Brian Epstein appreciation thread (RIP Brian) | Page 6 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Since this is a “Brian Epstein Appreciation” page, I’d like to focus in on what Brian DID for the Beatles instead of what he MIGHT HAVE done. Your comments, opinions and corrections would be appreciated.

In the contract the Beatles signed with Brian, there is a clause that states that Brian, as manager, would make decisions on “all matters concerning clothes, make-up and the presentation and construction of the Artists’ acts and also on all music to be performed.”

In my opinion, this was probably the most important clause in the contract after the clause that states that Brian would manage their bookings. Many people think that most of Brian’s decisions about the Beatles’ stage act was limited to some of his early decisions in their career as a group. For example, putting them into suits. That was not his first decision. His rule that the group would no longer eat, drink, smoke on stage, or have conversations with audience members while performing. probably came first. I think the suits came later. There are photos of the Beatles still in their leathers after they signed with Brian, but before Ringo joined the group. We really don’t see them in suits until they secured a contract with EMI/Parlophone. Probably at the same time, Brian instructed the Beatles to take bows after every song. All of this, of course, was meant to make the group appear professional as well as to make them acceptable to a broader audience, as well as the impresarios they would encounter on their way up.

As for the suits themselves, Brian must have quickly got the band to agree to wearing suits as their fame and popularity began to grow. From existing photos, we can see that the original suits they wore were not fashionable at all; plain black suits, nothing special. Conformity was important as they all wore the same style and color. It wasn’t until later that Brian chose (with the band’s input) more fashionable costumes for their stage act, for example their collarless suits. In later months and years, each major tour brought new stage costumes. I believe the suits chosen must have been a joint decision between Brian and the band, but ultimately, Brian had the final approval as it was in their contract.

Music chosen for live performances became Brian’s choice as the group climbed up the ladder. As they were still playing long sets in clubs at first, the Beatles probably chose the songs. But once the band began going on tour with major acts (Roy Orbison, Helen Shapiro, etc.), Brian chose the songs for their 20 minute sets. Some people believe, as I do, that Brian compiled the list of songs for their Decca audition. I think Brian had an image of what kind of band they would become… but, of course, they did not, especially after George Martin signed and produced the band. As for the Decca setlist, it reflected a poor choice on Brian’s part, in my opinion. If it was meant to demonstrate the group’s versatility, it succeeded. But it certainly didn’t show the energy the Beatles created with their live shows. It seemed as though Brian wanted to promote Paul as a “cabaret” style singer It’s interesting to note that George sang lead quite often on the Decca tape.

As their career blossomed, Brian surely created the setlists for their live television performances, i.e. the Royal Command, Ed Sullivan. In both cases, Brian made sure that Paul sang “Till There Was You ,” a song that might please the older audiences. Their setlists on the group’s major tours were created by Brian. John once complained about having to do night after night gigs playing the same “lousy” songs.

As for their stage act itself, it was very strictly “choreographed” by Brian. From what songs to play, in what order, who would do the introductions, who stood where, the bows, etc. – All decisions made by Brian. How about the microphones? Only two downstage mics for the vocals? It certainly made sense in the band’s early, pre-Brain days. Why spend money on a third mic when two would do the job? I believe Brian maintained the status quo as that was how he saw them his first time at the Cavern and he liked the visual image. During their ’65 and ’66 U.S. tours, John and Paul shared the same mic on songs like “Baby’s In Black ” and “Ticket To Ride “. Why? George didn’t contribute anything vocally, so a second mic was available for Paul separately from John. I think it was the visual image of John and Paul, head-to-head, singing harmony that appealed to Brian.

Having written all that, imagine if Brian had no contractual control over their stage performances:

1. Would the Beatles have created their own setlists? Would that have led to arguments within the group? Would the setlists have radically changed?
2. Would their stage attire be different? Would uniformity be tossed aside for individual outfits (Think: Rooftop concert)?
3. Would George have had a more prominent position as part of the front line, as opposed to his accepting his position as “role player” or junior member of the band?
4. What if the Beatles had chosen their own setlist for the Decca audition? And what if that audition would have secured them a contract with Decca? What then?

I have other thoughts on this post, but I wanted to pay tribute to Brian Epstein by pointing out the role he played in giving us the Beatles as we came to know them. 

Ron Nasty said
What’s your source for George coming out with the “percentage” line, @Cousin Mark, because most of the sources have it coming from John during the Pepper sessions after Brian commented he didn’t think something sounded right, with John responding “You just stick to your percentages, Brian, and we’ll play the music”.

It’s one of the stories often cited to show they may not have renewed his management contract at the end of 1967.

  

I stand corrected. I have an extensive Beatles library (200 and counting) and perused my collection to determine whether John or George was responsible for telling Brian to “stick to his percentage.” Some sources attribute the quote to George. But I think the most authoritative and reliable sources credit John, in particular, Ray Coleman in his book, “Brian Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles”. If Coleman said it was John, that’s good enough for me. Thank you, Ron Nasty, for making me recheck my sources.