Brian Epstein was a fan of the Beatles who eventually became their manager. He served in this capacity from January 24,'62 till his death on August 27,'67 of a drug overdose. Brian also managed other acts (i.e.: Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, and the Remo Four), but the Beatles were by far his most famous band.
In this article we will be exploring the impact that Brian Epstein had on the development of the Beatles. Long attributed to the success of the Beatles in the early years, Paul McCartney is said to have uttered the words, "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian".
Brian Samuel Epstein was born on September','34 in the port city of Liverpool, England. At the young age of 16 he expressed his desire to become a dress designer, but that didn't sit well with his father. His father, mortified at this suggestion, ordered him to "report for duty" at the family's furniture shop. This was certainly not Brian's idea of a meaningful career, but he did comply with the demand.
It is commonly believed that Brian first heard of the Beatles via the issues of the Mersey Beat, and on the various Beatles posters that were displayed all around Liverpool at the time. He actually went to hear them play at the Cavern Club in Liverpool on November 9,'61. He was immediately taken by their unique sound, and the sense of humor that they exhibited on stage. Everything started to develop from this one meeting, and on January 24,'62 the Beatles signed Brian to a 5-year management contract.
This was the first time that Brian had managed an entertainment act. Nonetheless, he made his impact known early. He was responsible for their new dress code, and the attitude that they displayed while performing on stage. At Brian's suggestion, the group started to wear suits. He stopped them from swearing, drinking, smoking, or eating onstage. It was also Brian who suggested the formality of the synchronized bow at the end of the performance.
Brian made a lot of trips to London in the early years to try and secure a recording contract. This was to prove to be a tough sell, as the Beatles were refused by many record labels, such as Philips, Pye, Oriole, Decca, and Columbia. You may have heard of the infamous Decca audition...one which we will be writing about in a future article. With his options running out, Brian eventually worked his way over to EMI, and George Martin, the manager of the Parlophone label, signed the group without even seeing the Beatles play. He was to later say that it was Brian's enthusiasm for the Beatles that eventually won the deal.
August 27,'67 was to prove to be a fateful day in the lives of the Beatles, for on this day, Brian Epstein died of a drug overdose. The man who had orchestrated their sudden rise to fame and glory was gone. They now had to manage their careers on their own. They did not attend his funeral as they felt it would only draw media and fans. Years later, in 2008, the first contract that the Beatles signed with Brian was auctioned off for 240,000 pounds...
In this article we will be exploring the impact that Brian Epstein had on the development of the Beatles. Long attributed to the success of the Beatles in the early years, Paul McCartney is said to have uttered the words, "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian".
Brian Samuel Epstein was born on September','34 in the port city of Liverpool, England. At the young age of 16 he expressed his desire to become a dress designer, but that didn't sit well with his father. His father, mortified at this suggestion, ordered him to "report for duty" at the family's furniture shop. This was certainly not Brian's idea of a meaningful career, but he did comply with the demand.
It is commonly believed that Brian first heard of the Beatles via the issues of the Mersey Beat, and on the various Beatles posters that were displayed all around Liverpool at the time. He actually went to hear them play at the Cavern Club in Liverpool on November 9,'61. He was immediately taken by their unique sound, and the sense of humor that they exhibited on stage. Everything started to develop from this one meeting, and on January 24,'62 the Beatles signed Brian to a 5-year management contract.
This was the first time that Brian had managed an entertainment act. Nonetheless, he made his impact known early. He was responsible for their new dress code, and the attitude that they displayed while performing on stage. At Brian's suggestion, the group started to wear suits. He stopped them from swearing, drinking, smoking, or eating onstage. It was also Brian who suggested the formality of the synchronized bow at the end of the performance.
Brian made a lot of trips to London in the early years to try and secure a recording contract. This was to prove to be a tough sell, as the Beatles were refused by many record labels, such as Philips, Pye, Oriole, Decca, and Columbia. You may have heard of the infamous Decca audition...one which we will be writing about in a future article. With his options running out, Brian eventually worked his way over to EMI, and George Martin, the manager of the Parlophone label, signed the group without even seeing the Beatles play. He was to later say that it was Brian's enthusiasm for the Beatles that eventually won the deal.
August 27,'67 was to prove to be a fateful day in the lives of the Beatles, for on this day, Brian Epstein died of a drug overdose. The man who had orchestrated their sudden rise to fame and glory was gone. They now had to manage their careers on their own. They did not attend his funeral as they felt it would only draw media and fans. Years later, in 2008, the first contract that the Beatles signed with Brian was auctioned off for 240,000 pounds...
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Learn more about the Beatles. Stop by Brian Nestle's site where you can find out all about their Let It Be song.
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