The Beatles Way by Larry Lange & Laura Carlsmith

Author:Larry Lange & Laura Carlsmith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2001-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

The Inner Circle

“Now I’ll never dance with another …”

(“I Saw Her Standing There,” 1963)

Let’s look closely at a few others who were in the inner circle, people whom the Fabs counted on everyday. We’ll see why they trusted these folks, literally, with their lives.

First and foremost is Neil Aspinall. Neil was a close friend to Pete Best (the Fab’s drummer before Ringo) during the early days of the group, went to the same school as Paul, and knew George as a young teen in Liverpool. By the time the Beatles were getting their stage legs, Neil made a major life change, leaving college where he was studying for a degree in accounting, to work full time for the group. Neil began his Beatle duties by getting the group local bookings and writing the posters for those early shows. During the Beatlemania days, Neil graduated from driver and roadie to tour coordinator on the group’s world treks. Today, he is the chief executive at Apple Corps Ltd.

“I met Neil when I was thirteen years old,” said George Harrison. “[We were] smoking behind the air-raid shelters at the Liverpool Institute high school. He’s lasted forty years with the Beatles. Neil is the only person who’s ever really been able to keep in contact with the four of us at the same time.”

Working with Neil and the Fabs was Mal Evans, who also took a turn as van driver and roadie for the group early on. Mal quickly became enamored of the Beatles, having seen the group perform at the local Cavern Club. So smitten was he that—at age twenty-seven, married with a child, mortgage, and a job as a telecommunications engineer—Mal quit his secure job to hit the road with the group. He worked closely with them until the group’s breakup in 1970.

Finally, we have Alf Bicknell, the Beatles’ driver and road manager from 1964 to 1966, the group’s touring years. Alf was devoted to the Beatles. One night, the Beatles were living one of their dreams—meeting Elvis Presley in his California home. Observing the large staff that attended to Elvis and his every whim, Alf leaned over to Ringo and said, “You know I’ve been thinking, Ringo. Elvis is just one guy, and he has about a dozen folks looking after him. Yet, there’s four of you and only three of us [Neil, Mal, and Alf].” Ringo looked over and deadpanned, “What’s the matter, Alf, you want a raise?”

Joking aside, you can clearly see how the Beatles, even deep into their mammoth popularity, relied on the smallest of personal staffs. The work must have been herculean for those three people, but these men shared the Beatles’ dream, were inspired by the group’s integrity, and were exhilarated by their work. Those are the hallmarks of a great team.

Who in your own life could muster up these selfless character traits in helping realize your dreams? Perhaps it’s a childhood friend or relation you’ve known for many years. This kind of person will be

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