Given The Beatles’ worldwide fame, it seemed everything about their lives and careers was rather everchanging. However, there was one man who was always a constant in their lives—Brian Epstein. Both a friend and manager to the band, Epstein was with the group through thick and thin. He was the unofficial father of the group and made sure The Beatles only needed to focus on one thing: making music.
Epstein discovered The Beatles in 1961 at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. Following their introduction, Epstein stated, “I was immediately struck by their music, their beat and their sense of humor on stage,” per Biography. He was charmed right off the bat. He had such a strong belief in The Beatles, that he decided to sign them without having any music managerial experience. And well, the rest is a colorful history of triumph and tragedy.
Brian Epstein Was More Than a Manager
Paul McCartney once said, “If anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian,” according to Biography. That being so, Epstein was more than a manager. More importantly, he was a steadfast friend to the group. In addition to McCartney’s comment, Epstein became so close to John Lennon that he confessed and confided in him about his homosexuality.
Regardless of the comments about Epstein being a bad businessman or a dishonest manager. Epstein’s character evidently meant far more to The Beatles than his services did. He was their confidant, fearless leader, and the glue that seemingly kept them together when tempers flared. Hence, when Epstein died, a part of The Beatles did too.
August 27, 1967
John, Paul, and George Harrison were at a retreat in Bangor with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Ringo Starr was with his newborn baby. And Brian Epstein was found by his butler dead in his London home. The cause of death was ruled as an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. A day later The London Daily Mirror headline was “EPSTEIN (The Beatle-Making Prince of Pop) DIES AT 32,” per History.
Heart-stricken, The Beatles mourned the loss of their beloved friend and went on to manage themselves until hiring Allen Klein. A decision that would be attributed to The Beatles’ demise. Nevertheless, losing Epstein was the largest tragedy during The Beatles’ career. Over 40 years later, McCartney said in the George Harrison: Living in The Material World documentary that “With Brian dying, it was like one of us dying.”
A grave loss and a tragic tarnish on The Beatles’ nearly impeccable career.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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