for a lasting tribute to him. Brian Epstein died in 1967, aged 32, from a sleeping pill overdose. Plans for the tribute are still in the early stages, with no set idea for the memorial or location. However, solicitor Rex Makin, who was a friend of Epstein, has slammed the plans saying he was a private person who would not have wanted a monument. "I think it's rubbish, I don't believe in statues of any kind," said Mr Makin, who used to live next door to Epstein and helped arrange his funeral.
"Brian's work with the Beatles is there - it doesn't need any monument.
"He wouldn't have wanted one, the family wouldn't have wanted it. Brian was a very private person. Brian Epstein guided the Beatles to their early success. "It just seems to be people jumping on a bandwagon." Epstein managed a host of Liverpool stars in the 60s including Cilla Black and Gerry Marsden. Councillor Eddie Clein, who proposed the motion together with Councillor Steve Rotherham, got to know Epstein when he played at the Cavern Club with his band in the 60s. He said: "I spoke to the council and 88 out of 90 councillors thought it was an excellent idea. "Brian was a very private person but we are talking about the impact that the Beatles made on not just Liverpool, or this country, but right round the world. "Those of a younger generation have never heard of him and that is sad because you really can't think or talk of the Beatles without associating it with Brian so we need to do something to preserve that." The proposal for a memorial was passed at a meeting of Liverpool City Council on Wednesday night. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/7220236.stm
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Post by christine~ on Jan 31, 2008 19:05:23 GMT -5
Eppylover rants:
Bugger off, Makin. Any in-your-face tribute given to Brian Epstein is irrelevant to what Brian would want for himself. Hello, he's dead? If there is an afterlife, don't you think he'd have better things to care about?
Any plaques/statues/memorials are for OUR benefit, for US, for we the people. Something solid and substantial and material. WE want him remembered and appreciated properly ...and forever. He gave the world The Beatles, and they changed the world's culture immeasurably. What if he had not done it? It boggles the mind. Why let him be forgotten? And believe me, he IS being forgotten in places other than Liverpool.
Does he WANT Brian to remain only a footnote in the biggest world-changing music phenomenon ever?
Does he WANT the Beatles phenomenon disassociated from his Jewishness, maybe?
A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION
It's impossible for a Brian admirer to understand Rex Makin's opposition to honouring his former neighbour ~ UNLESS you take into account that Mr Makin has always been a proudly observant Orthodox Jew ~ just as the Epsteins were ~ and one of Judaism's fundamental Halachot (rules of belief) is a VERY serious "no graven images" rule. Idolatry: Basically, there shall be no statues or depictions of anything or anyone displayed in such a manner, because doing this chances drawing people to worship the images instead of G-d. This Halacha must be very heavily ingrained in Mr Makin's head, which causes him to reflect it and apply it not only to himself and his family, but also other people to whom it may not apply ~ us goyim, and less observant Jews ~ such as in the case of a Brian statue.
The above explanation is the favorable, understandable one, even though, to me, it seems Mr Makin is forcing his beliefs upon everyone else.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION?
I certainly don't want to think the other thing: that Mr Makin, a substantial municipal presence in his own right, harbors any envy, due to the pride that his fellow Liverpudlians hold for Brian ~ that soft-spoken and self-effacing, yet at times arrogant and pompous, confused little boy-man who grew up next door to Mr Makin as an outcast of his peers ~ the lad that, in later years, Makin (as their family lawyer) was obliged to bail out of (what was in those days) horrible homosexual situations, to rescue the prestigious Epstein family's good name from shame because of Brian's "selfish thoughtless shenanigans."
You're not in the least bit jealous that such an immoral misfit is engendering more respect than he deserves, are you? Of course not.
As far as that goes, do you also hold with the conviction of the rabbi of your Greenbank congregation who, in 1967, officiated at Brian's funeral, and preached a eulogy stating that Brian was "a symbol of the malaise of our generation"...? Indeed, that view persists today with the last rabbi of the now-closed Greenbank synagogue, who explained in person to my friend Katie Hickox that there was never a plaque for Brian within the building because he (and apparently all the past clergy there) believe Brian committed suicide. Errmmm? That's a rumour, rabbi. Are you saying the official findings are lies? Who are you to make your belief in a rumour official within your synagogue, inconsistent with the coroner's official finding? Who are you, indeed?
Perhaps Mr Makin is in denial that Brian was a man who was able to think for himself, who was looking at his background and religion in a respectful yet realistic way ~ still proud to be Jewish, mainly for his family's sake ~ yet the problem was that any ethnic pride he may have had for himself lay in a secular, humanist area that was not acceptable to a serious Orthodox family and its congregation. Hence, we read in many places that Brian was "a self-loathing Jew."
Forgive me for not having had the pleasure of Brian Epstein growing up next door to me and later soliciting legal advice from me. However, let this American Eppy lover be presumptuous enough to forumulate a view of him for myself, developed from everything others very close to him said on record ~ and from direct Brian quotes in articles ~ and from A Cellarful Of Noise ~ being that my view, is, in part ~ that Brian could be quite egoistical, flaunt pride in his accomplishments (particularly in his Beatles), and could be narcissistic ~ but it was all balanced out by an unfortunate strong inner self-hatred bred from years and years of strong disapproval of the REAL Brian Epstein foisted upon him by everyone he grew up with and around. He was known to be generous, altruistic, and tender-hearted, yet at times indifferent, unkind or downright mean. He admitted it himself in his last interviews with Mike Hennessey in the Melody Maker. He blew hot and cold.
This only tells me that he was imperfect ~ indeed, more "human" than most humans.
Let me state my conviction:
The proud side of Brian, the side that would want to be given his due by future generations, is the Brian that would secretly be very pleased with plaques and statues.
It is known that he was quite hurt by having been snubbed for the MBE's when all four of his Boys received them. As if he had nothing to do with it all.
Perhaps Mr Makin is offended by that side of Brian. After all, such pride is not befitting of an Orthodox Jew. It's a shanda.
Well, I am sorry.
Just because HE doesn't believe in this type of tribute, and just because HE thinks it's "rubbish," doesn't mean he can deprive everyone else of the pleasure of erecting something substantial letting future generations know that there WAS such a person (and SUCH a person he was!!!) as Brian Epstein.
Even Rex Makin called him a "one-off" ~ and, to directly quote him: "No one - and I mean no one - could possibly portray Brian. He was a one-off. No play or film has ever got anywhere near him or his personality. You cannot tell the Brian Epstein story. People have tried in stage plays and films and they never get it right. Brian was unique.
It is impossible to capture the man."
So, Mr Makin, please! It's not all about glorifying or idolizing. It's about remembering him for more than the unfortunate image the general public sees now ~ and, as petty as it may be, many of today's humans NEED something brick-and-mortar displayed ~ or the person or thing does indeed sadly pass from memory eventually.
If that's what you want, Mr Makin ~ well, we're NOT with you on that.
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