Just heard Neil Aspinal passed away....

[teeder]

That was interesting!

[tamborineman]

A true friend to the Beatles in every way. Cancer really sucks

[hamilton_square]

Neil Aspinall standing in for an absent George Harrison during a camera call rehersal on the Ed Sullivan Show prior to the Beatles first appearance in 1964 (image courtesy of the online UK Daily Telegraph)

As a so-called “fifth Beatle” Neil Aspinall had more educational qualifications than the other four put together. While they had often precious egos – he wasn’t blessed with one. While they were dreamers about universal love and peace – he very much had to become a hardheaded cynic. While they remain to this day, instantly recognisable – even if you had fallen over the reclusive Neil Aspinall, you wouldn’t have known who he was. But, above all else, he was valued and prized for being able to get the behind-the-scenes, sometimes ‘dirty work’ done and for never having fallen into the trap of telling the public right-hand what the private left-hand had done. Has he always intended to do, he's taken such secrets with him. For if there ever was a person who knew where many of the now skeltons were buried it was Neil Aspinall.

[studiotwosession]

At this point, with Lennon being as frank as he was with some people, and so many books being in print, and hundreds if not thousands of interviews logged, how many secrets of merit could possibly be left untold? With Harrison, Derek Taylor and now N.A. passing, smokes definitely took key members of Apple away long before their time.

[simer4001]

God Bless you Neil.

[doctorwho]

RIP, Neil.

[rickfan63]

At this point, with Lennon being as frank as he was with some people, and so many books being in print, and hundreds if not thousands of interviews logged, how many secrets of merit could possibly be left untold? With Harrison, Derek Taylor and now N.A. passing, smokes definitely took key members of Apple away long before their time.

Yeah, they were all smokers in those days. Sad they were never able or willing to give them up. I do believe(though I could be wrong here) that Ringo quit the habit. Paul gave up cigarettes, but still likes his pot though. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

[sloop_john_b]

Yeah, they were all smokers in those days. Sad they were never able or willing to give them up. I do believe(though I could be wrong here) that Ringo quit the habit. Paul gave up cigarettes, but still likes his pot though. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

I remember reading that Paul quit around '80 or so, not sure about Ringo.