Latest news with #LiverpoolBeatlesMuseum
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Life of Beatles' road manager celebrated with museum display
The life of the Beatles' road manager has been celebrated on what would have been his 90th birthday. 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.
Observer
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Instruments from classic Beatles album 'Sgt Pepper's' go on display
French horns used to create the sound of one of The Beatles' most acclaimed albums have gone on display. The brass instruments can be heard on "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," which was released by the group in 1967 and was number one in the UK charts for 23 straight weeks. Two of the four French horns used on the album have been exhibited at Liverpool Beatles Museum. Sian Kenrick, whose late father Tony Randall played the horn, got in touch with the museum in December. After officials confirmed they would like to put the instrument on display, Randall's family got in touch with the relatives of John Burden, another of the four French horn players on the album. Museum owner Roag Best said: "He was the guy Paul McCartney stood next to and, because Paul couldn't transcribe music, he would hum the tune and say 'can you write that down?' "He would have to write the music for the other French horn players." Before he died, Burden remembered the session saying: "They didn't really know what they wanted. I wrote out phrases for them based on what Paul McCartney was humming to us and George Martin. "All four Beatles were there but only Paul took an active interest in our overdub." Families of both musicians flew in from Ireland and New York to be at the museum on Thursday to see the items unveiled, with members of Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra providing music. Best said: "None of the instruments from the album have ever appeared and it is an iconic album. "One of the horns is in immaculate condition and the other one has had a lot of repair work and panels have been welded on to it, but by all accounts it still worked. "At the time the album was recorded The Beatles were the biggest thing so to go into Abbey Road and record with them must have been amazing." —PA Media/dpa
