Post by yerblues1968 on Sept 20, 2009 14:29:34 GMT -5
Manager, Brian Epstein (upper right) with The Beatles.
THE BEATLES' MANAGER BRIAN EPSTEIN REMEMBERED
RealRockRadio
ksh395.com
8/27/2009
Today (August 27th) marks the 42nd anniversary of the death of the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein. Epstein, who died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 34, literally groomed the group from a scruffy, leather clad, bar band into the most successful and influential musicians of their time.
Epstein, who ran the music division of his parents' Liverpool department store, discovered the band in late 1961 and in just over six months had secured them their record deal with EMI Records. During his six years managing the band, Epstein's office supervised all of their personal and professional cares, including tour schedules, police security, personal mortgages, honeymoons, vacations, publicity, and much more. Epstein served as the best man to John Lennon and Ringo Starr at their weddings, and at George Harrison's wedding, he shared best man duties with Paul McCartney.
On top of dealing with the Beatles, Epstein's Nems Enterprises managed a stable of Liverpool stars, including Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, and Cilla Black, among others. In later years, Epstein had a hand in the careers of the Bee Gees and Cream, via a short-lived partnership with Robert Stigwood.
Epstein was far from a perfect businessman, losing the group millions of dollars in a U.S. company producing Beatles merchandising. Although in recent years much has been written about Epstein's failings in the financial aspects of the Beatles' career, it should be noted that, apart from Elvis Presley, at the time there had been no barometer as to how to manage a pop group. Epstein and the Beatles were literally in uncharted waters as they helped create rock as a new industry.
His personal life, which included bouts of depression over his being gay, led to his growing dependence on alcohol and prescription medications. At the time of his death, he was afraid that the Beatles would not re-sign him as their manager when his contract was up later that year. In recent years McCartney has stated that the Beatles would have kept Epstein on, but would have reduced his 20 percent managerial fee.
After the Beatles' breakup, all four members stated that Epstein's death was the first crack in the group's foundation, and helped lead to their eventual split in 1970.
George Harrison's first wife Pattie Boyd speaks lovingly of Epstein in her recent memoir called, Wonderful Tonight - George Harrison, Eric Clapton And Me. She says that Epstein served as a father figure for the Beatles: I think that when they left home, when they left Liverpool and came to live in London, they were still very young. And I think that really they saw Brian as a patriarchal figure.
Billy J. Kramer was asked if he felt his deal with Epstein was fair, in view of the fact that Epstein took a large managerial percentage and had almost total control over Kramer's career: At the time, yes. Obviously times have changed, deals are different than what they used to be. That's just the way that it was back then. It's like asking a ball player who's been retired for 20 years, was he pleased with what he got. You know, same kind of thing really.
The Beatles' legendary record producer George Martin credits Epstein's blind faith in the group's talent as the reason they were able to succeed: Brian Epstein was dedicated to his charges, and he had faith in them when nobody else did. I think it was that faith that gave them their initial success. They'd been through so many things together and then had no success at all. Everywhere he went he was turned down, but it was his faith, I think, that persuaded me to come and bring them down to Liverpool and listen to them.
In 1991 a film titled The Hours And Times was released portraying a fictional account of Epstein's April 1963 holiday to Spain with John Lennon. According to legend, during the trip Epstein and Lennon consummated a sexual relationship.
A film on Epstein's life has been in the works for several years, with actor Jude Law reportedly attached to the project at one point.
Variety reported this week that producer David Permut has acquired Tony Gittelson's script, called A Life In The Day, which chronicles Epstein's life from 1961 to 1967. No shooting date has been announced.
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