Born on 13 October 1942, Neil Aspinall was a childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, and became The Beatles' road manager, personal assistant and manager of Apple Corps.
At the age of 12, Aspinall gained a place at the Liverpool Institute, where he studied English and art alongside Paul McCartney. After leaving school in 1959 he studied accountancy, and went on to work as a trainee accountant for two years.
The Beatles first played Liverpool's Casbah Club in August 1959. The club was in the cellar of Mona Best, mother of the band's drummer Pete Best. Aspinall became good friends with Pete, and rented a room in Mona's house. Aspinall entered a relationship with Mona, and fathered a child, Vincent 'Roag' Best, born in July 1962. Their relationship drew to a close when Pete Best was sacked from The Beatles, an incident which appalled the loyal Aspinall.
On the road
As The Beatles' career took off in the early 1960s, they became in need of a driver. Aspinall was asked by Pete Best to be their part-time road manager, and bought a grey Commer van for £80. He charged each band member five shillings per concert.
When The Beatles returned from their second Hamburg trip in July 1962, Aspinall left his accountancy job to become their full-time road manager.
In 1963 he was joined by roadie and bodyguard Mal Evans, and Aspinall became more of a personal assistant to the band. He worked closely with Brian Epstein, and even stood in for an ill George Harrison during rehearsals for the Ed Sullivan Show on The Beatles' first trip to America. He is also known to have signed sets of Beatles autographs for thousands of unsuspecting fans.
After the band withdrew from touring in 1966, Aspinall became more actively involved in creative decisions. He was charged with sourcing photographs for all the people shown on the Sgt Pepper cover, and played tambura on Within You Without You and harmonica on Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!.
After Brian Epstein died in August 1967, The Beatles asked Aspinall to manage Apple Corps, founded in April 1968. George Martin apparently opposed the idea, saying he was ill-suited to negotiating with the top-brass executives at EMI.
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Aspinall's care for The Beatles legacy remains understated.