From Publishers Weekly
Bramwell, a longtime Beatles business associate and childhood friend, offers a fond, intimate portrait of the Fab Four. His often gossipy recollections illuminate the players from their days as young "scousers" in working-class Liverpool to their formation as a group, and from their exhausting early stints in Hamburg to their astonishing stardom. Readers will be surprised to learn how much money the Beatles left on the table owing to the bad deals that Brian Epstein, the Beatles' respected but conflicted manager, made. Still, the group remained fiercely loyal to Epstein, who made them—and many others—rich beyond their dreams, cutting deals in what was then uncharted business territory. Throughout, Paul comes off as down to earth, Ringo as sophisticated and "Hollywood," and George, charming and gentle, if a bit unusual. Not surprisingly, it is John who piques the most interest. Bramwell blisters Yoko Ono, "the Princess of Darkness," and suggests that either she brainwashed John or that he was suffering from mental illness. Although music historians and Beatles collectors may feel they know the story, Bramwell's memoir is much more than Beatles history. Energetically written, this is a vivid and intensely personal look at not only the Beatles but at a storybook trip from the docks of Liverpool to swinging London and the very epicenter of the British invasion. Photos not seen by PW. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
"If you want to know anything about the Beatles, ask Tony Bramwell. He remembers more than I do."- Sir Paul McCartney to Donovan in a January 2002 interview
Tony Bramwell's remarkable life began in a postwar Liverpool suburb, where he was childhood friends with three of the Beatles long before they were famous. And by the time he caught up with George Harrison on the top of a bus going to check out "The Beatles, direct from Hamburg"--one of whom George turned out to be--Tony was well on his way to staying by them for every step of their meteoric rise.
If anything needed taking care of, Tony Bramwell was the man the Beatles called, the man they knew they could trust. His story has been sought after for years, and now, here it is, full of untold stories and detailing with an insider's shrewd eye the Apple empire's incomparable rise, Brian Epstein's frolics, Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters, Phil Spector's eccentric behavior, and new stories about Yoko Ono, the Stones, and the life--his life.
From developing the first Beatle music videos to heading Apple Films, and from riding bikes and trading records with George Harrison to working and partying with everyone from the Beatles to Hendrix, Ray Charles, and The Who, Tony's life really did (and does) encompass a who's who of rock.
His story reveals fresh insights into the Beatles' childhoods and families, their early recordings and songwriting, the politics at Apple, and Yoko's pursuit of John and her growing influence over the Beatles' lives. And it uncovers new information about the Shea Stadium concert footage, John Lennon's late-night "escapes," and more. From the Cavern Club to the rooftop concert, from the first number one to the last, and from scraps of song lyrics to the discovery of the famous Mr. Kite circus poster, Tony Bramwell really did see it all.
Conversational, direct, and honest, the ultimate Beatles insider finally shares his own version of the frantic and glorious ascent of four boys from Liverpool lads to rock and roll kings.
From the Inside Flap
"Tony Bramwell's résumé is full and so is his account of life from Liverpool to Broadway and all stops in between. This telling memoir of the music life is a great read, filled with up-close stories of the Beatles and other legends that will make you laugh and most of all remember, with clarity and joy."
- Larry Kane, author of Ticket to Ride
"The Beatles' universe has been filled with many outsiders trying to get in. Tony Bramwell was one of the very few insiders. Trrusted and depended on from the earliest days, he saw it all. And he remembered it, too. Tony is blessed with the same sardonic Liverpool humor as his famous mates, and his book is one of the most eagerly-awaited chronicles of the Beatles era."
- Martin Lewis, Beatles scholar
About the Author
Tony Bramwell has known George, Paul, and John ever since they grew up together in Liverpool. After the Beatles split, he became the U.K.'s first independent record promoter, representing artists such as Bruce Springsteen and coordinating and promoting the music for many films, including Harry Saltzmann's James Bond movies (among them Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die"), "Chariots of Fire," "Dirty Dancing," and "Ghost."
