Neil Aspinall RIP

[pledm]

Beatles' friend Neil Aspinall dies at 66

Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend and business associate of The Beatles, has died in New York City, the surviving band members said Monday. He was 66.

Aspinall died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been receiving treatment.

His death was announced in a statement released by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, and the band's Apple Corps Ltd. company.

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man," the statement said.

The statement didn't say when Aspinall died, but Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper reported Sunday that McCartney had flown out to see him.

Aspinall stepped down last year as chief executive of Apple Corps, the guardian of the Beatles' commercial interests.

A Liverpool school friend of McCartney and Harrison, Aspinall was The Beatles' first road manager and would drive them to gigs in his van. He later became their personal assistant, and in 1968 was given a management role at Apple Records — the band's own record label.

As head of Apple Corps, Aspinall was executive producer of the hugely successful "Beatles Anthology" album and was behind other successes, including the "Beatles One" album.

"As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come," the band's statement said.

So sad for all beatle fans.

[pledm]

Just another salute;

Neil Aspinall, a close friend of the Beatles and the man who ran the Apple music empire, has died, his family has revealed.

Neil AspinallThe 66-year-old worked as a roadie and accountant for the band before becoming chief executive of Apple Corps.

He was known by some in the industry as the real "Fifth Beatle".

In a statement released on behalf of surviving Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the company described him as a "great man" who would be missed.

In the statement, also on behalf of Beatle widows Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, Apple Corps said: "As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come.

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man."

Mr Aspinall went to school with McCartney and George Harrison at the Liverpool Institute for Boys.

When they started the band, he was their road manager and minder.

As their popularity grew, he stayed with them as an assistant and fixer until 1968, when he became manager of Apple Corps.

Taking on the role on the condition he would do it "only until they found someone else", he only quit the position last year.

He died in hospital in New York after a brief illness and is survived by his wife Suzy and five children.

Aspinall is credited with developing the Beatles brand and overseeing the recent publications of re-packaged Beatles music, film and memorabilia.

He acquired the rights to photographs and film footage that went into the making of the Beatles Anthology TV, video series and autobiography.

He also organised the relaunch of the Yellow Submarine film and CD, and the Anthology series of hits and out-takes, which he executive-produced.

The company said that during the last 20 years that he ran Apple, the Beatles sold more than 70 million albums.

In later years, he led Apple's legal dispute with Apple computers over logo rights, and a royalties dispute between the band and EMI.

He had a reputation for being extremely hard-nosed in business, fiercely loyal to the band and reluctant to speak to the media.

[pledm]

Neils funeral,I couldn`t get the link to this it was in the Dailynews,I wish I could have because there were some great pics of all of them,,sorry,but heres the article.

The Beatles he loved couldn't be there to say goodbye.

It was left to the women to pay the band's final respects to Neil Aspinall, the man who ran the group's business empire for 40 years and was known as the "fifth Beatle".

He died two weeks ago at 66 after a battle with lung cancer.

John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, 75, and Sir Paul McCartney's daughter, the fashion designer Stella McCartney, 36, were among 250 mourners at yesterday's funeral at St Mary the Virgin near Mr Aspinall's home in Twickenham, South-West London.

The pair were seen warmly embracing along with Beatles producer Sir George Martin, 82, outside the funeral at the Church of St Mary the Virgin near Aspinall's home in Twickenham, south west London.

Ringo Starr's wife Barbara Bach, 60, and original Beatles member Pete Best, 66, also attended, as did The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend who arrived with a guitar under his hand to perform at the ceremony.

Embrace: Stella McCartney and Yoko Ono comfort each other following the funeral of Neil Aspinall in Twickenham today

Support: Yoko was joined by Ringo Starr's wife Barbara Bach

Townshend, 62, played along to Mr Tambourine Man and then to late Beatle George Harrison's solo hit My Sweet Lord which marked the end of the service as Aspinall's coffin was taken from the church to be buried.

Former EastEnders actor John Altman, 56, who played Albert Square's resident bad boy Nick Cotton, gave a reading during the service.

He had become good friends with Mr Aspinall as they were neighbours in Twickenham.

Neither Paul McCartney nor Ringo Starr attended the ceremony. Best had been Aspinall's best friend.

Sir Paul managed to visit Aspinall in a New York hospital, days before he died from lung cancer two weeks ago. McCartney's spokesman said he was out of the country on a pre-arranged trip yesterday.

No hymns were sung during the service conducted by Rev Dr Kerry Samuel.

The 50 minute funeral service began just before 1pm after the coffin arrived in a black hearse with the word "Papa" in flowers inside the car.

The red brick church was surrounded by local residents keen to pay their respects after Aspinall's passing.

Verger John Evans said: "His friends and family sang along to the chorus including Mary and Stella it was very moving."

After the ceremony Mr Aspinall's family went on to Teddington Cemetery for a private burial before joining friends at a party to celebrate his life.

Mr Evans said: "'It was a lovely service with so many people in attendance. There were no Beatles songs, I suppose he must have been a Bob Dylan fan."

Aspinall died two weeks ago in New York after a battle with lung cancer.

He earned the much-used title of "fifth Beatle" perhaps better than any other.

He became guardian of the Beatles' shambolic business interests at Apple Corps in 1968, on the condition that he would do it "only until they found someone else". He quit the position only last year.

For some 20 years following the break-up of the group in 1970, Aspinall applied his astute business acumen to fighting lawsuits on their behalf and unravelling their tangled financial affairs.

His flair for figures helped to transform them into the wealthiest entertainers in the world, with a estimated combined fortune of £2 billion.

A notoriously reclusive accountant, Aspinall made a rare public appearance last year in the course of a lengthy legal dispute involving Apple Corps, the Beatles' business organisation.

But a matter of weeks after settling the row with the Apple computer firm over the use of a trademark, Aspinall abruptly resigned as chief executive, reportedly frustrated that the band's musical legacy was being compromised in the quest for profits.

One of his last tasks had had been to remaster the group's back catalogue for legal downloading on the internet.

Sir Paul's friend and former PR advisor to the Beatles, Geoff Baker, said: "Neil Aspinall was the man who was closer to all of The Beatles than anyone.

"Under his creative and caring direction, The Beatles business phenomenon and its trademark Apple transcended far beyond the Sixties.

"He was the Beatles' friend who became their roadie who became the chief of their empire and the unassuming, modernising mastermind behind the band's enduring appeal and influence for four generations.

"Although he would deny it, he was long considered to be 'the real Fifth Beatle' by the music and entertainment industries which for 40 years revered and respected him as one of the wisest men in the record business."

Baker said Aspinall became friends with McCartney and Harrison at the Liverpool Institute for Boys where they formed the "Mad Lad Gang" that John Lennon later joined.

The others formed the Beatles while Aspinall became an accountant, but he soon rejoined his friends.

Mr Baker added: "Neil remained at the centre of the gang that was to change the world.

"Always he was right at the Beatles side, captaining their flagship Apple for 40 years after beginning as their first road manager and driver of their old Commer van, doubling up as The Beatles' minder, spotlight operator, confidante, fixer, personal assistant and, moreover, their mate."

Aspinall's wife, Suzy, and his five children were at his side as he died.

McCartney clan: Stella arrived for the service, however there was no sign of her father Sir Paul

Emotional: The Who's Pete Townsend was among the mourners

Paying his respects: Beatles producer Sir George Martin

Goodbye Neil..