Life of Beatles' road manager celebrated with museum display
Mal Evans was road manager and personal assistant to the band from 1963 until their break-up in 1970 but died six years later when he was shot by police in Los Angeles in the US.
A display dedicated to Mr Evans was revealed at the Liverpool Beatles Museum on Tuesday, which would have been his birthday, in front of his children Julie Rossow and Gary Evans.
Ms Rossow said: "I find it a real honour to be honest; the recognition and the interest people have in him. It's really lovely and very special."
She said interest in his life had grown since he was shown in Peter Jackson's documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, which aired in 2021.
A biography about him, Living The Beatles Legend, written by Kenneth Womack, was published in 2023.
Ms Rossow said: "It's changed my life in ways. People who knew him and knew stories have been able to tell me and I've learnt more about him. It's been an incredible journey."
She added: "I was born in 1966 when he was away with the Beatles and from what I know he was told by them 'your wife's had a baby girl - go and see her'.
"He loved those four boys, to the detriment of his family at times. What a life he had."
Among the items going on display on Tuesday is a signet ring which Mr Evans lost in a poker game to fellow roadie Neil Aspinall - whose son Roag Best runs the museum.
The ring was apparently thrown into the pot by Mr Evans during card games in 1964, when the band stayed in Paris for concerts at the Olympic Theatre.
Ms Rossow said: "I never knew this story. The ring was given to him on his 21st birthday from his parents so it was a bit naughty of him to lose it but he must have been caught in the wildness and excitement of a poker match.
"From speaking to Roag I believe he lost the ring several times and was given it back but lost it finally to Neil."
A portrait of Mr Evans, by artist Dave Miles, was also unveiled on Tuesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Irish Post
The untold story of Mona and Mimi — and The Beatles connection
A POWERFUL new stage play imagining an untold chapter in Beatles folklore will premiere in Liverpool this September, bringing two formidable Irish-connected women centre stage. The writer — Catherine Leen Mona & Mimi, written by Dublin/Kerry playwright Catherine Leen, explores a fictional meeting between Mona Best, mother of Beatles drummer Pete Best, and Mimi Smith, the stern aunt who raised John Lennon. Set in December 1961—just before the band signed their first major recording contract—the play finds the women clashing over music, morality and motherhood, but slowly discovering unexpected common ground. With echoes of a changing Britain, the 70-minute drama unfolds 'between the end of the Chatterley ban and the Beatles' first LP,' capturing the tension and possibility of a world on the brink of cultural revolution. Directed by Nick Bagnall (Shakespeare's Globe, Everyman & Playhouse), the production stars Fiona Boylan (Line of Duty, Coronation Street) as the unconventional, entrepreneurial Mona, and Meriel Scholfield (The Young Vic, Last Tango in Halifax) as the formidable and uncompromising Mimi. Noah Fox (Casualty) also features as Neil. Playwright Catherine Leen, who is based in Liverpool and volunteers with the Liverpool Irish Festival, says the play is a tribute to 'sacrifice, resilience, and the hidden influence of women behind the scenes of history's biggest cultural shifts.' She previously worked on the podcast There's a Lot I Haven't Asked and is a member of the Creative Collective of the Irish Diaspora (CCEN). Fiona Boylan (Mona) Mona Best Mona Best was the fiercely independent mother of Pete Best, the Beatles' original drummer. Born in Delhi to an Irish father and English mother, she was the youngest of four siblings, the youngest of four children: Brian, Patrick and Aileen. She later settled in Liverpool, where she opened The Casbah Coffee Club in the cellar of her home—an iconic early venue for the Beatles. Mona was ambitious, unconventional, and deeply invested in her son's musical career. She often acted as an informal manager, providing rehearsal space, bookings, and encouragement. Though sometimes sidelined in official histories, Mona played a crucial role in shaping the Merseybeat scene and nurturing the band that would become the Beatles. Meriel Scholfield (Mimi) Mimi Smith Mary Elizabeth 'Mimi' Smith was the formidable aunt and legal guardian of John Lennon. A nurse by profession, she raised Lennon in the genteel surroundings of Mendips on Menlove Avenue, believing in discipline, education, and proper standards. She had distant Irish roots as well, in Omagh Co. Tyrone. Dismissive of rock'n'roll and wary of John's musical ambitions, she once famously told him, 'The guitar's all right, John, but you'll never make a living at it.' Yet despite her strictness, she remained a constant, anchoring presence in his life. Mimi's influence—protective, controlling, and deeply rooted in middle-class propriety—left an indelible mark on Lennon's personality and early worldview. Noah Fox (Neil) Nick Bagnall (director) Mona & Mimi Liverpool's Unity Theatre September 3rd & 4th at 7.30pm Tickets are available on See More: Irish In Liverpool, Liverpool, The Beatles
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Dublin City Council launches 'The Beatles Weekend'
Dublin's ties with Liverpool will be celebrated with the city's first ever 'The Beatles Weekend' later this month. The inaugural celebration of The Fab Four will take place from 22-24 August at a number of venues across the capital. The Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam said: "We have a long-standing twinning relationship with the great city of Liverpool, sharing deep and affectionate family and social relations over many generations. "This weekend of events will continue to strengthen and broaden our cities' social, cultural and economic relations." The Beatles famously played in Dublin in 1963 at the Adelphi on Abbey Street.
Irish Examiner
04-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Oasis dedicate song to ‘people who can't be here tonight' at Wembley gig
Oasis dedicated Live Forever to 'all the people who can't be here tonight' during their Wembley Stadium gig on Sunday, after a fan fell to his death at the band's concert on Saturday. The touching moment came as the Manchester band brought to a close their first run of five gigs at the venue as part of their Live 25 tour. A man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene at the stadium on Saturday after being 'found with injuries consistent with a fall'. Addressing fans on Sunday night after finishing Whatever, singer Liam Gallagher said: 'This one's for all the people who can't be here tonight, but who are here if you know what I mean, and aren't they looking lovely. Live Forever.' The band then played the track of the same name. The tribute came during a crowd-pleasing set packed with their biggest hits such as Cigarettes And Alcohol, Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger, with the group set to return to the national football stadium for two further dates in September. Liam and Noel Gallagher arrived on stage hand-in-hand, opening with Hello, from their 1995 album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, prompting mass football terrace-style singalongs for an opening salvo of fan favourites that included Acquiesce, Some Might Say and Morning Glory. Before Roll With It, Liam joked to the crowd that guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs wanted to sing Bonehead's Bank Holiday, an album track from (What's The Story) Morning Glory? During 1994 standalone single Whatever, the band made a nod to their Beatles influence by including a snippet of Octopus's Garden, from 1969's Abbey Road album. Oasis fans on Wembley Way (Lucy North/PA) Before Half The World Away, Noel asked the crowd if there was anyone from Manchester in the crowd, receiving a number of boos. He replied: 'None of you would be here if it wasn't for the city of Manchester.' The set climaxed with fireworks erupting over Wembley as the band played Champagne Supernova. Before the final song, Liam told the crowd: 'Nice one for putting up with us after all these years.' The run of concerts has been the first time they have appeared together onstage at the London venue since July 12 2009, when they performed during the Dig Out Your Soul tour. After the first part of their Wembley stint, the band will head to Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium followed by Dublin's Croke Park. The group will head to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America later in the year. Oasis announced their reunion tour in August last year, 16 years after their dramatic split in 2009 which saw Noel quit following a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris.
