“Neil Aspinall, who has died aged 66, was the Beatles’ original road manager and went on to run the group’s business empire for 40 years; he became their chief confidant and, although not the only contender for the title of the fifth Beatle, perhaps deserved the accolade more than most,” The Telegraph reports.
“A notoriously reclusive accountant, Aspinall made a rare public appearance last year in the course of a lengthy legal dispute involving Apple Corps, the Beatles’ business organisation, which he joined during its chaotic launch in the late 1960s,” The Telegraph reports.
“But a matter of weeks after settling the row with the Apple computer firm over the use of a trademark, Aspinall abruptly resigned as chief executive, reportedly frustrated that the band’s musical legacy was being compromised in the quest for profits,” The Telegraph reports.
“One of his last tasks as their eminence grise had been to remaster the group’s back catalogue for legal downloading on the internet. Aspinall’s involvement with the Beatles dated from 1960 when the group’s original drummer, Pete Best, asked him to become their driver,” The Telegraph reports.
“Although he protested when Best (his best friend) was replaced by Ringo Starr, he remained with the band,” The Telegraph reports.
Full article here.
Interesting. Perhaps health problems had slowed release of the remaster catalogue on iTunes?
Truly a sad day for Beatles fans. Thanks Neil, you will be missed.
I read the news today. Oh boy.
Does it really require years and years to “remaster” a catalog for digital distribution? I don’t think so. The Beatles’ management is asinine.
an apropos comment, Chrissy.
Eminence grise? Sounds like what I had for lunch at Spago last week. Speakign of which — Neil Peart happened to be there. Peter Erskine was just leaving. And later on de ghost of Buddy Rich stopped by. Which reminds me . . .
What were the words words ever uttered in rock and roll history?
“How ’bout we let Ringo sing one?”
Yeh-heh-heh-hehessssssss . . .
Still asinine that anyone would confuse Apple Computer with Apple Corp.
good riddance to the old fart
now steve can rule the music world too
apple uber alles !
Alright, alright . . . no edit feature and too much absinthe. Okay, how about this:
When did Paul McCartney write ‘Silly Love Songs’?
1962 – 2005.
No? Okay, maybe this is better:
Which Beatle had the biggest penis?
Best, Peter
No, I keed, I keed. I keed de overrated.
Seriously, R.I.P. Neil. So let’s see — with Paul getting cleaned out and a hollow shell of himself, John and then George gone, and now Neil . . . WOW! We’re left with just Ringo, really.
Well, I guess we’ll just have to rely on de most talented Beatle to keep de legacy going . . .
Yeh-heh-heh-heh-hehessssssssssss . . .
flappo, I can smell your breath from orbit.
“In the midst of all this public bickering, “Let it Rot” was released as a film, an album, and a lawsuit. In 1970, Dirk sued Stig, Nasty, and Barry; Barry sued Dirk, Nasty, and Stig; Nasty sued Barry, Dirk, and Stig; and Stig sued himself accidentally. It was the beginning of a golden era for lawyers, but for the Rutles, live on a London rooftop, it was the beginning of the end.”
A Tragical History Tour.
;-(
Rutlemania played in Hollywood last week. It was great
He was the one person who could get all those four warring factions to agree on things. If you care about Beatles on iTunes, this is a big step backward.
Sorry, (with respect to NA’s importance), but the 5th Beatle will always be George Martin.
chrisyonebraincell should stop trying to be funny and play to her / his / it’s strengths
being a predictable jerkoff with the mental capabilities of a squashed grapefruit
Flappo gets pissed at the idea that his oral hygiene may be less than perfect.
I think it was a JOKE, Flappo. A JOKE. ha ha.
Oh, never mind.
Anyway, the fifth Beatle was Yoko Ono.
And thats why they quit in 1969.
Could you put up with Yoko?
John could, but only when he was really stoned, man.
She was banned from singing in the shower because it frightened little kids in the Dakota building.
George Martin put a hit on Yoko in 1968, but she started singing just as the hit man was aiming his silenced Glock.
The guy burst into tears.
Had to be helped to a taxi.
Hasnt been able to do any ‘Hit Man’ work since.
He still wont talk about it.
Although some of us may be shocked — and stunned –by the sad news about Neil, it made my morning to see ChrissyOne’s and others’ references to the Prefab Four.
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That’s one less source for a trademark infringement suit….