The Brian Epstein Story

Great easy read about the genius behind The Beatles. While many harshly judge Brian as 'Monday Morning Quarterbacks' and criticize his deal making prowess, those who do forget there were no rules when Brian Epstein took the fabs to the top. There has never been a show business success story like this; there may never be a success story like this again, and Brian was in charge. He helped The Beatles conquer the world. Credit where credit is due. His elegant, upscale taste (putting the boys in tailored suits & combing out the mop tops) was a key factor in the world falling in love with the band. The fashion went hand in hand with the music revolution the Beatles led. Brian guided and shaped their theatrical presentation. He nutured the image of The Beatles as the epitome of self assured, witty 24 year old super heros-the world's press literally eating out of their hands. The outsider from Northern England whose grace and style the Beatles were modeled on. Their appearance, a reflection of Brian. The Saville Row suits. The impeccable style. The upscale rebel- never too posh. Brian was the aspirational leader of The Beatles. John Lennon adored Brian, listened to him, respected his savvy. As John went, The Beatles went. Brian's financial independence was THE key ingredient in securing The Beatles record deal. Brian found George Martin. Brian booked the boys on The Ed Sullivan Show. Brian moved the scene from Liverpool to London that ushered in the mod swinging 60's. Brian helped attract the entire world's attention for the first global satellite TV transmission when he secured The Beatles a spot to perform "live" for the world on TV. The "All You Need Is Love" LIVE satellite broadcast from Abbey Road ignited the Summer Of Love. Brian had the abilty to skillfully manipulate the media long before any pop manager. To hell with the T-shirt deals and who made what on the god darn lunch pails. None of that matters. This was a tasteful, intelligent and visionary man who put his soul into a music act that transformed the staid music business into an artists business. The glory of the LP era itself and the artistic music revolution that followed in The Beatles wake all owe a debt of gratitude to Brian. The sad part of the story are the 'double life' demons he faced from his sadly closeted homosexuality. Today his lifestyle would be a non issue among the show business elite and he could live proudly and in broad daylight. That is the tragedy here. A man right for 'the moment' yet too far 'ahead of his time.' The personal pressures of the double life coupled with the professional pressures of handling the most 'in demand' artists in the history of show business proved too much for a 32 year old man to take. I thought I knew everything there was to know about The Beatles. I did not. When the book revealed that John's touching "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" was written about Brian I cried a river of tears just matching the lyrics together with the