The Man Who Discovered And Guided The Beatles!
Present-day perceptions of music managers are shaped by stories of moguls such as Elvis Presley's
manager 'Colonel' (sic) Tom Parker - who took a modest 50% of the Elvis revenue stream. And we
learn from the media that many modern era representatives have sold off their artist's
recording catalogues, mortgaged their publishing, emptied their bank accounts and screwed them
into the ground.
Moreover many artist representatives glom on to an act when it is already ascending. They don't
do the foundational work that builds the performer.
None of that applies to Brian Epstein. His role in the success of the Beatles is absolutely crucial.
Let's be quite clear: The Beatles of course had the creative talent. Without it there would have
been nothing at all for Brian Epstein to manage.
But at the point that Brian Epstein encountered them in November 1961 - the nucleus of John,
Paul and George had been together for FOUR whole years and had not made any significant impact
apart from a cult following among a handful of fervent teenagers in Liverpool and the German
seaport of Hamburg.
No record deal. No concerts. No tours. No performances apart from tiny clubs in Liverpool and
Hamburg. No national awareness. No international awareness (outside Hamburg). No press coverage.
No radio shows. No TV appearances. No nothing... Just their talent and their love of music.
Their state of mind when Brian first told them he wanted to become their manager is best conveyed
in the words of George Harrison explaining in 1994 why they agreed to his proposition: "We weren't
going anywhere anyway so we thought we may as well..."
In a nutshell - the Beatles had all the raw, nascent talent - but they lacked visual style,
smart clothes, presentation, stage-craft, sartorial aesthetics, organization, facility to reach
record companies, skills in promotion, publicity, marketing, advertising, money. They desperately
needed someone as good at management as they were good at music.
As it happens, Brian Epstein had zero experience in artist management. And he was only 27 when
he took on the role.
But... he was a natural-born, self-taught, instinctive impresario and visionary. Everyone else
saw a bunch of delusional, scruffy kids. Brian saw the future. And he had innate skills as an
organizer, a stylist, a presenter, a promoter. He was passionate. And he decided to dedicate
his life to his vision of making the Beatles become the fabulous foremost stars on the planet.
"The Beatles will be bigger than Elvis" he quietly declared to many record industry
leaders in 1962.
On its face it was a ludicrous prediction. Elvis Presley had been the biggest pop star in the
world for seven years. And he was from the only nation that really counted in pop music - the USA.
The Beatles were four youngsters from a hard-scrabble, provincial town in the unfashionable
north of England. Even making it in their own London-centric country would be a huge struggle.
Succeeding in the USA and the rest-of-the-world - an impossible pipedream.
Two years later they had conquered Britain and America - and the rest of the globe rapidly followed.
The key difference between all their worthy but unrewarded endeavors in the years 1958-1962
and their planet-wide success from early 1963 onwards was simple. BRIAN EPSTEIN!
(And the gifted, nurturing record producer he found and persuaded to sign them - George Martin)
He was the architect of their image and presentation... the strategist of their success...
the catalyst to their global conquest... their trusted guide... their shield and protector...
their visionary mentor... the powerful, positive agent of their transformation... their
maestro... their brother-in-arms... their faithful ally. And most of all - their beloved friend...
As a heartbroken John said moments after learning of his death: "He was one of us..."
This official website explains it all... It was created to honor Brian and to share news and
information about the revival of appreciation for him. And to provide background and context
for those who are interested in the Man Behind the Beatles.
The Beatles summarized it best in 1965...
That year Britain's monarch - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - saluted the Beatles for their
vast contributions of the preceding two years by awarding them one of the UK's most
prestigious honors - all four of them were individually appointed to be a "Member of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire" - an historic accolade abbreviated as the "MBE".
On receiving the award the Beatles publicly declared: "Our MBE stands for Mr.
Brian Epstein"
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