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Tragedy Stalks The Beatles: Has Fortune Turned on the Fabulous Four?
Freak Out, USA (1967)
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article transcript below
The sudden, and to us, mysterious death of Brian Epstein, has set into motion an entire new spectrum of interest, speculation, and concern about the Beatles. For a long time, long as show business marks time, the fabulous foursome could do no wrong. They were the richest, most famous, most popular attraction in history, just as singing stars. When they turned their talents to movie-making, the acclaim and applause was just as loud. Starting out by captivating young audiences, they were soon turning on parents and all of the adult world.
Yes, from the time they burst into prominence until early this year, the Beatles could do no wrong. From an artistic standpoint, that much is still true. Every record they turn out is even better than the previous one, and their acceptance as true creative artists is questioned by no one. It is in their personal, private lives that things are suddenly going very wrong.
The first indication was John's announcement that he was going it alone. This in itself mightn't be serious, for groups are always shifting and re- forming, and we've come to expect it. Not from the Beatles, however. Fame has made them too solid an image to take the kind of personnel changes that other groups can get away with. And this was no mere personnel change anyway. Going on his own. meant to John doing things outside the sphere of the group. This meant he was restless, that being a Beatle wasn't enough in itself to keep him satisfied. This sign of unrest was the first crack in the Beatle wall. At about the same time, John bought a spank- ing new, shiny Rolls-Royce. He announced his intention of painting the thing in the wild colors and patterns of a psychedelic bus. Other pop stars have, but dig: up until this time, John's most insistant clamor has been for privacy, and the desire to get around London at least, without attracting mobs. He had always attempted all sorts of outlandish dis- guises in order to accomplish this. In fact, that's what led to the droopy moustaches and hippy glasses that have become familiar as the new Beatle image. So much for anonymity.
The second, and much more startling revelation of the wild new Beatles was Paul's being found alone, admitting to police who found him on a London street, that he had been using drugs and was just then coming out from under the effects. Paul was, according to the officers, sleeping like a drowsy child. He was huddled alone, in the cold morning air, and seemed frightened and afraid at first. Once he came out of it and was being questioned by reporters, he assumed the poise and pepper of the old Paul and denounced the squares and the square world as being the ones who were wrong and in need of help.
Whatever the Beatles, as private persons, have done and been into in the past, has been secret between them and the sharers of their private times. This is the first time the general public was aware of a Beatle stoned or drunk, or in any kind of trouble with the police, or involved in any indiscreet behavior at all. Suddenly the formerly solid Beatle facade was shattering like splintered glass.
This incident was almost forgotten, or rather drowned out, by the wild acclaim that greeted the release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Once again, the boys had created a master- piece and they seemed to be back in the old groove again, where everything they did or touched became golden. Then, the tragedy struck. Brian Epstein was found dead.
The whole world, long envious of Epstein's astounding success with the Beatles, was astounded. Here was a young man, in the prime of life, able, by his own efforts to enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of life, dead. He made millionaires of the Beatles and himself, many times over. He even appeared as guest 'star' on television shows, al- though he was anything but a performer, and his name was as well known as those of the Beatles themselves. The home in which he was found was a place of unbeatable style and luxury, yet very few people had ever entered it. Except for those tv and other rare public appearances, he was a very private and withdrawn person. His death was at first announced to be from natural causes; then there were hints of involvement with drugs. The funeral was so private that not even the Beatles were invited to attend. And no other details of the cause were announced after that first murmer that all was not what it was supposed to be.
Whatever the real cause or causes of Brian Epstein's death, the effect on the Beatles was devastating. The boys thought the world of the man who led them from the cellar clubs of Liverpool to the highest peaks of international fame. They always credited Brian with being an important factor in their success. Publicly, it was the third great thrust at the Beatle's invulnerability. Their once charmed lives could no longer be considered that. Death had reached out and touched very close indeed.The Beatles are mortal too.
How the loss of Brian's guiding hand will affect the future careers of the Beatles is hard to say. They certainly don't need the day-to-day counseling of the inexperienced entertainer; their finances have long been put in order, and are policed by a small army of accountants and lawyers. Because they are already established legends it is it is doubtful that their careers will take any backward steps due to the loss of their manager. It may sound cold, but the Beatles will still be the Beatles, without Brian Epstein. They will seem a little older suddenly, a little more studied in their attitudes, a lot more reckless (especially Paul, the unattached) in their lives and frantic pursuits of kicks and fun. Thus the death of Brian Epstein will have a greater effect on the Beatles as people than as performers.
The popularity and prestige of the Beatles will continue to grow for as long as they continue to groove us, which will probably be forever, as they keep getting better and better. I cannot imagine seeing for at least a hundred years, an LP called "Golden Hits of the Beatles." No, they will continue to produce fresh, original material that amazes and mystifies with its power.
But something is gone, some magic is missing, and it will never be the same. These were the golden years.
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