One of the Beautiful People
Q: "Have you a tribute that you would like to pay to Mr. Epstein?"
JOHN: "Well you know... We don't know what to say. We loved him and he was one of us."
Sunday, August 27, 1967
Monday, August 28 1967, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Richard Starkey met with various support people that morning to discuss their plans. By late in the afternoon they knew and they released an announcement, read to the press by Peter Brown.
"'Brian Epstein was more than our manager. He was our friend, our guiding light, and one of us. He was one of the beautiful people. There would be no Beatles without him and there is no Beatles, now, without him. There is only John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. But the Beatles are done. We will keep making music with each other and without. But not as the Beatles. Signed: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.'"
Peter looked like he was going to cry. "For now the Beatles still have one obligation. A film. This will be their last project, including new music not heard before. The live action will be filmed in the next few weeks and put together with animated work already in process. I will take questions."
"The Beatles are done?"
"The Beatles have ceased to be the Beatles. There are more songs that will be recorded by the four for this film, but the attribution for any newly recorded music will be to the ones performing it."
"What about Lennon-McCartney."
"If John writes a song it will be credited to him. If Paul writes a song it will be credited to him. If they collaborate it will be credited to Lennon-McCartney."
"Is this some kind of gimmick?"
"No. Once they wrap up this obligation, they will move ahead in four separate ways that may intersect or may not."
"Why?"
"They explained it in what I read you. The Beatles always were more than the whole. If one of the four died, the three remaining Beatles obviously could not go on as the Beatles. You understand that. What you don't understand is that Brian was as much an integral part of the Beatles as the other four. It's not the Beatles without him and they aren't going to pretend they can go on as the Beatles no longer held together by Brian's management. They will not fade away or worse, become bitter and alienated, only to break up in a few months, or at best years, and destroy their love for each other. They will not try to continue the business side on their own when they know they don't know how to do it. This is how John put it- 'The Dream Is Over.' But perhaps new dreams can replace it."
"What will they do now?"
"In a few weeks they will start filming with Richard Lester. But for now they are in mourning. So am I."
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