What Really Went On Between John Lennon And Beatles Manager Brian Epstein?
Paul McCartney recently addressed the infamous Lennon/McCartney songwriting credit, specifically, his name being listed second. The order of their names came from, according to him, being late for a meeting between himself, John Lennon and their manager at the time, Brian Epstein.
While McCartney has (more or less) come to terms with it, there’s a hint of curiosity in that fateful meeting, considering the fact that Lennon and Epstein’s relationship has been widely speculated upon both during The Beatles’ career and in the years that followed their breakup in 1970.
Discovering The Beatles
Epstein first heard The Beatles on Nov. 9, 1961 during a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club, down the street from his job at North End Music Store, one of the many facets of his family’s business he’d been involved with over the years. Less than three months later, he signed the group to a five-year deal, despite never having managed a musical act before. Nonetheless, his business acumen played heavily, namely by controlling every aspect of the band’s public image until he was able to present a finely polished, marketable product to the world.
At first, Lennon allegedly resented Epstein’s control, taking particular issue with his list of rules involving their onstage behavior, prohibiting any smoking or swearing. This would be debunked in later years, as Lennon himself was quoted saying that he’d “wear a bloody balloon if somebody’s going to pay me.”
By: Christian Long
Source: UPROXX Music
