Would The Beatles Have Made It Without Epstein?

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Tue May 20, 2003 4:09 pm

I'll just add that once The Beatles decided to quit touring(after Candlestick Park) it seems that Brian Epstein's role as manager might have become a little less important. I've read that he personally was in charge of organizing the tours and they generally went very smooth(with one exception being Manila!). The Beatles nearly went their separate ways at this point as there was about a two month break but thankfully they went back and became great studio musicians. At this time George Martin's role as producer became even more important. Epstein felt a little left out and was depressed at this point. He was never a part of the studio scene and I remember reading that Lennon told him 'stick to managing and we'll write the music' or something similar to that.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu May 22, 2003 2:01 pm

I think it was more like "you stick to countin' yer money" or something. It is said to hurt Brian deeply.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu May 22, 2003 2:40 pm

Do we know at what point John Lennon said this to Brian Epstein?

geordie9 · Post by **geordie9** » Thu May 22, 2003 2:50 pm

Was that not the incident when Brian brought a "friend" into one of the recording sessions and,in an attempt to impress him, turned on the control room mic and told John that "something didn't sound quite right on that take" It was at that point John told him to stick to counting the money and let them worry about the music.

It was an attempt by Brian to impress the bloke he was with and they cut him down in front of him......or that's the story I heard.

geordie9 · Post by **geordie9** » Thu May 22, 2003 3:05 pm

Just an addendum to the last post....I'm pretty sure it was during the Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane/Sgt Pepper sessions that this happened. Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane were actually supposed to be part of that album but they needed a single, so these two were released first. But the actual sessions were all around the same time. It was also around this time when Brian gave his "brown paper bags for Sgt Pepper" comment after seeing the cover....fearing retribution from the hordes of people depicted on the album. He was becoming increasingly aware of the fact that they needed him less and less, and the control room incident in front of his "boyfriend" was clearly his attempt to still appear to be important to the decision making process of the Beatles.....until John put him in his place...I think that's what hurt him the most...the realisation that he was no longer needed like he used to be.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Tue May 27, 2003 3:38 pm

Not only was Brian's role getting less important with The Beatles, his contract with The Beatles only ran until September, 1967, the month after his death. According to his biography he was certain The Beatles would stay together but his terms would most likely change and he would get 10% instead of 25%. The Beatles were now older and wiser and would exert artistic control over themselves(rightly so). NEMS was mainly an agency that had planned their tours and they were no longer touring so Brian would now be their personal manager only. Brian's dream of running the Saville Theatre was becoming a nightmare and losing 3000 pounds a week. Brian had a lot of pressure on him at this time. Too bad he couldn't have just walked away from it all for awhile. Easier said than done.