Debbie Geller - In My Life: The Brian Epstein Story

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Contents

This is for Nigel Finch
who should have been here

Acknowledgements

Just as films are collaborative efforts, so books depend on the kindness and hard work of others. So there are many others I need to thank for the help and sympathy in helping the book of the film to see the light of day.

Alison Willett really shouldnt be thanked. Somehow there should be a way to include her on the title page. Her dazzling efficiency, reliability, good humour, inexhaustive energy, proofreading skills (notice all the commas), computer savvy and visual intuition made it possible to complete this book. The Brian Epstein Story is partially hers.

Thanks to Matthew Evans and Clare Reihill at Faber and Faber for their enthusiasm and patience.

In New York, Mark McDonald gave me the time and more understanding than he should in allowing me to neglect some major responsibilities to complete this project. Damian Fowler helped out on some early editorial work and always manages to appear enthusiastic about the obsessions of an older generation. Jon Savage came up with the idea for an Arena on Brian Epstein in the first place and has gone on to be one of the best telephone pals in the world. Diana Mansfield, beyond her work on the film, offered arcane and priceless information on where they are now.

I also have to thank my friends and neighbours Karen Denker, Rob Marx and Paul Bertaccini and my father Arthur Geller for the meal breaks which couldnt have been much fun for them. Those friendly voices on the phone, Wayne King, Francis Liscio, my sister Ruth Athan and mother Annette MacNair also provided much needed diversion and encouragement.

Dilly Barlows generosity during the final push was way beyond the call of duty. When the production combine took over her home, she did nothing but make conditions comfortable, from providing delicious meals to turning on the central heating in the middle of the day to letting us kidnap her computer. I cant imagine anyone being more gracious.

In the Arts and Classic Music Department of the BBC, Erica Banks was once again the unit manager made in heaven.

Some others who made life infinitely easier: Jessica Taylor at the Arena office, Bob Spitz, Malu Halasa and my Macintosh Powerbook Duo 2300cs that performed with distinction on both sides of the Atlantic.

Finally, if youre uniquely fortunate, there are a handful of friends in your life without whom your life is unimaginable. Ever since we distinctly did not hit it off at a party at the ICA more than a hundred years ago, Anthony Wall has been one of those friends. For the chance to do this book, work on the film, for all he has taught me and all that I know as a result of knowing him, for the opportunities he has given me, I wish I knew how to thank him adequately. I just know that without his friendship, I would have no stories to tell at all and I hope he realizes how much I treasure that.

DEBORAH GELLER, NEW YORK & LONDON, MARCH 1999

Id like to thank Jon Savage for suggesting a film about Brian Epstein in the first place and for his advice and insight; Diana Mansfield, particularly for her acute understanding of life in Britain in the 50s and early 60s and how it feels to be a fan; film editors Roy Deverell and Guy Crossman for their skill and patience; Michael Dobson in BBC Co-productions for never taking no for an answer.

Thank you to Reggie Nadelson for starting the ball rolling and to Matthew Evans for making it happen.

Above all I want to thank all the contributors and Henry Epstein whose help throughout was invaluable. Finally thanks to the late Derek Taylor. Derek inspired us to see the project through.

ANTHONY WALL
LONDON, MARCH 1999

Quotations from A Cellarful of Noise by Brian Epstein by kind permission of Souvenir Press Ltd.

Prologue

JOHN LENNON : He was just a beautiful fella

BBC REPORTER : What are your plans now?

JOHN LENNON : I dont know we havent made any. Weve only just heard.

BBC TV NEWS , 27 AUGUST 1967

Peter Brown, friend and colleague: Hed driven to London, we dont know what happened after that. The next day, the houseman called me to say he was still in his room and he was concerned there was no sign of life.

Lonnie Trimble, former houseman/cook: It was Sunday, 27 August 1967, I turned on the television and it was announced that he was dead and I cried like other people cried.

Paul McCartney: My feeling is that he would wake up in the middle of the night and wonder, Why am I not sleeping? I havent had my sleeping pills in a drowsy state and take a couple more. Since then, of course, thereve been millions of rumours was he killed? Did he kill himself, or what?

Nat Weiss, US attorney: He was certainly in a very positive frame of mind. Hed made plans for the future, Id spoken to him two days before and he was anything but suicidal.

Bryan Barrett, chauffeur: There were two strange expressions he used prior to his death, one was Beware the Ides of March this must have been about three weeks to a month before he actually died and also, I feel Im Svengali thats created a monster.

Simon Napier-Bell, friend and rock manager: I felt like Id opened up a newspaper, seen a riveting headline and had it snatched out of my hands before I could read the details. I wanted to spend more time with him. There was the whole story of the Beatles in his head and now hed deprived me of it.

Joanne Petersen, personal assistant: Dr John Galway told me to wait outside the room. My immediate feeling was just real shock, shock and disbelief that this could happen. I didnt know if it was suicide, I didnt know if it was an accident.

Gerry Marsden, of Gerry and the Pacemakers: The last year of his life was very hard for Brian. Hed get very depressed and at times the whole thing just got to him but it wasnt suicide. It was too much stuff. He was taking too much stuff.

Alistair Taylor, General Manager of NEMS Enterprises, Epsteins firm: Joanne opened the door to the house and just pointed upstairs and as I was halfway up, I heard splintering wood as they broke the door down. I was right behind the doctor he was looking at Brian and Brian just looked like he was asleep.

Marianne Faithfull (with the Beatles and the Maharishi in Bangor): It was agony to be with the Beatles when there was nobody else there. Normally there were loads of minders around and there was no one. I mean they just didnt know what to do; it was the most terrible thing.

When Brian died, I thought, Weve fucking had it now.

JOHN LENNON, ROLLING STONE , 1970

Foreword

My father said, with great justification and dwindling patience, I just dont know what we are going to do with you.

Nor did I, and it was another fifteen years before I showed any promise. I must surely be one of the latest developers of all time, for not until my mid-twenties did any pattern or purpose emerge in my life. If Keats had waited as long as I did to get going, he wouldnt have written more than a couple of poems before his death.

My parents despaired many times over the years, and I dont blame them, for throughout my school days I was one of those out-of-sorts boys who never quite fit. Who are ragged, nagged and bullied and beloved of neither boys nor masters.