"Fifth Beatle" Neil Aspinall Dies In New York

NEW YORK — Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend of the Beatles who managed their business enterprises and helped make the group a moneymaking phenomenon decades after they split up, has died. He was 66.

Aspinall's death was announced Monday in a statement from surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, and the band's Apple Corps Ltd. company.

Aspinall died Sunday night at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer, according to Geoff Baker, who formerly represented both Aspinall and Apple Corps.

Aspinall's wife and five children were by his side; McCartney visited him before his death.

He was a childhood friend of McCartney and Harrison in Liverpool, England. While he didn't contribute musically, he played several key roles in support of the Beatles, most notably as the head of their Apple Corps business, which oversaw the commercial concerns of the group, including licensing.

"I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed," Starr said in a statement Monday.

Harrison's widow Olivia and the couple's son Dhani said: "Neil takes with him the love and history of his extended family. He was our constant and avuncular caretaker for so many years; there is no way to measure how much he will be missed."

Aspinall and the late Mal Evans were the Beatles' roadies. Aspinall would drive them to gigs in his van before they became famous, and never left the band's tight-knit circle. He took over the management of Apple Corps in 1968, and continued to oversee the group's business affairs in the decades after they broke up in 1970.

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 and the recent Cirque du Soleil production "Love," which has been a hit in Las Vegas.

"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.

Aspinall stepped down from Apple Corps last year.

Comments

[michie62]

02:01 PM on 03/25/2008

Neil Aspinall was the fifth Beatle when they were the Quarrymen.....went to school, rode the bus with Paul and George. He was there before they were Beatles. He was there after they were Beatles. He is the one who kept track of the history, went and bought copyrights of films of them, interviews, etc. He was a true blue friend. One of the very few the fab four had outside of the four of themselves. Anyone who knows anything about the Beatles knew who Neil was, without him that Anthology would not have been made. He started it originally back in 1970, but with everyone an open wound from the breakup and the court case, it was shelved. He convinced the other three and Yoko to complete it. Fans and music historians owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He SHOULD GET HIS OWN entry in the rock and roll hall of fame for the anthology. Watch The Beatles Anthology and you will see plenty of Neil. Neil knew all the secrets and kept them well, revealing some in the anthology and taking the rest to his eternal rest. A true blue friend. Unlike some(allen b. klein for instance).

[debwarot]

01:01 PM on 03/25/2008

He played a role in the musical and cultural phenomenon that was the Beatles and the sixties. From all reports he was a good man, didn't write a nasty or invasive 'tell all' book or take the Beatles for a 'financial ride'. Rest in peace, Neil. My thoughts are with your family as you begin your final journey down the 'long and winding road'.

[abbiehoffmansghost]

10:10 AM on 03/25/2008

He had a fifth with the Beatles. And a couple of bong hits as well. RIP.

[AdultFilmLegend]

03:22 AM on 03/25/2008

There are so many 5th Beatles I can't keep track. I guess it is getting easier. Anyway, God rest your soul.

[LordMoon]

01:28 AM on 03/25/2008

RIP Neil, thank you for the Beatles Anthology....it's a sad day, the Beatles family keeps getting smaller, an age is passing. Tears...

[SmootyBooty]

08:11 PM on 03/24/2008

RIP, Neil. You were the man who made them rich(finally).

[S1m0n]

08:11 PM on 03/24/2008

How many 'fifth beatles' has it been, so far?

[msmaggie]

10:40 PM on 03/24/2008

Everyone knows, well maybe not, that George Martin is the fifth Beatle. FWIW

[dogstar7]

06:49 PM on 03/24/2008

...All these places have their moments

[TerryOakland]

06:19 PM on 03/24/2008

If all the "Fifth" Beatles were assembled, they could fill Noah's Arc (which could be restored if all of the wood scraps "that came from Jesus' cross" were put to use). In truth, sad as it is to say, Yoko was the "Fifth" Beatle. There were many musicians, etc., who made important contributions to the "product" (the recordings), but only Yoko Ono, as far as I know, "sang" (yes, I know, that's stretching the term, but Ringo was also given occasional "vocal" credit) on any Beatles recordings.

[michie62]

02:25 PM on 03/25/2008

Do not diss Ringo. If you listen to his new cd Liverpool 8, the guy is pretty damned good for almost 68. What was your last hit, TerryOakland?

[NoSillyName]

01:28 AM on 03/31/2008

michie, I've heard Ringo sing since "Boys" on "Introducing the Beatles" in 1964. Then there was "Matchbox" on "Something New", "Honey Don't" on Beatles '65, "Act Naturally" on "Yesterday...and Today". I just had to pull out all my old albums to double check. Of these four songs, I'd have to say he sounded best on "Honey Don't" followed by "Act Naturally". Both of those songs were country tunes, not Beatles songs, and he did ok on them.
They rarely had him sing because the man has no range or pitch, and can barely carry a tune. Sorry if you think I'm "dissing" him, but facts are facts. Oh, there was also "Yellow Submarine", same problem. I've seen him recently on several shows singing "Liverpool 8" as well as some of the older songs and he's just flat. He reminds me of an old vaudevillian.
I think I'm entitled to my opinion and I know it is shared by many others. He apparently has fans, though, because he's had a decent solo career. To each his or her own.

[NoSillyName]

10:41 PM on 03/25/2008

Ringo seems like an interesting, funny man, but he should NOT ever sing. Oh my, listening to him in the past and now promoting his new album. It just shouldn't happen. Drums, Ringo, drums. Please.

[zendem1]

06:01 PM on 03/24/2008

Neil and Mal were the original road managers for the group until 1966. They hauled gear, fetched tea, acted as confidantes, friends, and in Neil's case, business associates. It's a shame Neil didn't get to pen a memoir.

[shaggles]

05:52 PM on 03/24/2008

How many fifth Beatles were there?

[Readbetweentheelevens]

05:45 PM on 03/24/2008

Thank you Neil. My heart goes out to you and your family. God Bless you.

[AurigaRa]

05:42 PM on 03/24/2008

Peace, Neil

[FunTravelAdventure]

04:21 PM on 03/24/2008

Murray the K thought very highly of himself. He even made a song called Round and Round during the Twist craze. I think he considered himself the second Checker.

[NoSillyName]

03:54 PM on 03/24/2008

Guess its a sign of encroaching old age when so many people bearing familiar names are leaving the planet.

[NoSillyName]

05:39 PM on 03/24/2008

Hmmm.... my post above also had another line. Something like:

[NoSillyName]

10:44 PM on 03/25/2008

Thank you, Mr. Aspinall, for helping bring us the British Invasion. We are very grateful!

[NoSillyName]

10:16 AM on 03/25/2008

Well crap, I give up!!!!!