Rosemary Kingsland is the author of The Secret Life of a Schoolgirl, her memoir, and Savage Seas, from which a PBS special was drawn. She also wrote the highly praised series "Pirates and Treasure Islands" for the Discovery Channel.
Magical Mystery Tours: My Life with the Beatles FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Tony Bramwell's life began in a postwar Liverpool suburb, where he was childhood friends with three of the Beatles long before they were famous. And by the time he caught up with George Harrison on the top of a bus going to check out "The Beatles, Direct from Hamburg" - one of whom turned out to be George - Tony was well on his way to staying by them for every step of their meteoric rise." "If anything needed taking care of, Tony Bramwell was the man the Beatles called, the man they knew they could trust. His story has been sought after for years, and now, here it is, full of untold adventures, detailing with an insider's shrewd eye the Apple empire's incomparable rise." "He offers fresh insights into the Beatles' childhoods and families, their early recordings and songwriting, the politics at Apple, and Yoko's pursuit of John and her growing influence over the Beatles' lives. And he reveals new information about the Shea Stadium concert footage, John Lennon's late-night "escapes," and more." Conversational, direct, and honest, the ultimate Beatles insider finally shares his own version of the frantic and glorious ascent of four boys from Liverpool lads to rock-and-roll kings.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Bramwell, a longtime Beatles business associate and childhood friend, offers a fond, intimate portrait of the Fab Four. His often gossipy recollections illuminate the players from their days as young "scousers" in working-class Liverpool to their formation as a group, and from their exhausting early stints in Hamburg to their astonishing stardom. Readers will be surprised to learn how much money the Beatles left on the table owing to the bad deals that Brian Epstein, the Beatles' respected but conflicted manager, made. Still, the group remained fiercely loyal to Epstein, who made them-and many others-rich beyond their dreams, cutting deals in what was then uncharted business territory. Throughout, Paul comes off as down to earth, Ringo as sophisticated and "Hollywood," and George, charming and gentle, if a bit unusual. Not surprisingly, it is John who piques the most interest. Bramwell blisters Yoko Ono, "the Princess of Darkness," and suggests that either she brainwashed John or that he was suffering from mental illness. Although music historians and Beatles collectors may feel they know the story, Bramwell's memoir is much more than Beatles history. Energetically written, this is a vivid and intensely personal look at not only the Beatles but at a storybook trip from the docks of Liverpool to swinging London and the very epicenter of the British invasion. Photos not seen by PW. Agent, Jeff Kleinman. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Who but the childhood pal of John, Paul, and George, eventually the Beatles' behind-the-scenes guardian, could give us such a scoop? Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
A close confederate of the Beatles chronicles the band's rise and fall in an easygoing memoir-about everything except Yoko Ono. Bramwell grew up with John, Paul, and George in Liverpool, and later became an important fixture at Apple Records. He was the all-purpose guy who filmed their recording sessions, promoted their material, and, perhaps most importantly, was someone they could relax with at a pub. Told in real time, Bramwell's account captures the taste and feel of the moment yet also evolves along with the band's intellectual, artistic, and personal changes. Though Bramwell can't climb into the Beatles' heads, he does re-create the serendipitous atmosphere that surrounded their songwriting. And his steel-trap memory carries the big picture along with a mob of details, many of them personal. Rather than focusing entirely on the Beatles, the narrative encompasses the whole scene: the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and numerous others come and go throughout. Bramwell appears to be such a sweet character that his portrait of Yoko Ono comes across like a bite on the kneecap. He loathes this "she-wolf garbed in black," the "fraud" who talked macrobiotic while shooting heroin, who destroyed all that was once so good in the process of feeding her insecurities. Bramwell doesn't paint a pretty picture of the last few years of the band's partnership. He's more than happy to blame the breakup on Ono and on Allen Klein, who would "cook the books and milk the company dry." He also has some pointed things to say about the Merry Pranksters and Hare Krishnas. Even the most Beatle-weary reader will be charmed and engaged by this intimate account. (Three 8-page b&w photoinserts, not seen)
Art & Photography
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