The Beatles discuss meeting Elvis
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The Beatles were first discovered by Brian Epstein in 1961. On a lunch break, he walked down the stairs of Liverpool’s Cavern Club and saw them playing. He arranged to sign a contract with them as soon as he could.
Epstein fixed the band’s image by making them wear suits and get uniform haircuts. Instead of swearing and smoking on stage, he urged them to become polite young men. Before long, they had become the biggest band in the UK.
Disaster struck in 1967 when Epstein was found dead at his home in Belgravia, Central London.
Epstein’s death was later determined to be an accident after his body was found to have carbrital, pentobarbital and alcohol in his system.
The manager’s personal assistant, Joanne Petersen, recently opened up about finding the star dead in his home.
She said: “That image I have never got out of my head. He looked very peaceful, with a book called The Rabbi open beside him, and correspondence spread over the other side of the bed. It just looked like he was asleep.”
She noted that the police were called and people began to arrive at the house to investigate.
Eventually, The Beatles made their appearance.
Petersen said: “That whole day is still so vivid… looking out from the living room as people started to gather, the police arriving and taking Brian away, knowing all hell was going to break loose.”
She described the Fab Four as completely distraught at hearing the news about their mentor.
“The Beatles came to the house with their wives and girlfriends the next day,” she recalled. “They were ashen, totally devastated. Everybody was shocked.”
But it was George Harrison who made the biggest impression on her as everyone in the room began to succumb to their emotions.
Michael Jackson and George Harrison discuss music in 1979
Petersen remembered: “I was sitting weeping on the sofa and George Harrison came over and consoled me.”
She suggested that the “sweet” and “comforting” Beatle was in a “spiritual state of mind” because he had just returned from meditating.
Harrison told her: “Brian’s alright, nothing can hurt him now, he’s at peace.” (Via The Mirror)
These comments meant even more to Petersen as she was suggested for the job by Harrison in the first place.
The Quiet Beatle had cultivated a special relationship with Epstein.
When Harrison had decided to propose to his first wife, Pattie Boyd, he needed permission from Epstein.
Boyd recalled that, after being asked to marry him, Harrison spoke to Epstein to confirm it was all fine to go ahead.
Harrison stepped out to “consult” with Epstein. Ten minutes later, he returned with good news.
“It’s all right,” Harrison told Boyd. “Brian has said we can get married in January. Off we go.”
Boyd was not happy about how their wedding went, though – and it was all Epstein’s fault.
The model wanted to get married in a church, but Epstein wouldn’t allow it.
She wrote in her memoir about getting engaged in a registry office. She said: “Not the most glamorous place, it was not the wedding I had dreamt of – I would have loved to be married in church, but Brian didn’t want a big fuss.
“They all trusted him so implicitly that when he said it should be a quiet register office wedding George agreed. He also said it had to be secret – if the press found out, it would be chaotic.” (sic)
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