Here you'll find links to profiles of key people involved in The Beatles' story, from the members of the band through to their wives and girlfriends, friends, colleagues and collaborators.
It isn't a comprehensive list, and nor could it ever be - far too many people made an impact upon the group's history. However, we hope you find something of interest, and please let us know if there are key people we should be covering.
- Alexis Mardas (Magic Alex)
- Alistair Taylor
- Allan Williams
- Allen Klein
- Astrid Kirchherr
- Bill Harry
- Billy Preston
- Bob Wooler
- Brian Epstein
- Cynthia Lennon
- Derek Taylor
- Dick James
- Geoff Emerick
- George Harrison
- George Martin
- Jane Asher
- Jimmie Nicol
- John Lennon
- Klaus Voormann
- Linda McCartney
- Lord Woodbine
- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
- Mal Evans
- Maureen Starkey
- Neil Aspinall
- Pattie Boyd
- Paul McCartney
- Pete Best
- Phil Spector
- Raymond Jones
- Ringo Starr
- Stuart Sutcliffe
- Tony Sheridan
- Yoko Ono
Related articles:
- Brian Epstein meets The Beatles
- Day off in Los Angeles
- The Beatles attend a party at Brian Epstein's country house
- Paul McCartney's 21st birthday party
- George and Pattie Harrison fly to Los Angeles
You should have Eric Clapton because he played the solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", played in The Concert for Bangladesh and The Concert for George, married Harrison's ex-wife Pattie Boyd, and throughout all this remained one of Harrison's best friends.
Agreed!
Sorry Joe, but I think you forgot Barbra Bach.
I haven't forgotten her at all. The profiles are for key people who figured in The Beatles' career up until 1970, which is the core focus of this site. As Barbara Bach married Ringo Starr in 1981 I'd say she's a peripheral figure at best.
how about Peter Brown?
I also think Eric Clapton should be in the list - mainly because during the Get Back Session - when George Harrison walked out - John Lennon suggested getting Eric to replace George.
One may wonder had George not returned if they really would have asked Eric and if Eric would have accepted - but it certainly shows (at least to me) that in 1969 Eric was a Beatle people - and almost became a Beatle - or at least almost was asked!
And it certainly would have been interesting to see Paul McCartney tell Eric Clapton what to play and what not to play!
LOL. I think Eric would have jacked Paul up.
Sid Bernstein certainly needs to be here. I interviewed him yesterday. What an amazing life story this man has. And he brought The Beatles to America (not to mention The Stones, The Kinks, The Dave Clark 5, Herman's Hermits, The Animals, etc.). Check out my Oct. 10, 2010 interview with Sid here: http://www.thebeatlesrarity.com/2010/10/11/interview-sid-bernstein/
You have overlooked Norman Smith, the engineer for every song from Please Please Me up to the Revolver album. Also Ken Scott,Phil MacDonald and a few more, who were the engineers for the White Album plus songs like Hey Jude, Walrus, etc etc. These were not peripheral people and only the 4 Beatles and George Martin were more relevant to the Beatles sound. If this is the bible it's missing an entire chapter.
You're entirely correct, it's just lack of time that's preventing me from profiling the key engineers.
Why isn't May Pang in this, she was a big part of Lennon's life during his "Lost Weekend", she was also their assistant
See the comment about Barbara Bach, above.
how about ivan vaughn...without who john and paul may have never met
As the man who made their first ever record, which must have made them very excited, I suggest Percy Phillips for your list.
NYC radio DJ's Murray 'The K' Kaufman and Bruce 'Cousin Brucie' Morrow enthusiastically introduced and fanatically promoted Beatles music and appearances to NY metropolitan area audiences, during '64-66' period.
Phil McDonald should be included. He was very close to the Beatles and went on to record albums forPaul and George for many years.
This is good Joe, I know you are doing the best you can, I take my Beatle Wig off to you!:)
The most under-rated personality to impact on the Bealte`s history is AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the saintly founder and spiritual master of the Hare Krishna Movement, was far more influential on George Harrison and John Lennon than the media publisised Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
When Srila Prabhupada, as he is known to his students arrived in England for the first time. John sent his paisley painted Rolls Royce to pick him up at the airport to bring the guru to his estate, the former Cadbury mansion, at Ascot Tittenhurst.
Bhaktivedanta Swami lived at John and Yoko`s for three months instructing John , Yoko, and George in the science of bhakti yoga during that time and they had many exchanges. John credits later writing Give Peace A Chance and Instant Karma as a result of these meetings.Many of George`s songs were all inspired by Bhaktivedanta Swami from Long, Long , Long , to Something, My Sweet Lord, Awaiting On You All, It Is He (Jai Sri Krishna),etc...
George donated $ 250,000 to purchase the Hare Krishna Temple in Letchmore Heath, Watford, and when there were some problems with the Town Concil at a later date, he offered his entire home to become the new temple at Henley-on-Thames.
During the recording of Let It Be, a disciple of Bhativedanta Swami named Syamasundara das came to Abbey Road and during a break, the Bealtes sat with him to ask him what the Krishna philsophy was all about and he spoke to them for over 2 hours while they remained receptive.
To this day Paul Mc Cartney regulrarly orders Take Out from the Govinda`s Vegetarian Restaurant run by the Hare Krishna devotees as well as his birthday cakes etc...He also hired a staff of Krishna devotees from America to travel with him on his last tour in England to be his cooks and to promote vegetarianism in the world with his Meatless Monday campaign
What about Chris O'Dell ?
She has a great book out about her time with the beatles.
There are a few really important people you need to include..
Ken Townsend - Engineer - Creator of A.D.T on the Beatles records. Artificial Double Tracking - Major advancement in the recording industry.
Norman Smith - Engineer - Major Influence on the Beatles Sound.
Richard Lush - Engineer - Majorly influential - Engineered Sgt Peppers
I hope that these characters will get mentioned a little more as they are part of the Beatles sound.
P.S This site is a really good site and keep up the amazing work.
//_ Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream .....Lennon
Hi Joe,
I think this is an awesome site. I would suggest for consideration Chris Thomas. It sounds like he played a fairly important role in recording them. Again, very impressive web site.
I'd love to see some information about terry o'neill on here, he took some great shots of the beatles
Team,
it safe to say that any time we endeavor to put together an all encompassing knowledge base for say the BEatles, we must include the key elements to their aura and achievements. Music, Management and Appearence. Although I'd mention family and influences, I think that plays out in the music dept. Management is addressed suffieceintly in current Bible, but nothing/nobody about their Appearance (style), from guitar choices to glasses,to cars to hair and clothes, etc. I'm not gonna mention who we left out because as Beatle fans and freaks we know who they were, and thus we should call on some team members to include this area so as to round out the package that was the impact of the Beatles (and success) were we first saw them on Ed Sullivan. What say yee?
Hi Rob. There is no team; this site is a one-man show. I'm adding as much as I'm able, and I'm aware that not every aspect of The Beatles' lives and careers has been covered. Some things I may never get round to doing, but I'm still working on the major omissions (mainly around the history section, which is ever-expanding).
Great website, but I think you're missing Norman Smith, the Beatles Studio Engineer before Geoff Emerick, and later the Producer for Pink Floyd. If you have Geoff, you need Norman.
Can someone confirm as I believe it to be true that the boys had an assistant they nicknamed Pongo Peregrine?...any ideas?
Norman Smith?