I was thinking what the effect of Epstein not dying in 1967 would be on the Beatles, seeing as it was probably the single event that eventually lead to their breakup. (Yes, there's other factors, like John and Paul giving less room for George, input-wise, Yoko...)
WI Brian Epstein doesn't die in 1967?
- Thread starter SavoyTruffle
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I think that his role was beginning to decrease as it was.
They had just stopped touring, and Brian's role primarily was road manager. He had little to nothing to do with the recording process. One of the reasons, some speculate, that he slid into the drug use that caused his death was his depression over being of less use to the Beatles (his closeted homosexuality was another reason).
If Brian lives, he will have to move on to something else ... another band, perhaps. But he won't make much of a difference in intervening years.
Maybe, just maybe, he can help Paul persuade the band to tour again, perhaps in 1969. Maybe he concludes the deal to have them do a huge, one-off show that they discussed during the recording and filming of 'Let It Be.'
But even the power of his personality isn't going to keep the band from breaking up.
They had just stopped touring, and Brian's role primarily was road manager. He had little to nothing to do with the recording process. One of the reasons, some speculate, that he slid into the drug use that caused his death was his depression over being of less use to the Beatles (his closeted homosexuality was another reason).
If Brian lives, he will have to move on to something else ... another band, perhaps. But he won't make much of a difference in intervening years.
Maybe, just maybe, he can help Paul persuade the band to tour again, perhaps in 1969. Maybe he concludes the deal to have them do a huge, one-off show that they discussed during the recording and filming of 'Let It Be.'
But even the power of his personality isn't going to keep the band from breaking up.
The problem for Brian was his main role within the group was more or less obsolete by 1967. Since the Beatles had achieved their early success, his principle role if I'm remembering things correctly and as Rjrrzube notes, had to do with touring and there was no way they were going to go on any sort of tour after 1966. By the time he died Brian's principle role was essentially negotiating the egos of everyone involved in the group. My guess if he lives is that he'll probably be the one running the Magical Mystery Tour idea, or at the very least putting his efforts into insuring that it isn't the total disaster it was IOTL. He might even hire a real director for the project. I also think its possible he might have gone to see the Maharishi with the rest of the group. After that, he'd be putting all his efforts into keeping the group together. He'd also probably try to find a film to fulfill the contract with. His survival would had an emotional impact on all the members of the group, especially John Lennon. (Don't worry I'm not trusting Goldman's bizarre theory here. I'm just saying that since Lennon had lost his mother, and lost his best friend, he probably took Brian's death a bit harder than the rest of the group. It's more or less a guess on my part. )
As far as the film is concerned, the best idea I can think of is something like a one off concert filmed in a studio. Let it Be as we know it would never happen. I can't see Brian supporting the idea of having the band come in very early to record music while on camera, in the midst of a period when the band was bickering and had begun to lose the cohesiveness that had defined it in earlier years. His goal would have been to keep them together at any cost. The only problem with the studio concert idea is that it might have been a bit too similar to "Rock and Roll Circus" in some respects.
I'm not sure if his efforts save the group in the long term. Though the breaking point might come later than it did IOTL. It might even be George Harrison, not John Lennon who becomes the first of the group to depart on a permanent basis. (Harrison and Starkey quit before Lennon did, but they were obviously convinced to come back.)
As far as the film is concerned, the best idea I can think of is something like a one off concert filmed in a studio. Let it Be as we know it would never happen. I can't see Brian supporting the idea of having the band come in very early to record music while on camera, in the midst of a period when the band was bickering and had begun to lose the cohesiveness that had defined it in earlier years. His goal would have been to keep them together at any cost. The only problem with the studio concert idea is that it might have been a bit too similar to "Rock and Roll Circus" in some respects.
I'm not sure if his efforts save the group in the long term. Though the breaking point might come later than it did IOTL. It might even be George Harrison, not John Lennon who becomes the first of the group to depart on a permanent basis. (Harrison and Starkey quit before Lennon did, but they were obviously convinced to come back.)
Yeah, I was thinking that if it did happen, the breakup wouldn't be averted, but simply delayed.
Of course, it's all because George felt that John and Paul weren't giving him his due, so he'd eventually strike out on his own, probably by 1971.
Of course, it's all because George felt that John and Paul weren't giving him his due, so he'd eventually strike out on his own, probably by 1971.
but...
it strikes me though after reading your posts that if Brian lives the possibility of a Beatles reunion sometime in the 70s is more likely. This just gut feeling but possibly the break-up wouldn't have been as nasty with him there to mediate?
The Beatles do rave on the anthology about how fundamentally they were a tight quartet and I definitely don't see them recruiting new members to replace anybody that left.
it strikes me though after reading your posts that if Brian lives the possibility of a Beatles reunion sometime in the 70s is more likely. This just gut feeling but possibly the break-up wouldn't have been as nasty with him there to mediate?
The Beatles do rave on the anthology about how fundamentally they were a tight quartet and I definitely don't see them recruiting new members to replace anybody that left.
I did a whole Beatles-based timeline where Brian Epstein surviving was a significant part of the story. I'm currently revising it - if anyone is interested, I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
Just like what Paul felt with Allen Klein (which turned out to not be unfounded later on)?
Well, I'm interested.
