Brian Epstein(1934-1967)
- Additional Crew
- Producer
- Actor
Brian Epstein was the original manager and the mastermind behind the
success of The Beatles.
He was born Brian Samuel Epstein on September 19, 1934 into a
Jewish-English family in Liverpool, UK. Epstein's family owned a store,
where Paul McCartney's piano was bought. After three terms Epstein
dropped out of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London,
where he was a classmate of Peter O'Toole.
Back in Liverpool he was put in charge of the record sales in his
father's stores. He also wrote a regular column in Mersey Beat
magazine, which promoted The Beatles.
Epstein's store was just down the street from the Cavern Club, where he
went to see a Beatles' performance, after a few customers requested
their single at his store. Epstein was treated to a VIP admission and
was welcomed in the club's public announcement. He remembered, "I was
immediately struck by their music, their beat, and their sense of humor
on stage. And, after-wards, when I met them, I was struck again by
their personal charm. And it was there that, really, it all started."
He also recognized The Beatles' members as regular customers at his
NEMS record store.
His diplomatic way of dealing with The Beatles and with their
unofficial manager,
Allan Williams, resulted in a
December 10, 1961, meeting, where it was decided that Epstein would
manage the band. A five-year management contract was signed by the four
members at then-drummer Pete Best's home on January 24, 1962. Epstein
did not put his signature on it, giving the musicians the freedom of
choice. At that time McCartney and Harrison were under 21, so the paper
wasn't technically legal. None of them realized this and it did not
matter to them. What mattered was their genuine trust in Epstein.
Epstein was persistent in trying to sign a record deal for The Beatles,
even after being rejected by every major record label in UK, like
Columbia, Philips, Oriole, Decca, and Pye. Epstein transferred a demo
tape to disc with HMV technician Jim Foy, who liked the song and
referred it to Parlophone's George Martin. They passed Martin's
audition with the exception of Pete Best. Being asked by John Lennon,
Paul McCartney, and George Harrison; Epstein fired Best. Ringo Starr
duly became the fourth Beatle.
Having no experience at artist management, Epstein made the right steps
by bringing serious improvements to their image. They switched from
blue jeans and leather jackets to suits and cleaned up their stage act.
He advised them not to smoke or snack in public. Epstein directed the
famous synchronized bow at the end of their shows. Overall improvements
to The Beatles' image made by Epstein transformed their appearance
enough to get them accepted by the mainstream media and public of that
time.
Detail-oriented and highly focused on maintaining their clean-cut
image, Epstein called them "The Boys" and managed every aspect of their
career, their everyday life, concert gigs, and media appearances. His
personal friendship with George Martin was also important. By leaving
the recording production and the repertoire work mainly in the
professional care of Martin, Epstein made himself available for other
artist management contracts. He successfully managed
Gerry and the Pacemakers,
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas,
Cilla Black as well as other artists. His
NEMS Enterprises lineup grew to include
The Bee Gees,
Jimi Hendrix, and Cream.
He was a creative member of The Beatles, a multi-talented man with a
good disposition, sharp memory, and an eye for details. A good
character reference was given to Epstein by the British Army as "Sober,
conscientious, and utterly trustworthy". Though he was dismissed from
service for being "incurably civilian". The Army used a different set
of criteria than the entertainment industry to judge a person's
character. His homosexuality and prescription drug (barbiturate)
dependency in those days, with pressures from both social and legal
restrictions, caused him additional stress. He died of a drug overdose
on August 27, 1967. The Beatles lost their uniting creative manager and
soon walked their separate ways.
success of The Beatles.
He was born Brian Samuel Epstein on September 19, 1934 into a
Jewish-English family in Liverpool, UK. Epstein's family owned a store,
where Paul McCartney's piano was bought. After three terms Epstein
dropped out of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London,
where he was a classmate of Peter O'Toole.
Back in Liverpool he was put in charge of the record sales in his
father's stores. He also wrote a regular column in Mersey Beat
magazine, which promoted The Beatles.
Epstein's store was just down the street from the Cavern Club, where he
went to see a Beatles' performance, after a few customers requested
their single at his store. Epstein was treated to a VIP admission and
was welcomed in the club's public announcement. He remembered, "I was
immediately struck by their music, their beat, and their sense of humor
on stage. And, after-wards, when I met them, I was struck again by
their personal charm. And it was there that, really, it all started."
He also recognized The Beatles' members as regular customers at his
NEMS record store.
His diplomatic way of dealing with The Beatles and with their
unofficial manager,
Allan Williams, resulted in a
December 10, 1961, meeting, where it was decided that Epstein would
manage the band. A five-year management contract was signed by the four
members at then-drummer Pete Best's home on January 24, 1962. Epstein
did not put his signature on it, giving the musicians the freedom of
choice. At that time McCartney and Harrison were under 21, so the paper
wasn't technically legal. None of them realized this and it did not
matter to them. What mattered was their genuine trust in Epstein.
Epstein was persistent in trying to sign a record deal for The Beatles,
even after being rejected by every major record label in UK, like
Columbia, Philips, Oriole, Decca, and Pye. Epstein transferred a demo
tape to disc with HMV technician Jim Foy, who liked the song and
referred it to Parlophone's George Martin. They passed Martin's
audition with the exception of Pete Best. Being asked by John Lennon,
Paul McCartney, and George Harrison; Epstein fired Best. Ringo Starr
duly became the fourth Beatle.
Having no experience at artist management, Epstein made the right steps
by bringing serious improvements to their image. They switched from
blue jeans and leather jackets to suits and cleaned up their stage act.
He advised them not to smoke or snack in public. Epstein directed the
famous synchronized bow at the end of their shows. Overall improvements
to The Beatles' image made by Epstein transformed their appearance
enough to get them accepted by the mainstream media and public of that
time.
Detail-oriented and highly focused on maintaining their clean-cut
image, Epstein called them "The Boys" and managed every aspect of their
career, their everyday life, concert gigs, and media appearances. His
personal friendship with George Martin was also important. By leaving
the recording production and the repertoire work mainly in the
professional care of Martin, Epstein made himself available for other
artist management contracts. He successfully managed
Gerry and the Pacemakers,
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas,
Cilla Black as well as other artists. His
NEMS Enterprises lineup grew to include
The Bee Gees,
Jimi Hendrix, and Cream.
He was a creative member of The Beatles, a multi-talented man with a
good disposition, sharp memory, and an eye for details. A good
character reference was given to Epstein by the British Army as "Sober,
conscientious, and utterly trustworthy". Though he was dismissed from
service for being "incurably civilian". The Army used a different set
of criteria than the entertainment industry to judge a person's
character. His homosexuality and prescription drug (barbiturate)
dependency in those days, with pressures from both social and legal
restrictions, caused him additional stress. He died of a drug overdose
on August 27, 1967. The Beatles lost their uniting creative manager and
soon walked their separate ways.