The Beatles’ first contract with manager Brian Epstein is expected to sell for about £300,000 at auction.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and their first drummer Pete Best signed the document on 24 January 1962, before achieving worldwide fame.
“[Epstein] stopped them eating on stage,” Gabriel Heaton, a specialist at the Sotheby’s auction house, said.
“He made sure they played the songs properly and coherently, and he got them bowing at the end of a set.”
The document, said to have been signed by the band in the front room of Best’s mother’s house, was the first of two contracts drawn up between Epstein and The Beatles.
It gave Epstein responsibility for finding the band work, and managing their schedule and publicity.
He was also to oversee “all matters concerning clothes, make-up and the presentation and construction of the artists’ acts and also on all music to be performed”.
Mr Heaton said: “He was just blown away by the passion, the energy, the charisma, the raw sexuality on stage.
“They had the stage energy but he instilled a sense of professionalism in them.”
The band’s previous manager, Allan Williams, had warned Epstein “they’ll let you down”.
Brian Epstein
- The Liverpool-born manager was in charge of the record section of his family’s shop, North End Music Stores, when he first saw The Beatles at the city’s Cavern Club
- After signing the band, he changed their image from leather jackets and jeans to suit and ties
- Epstein managed other Merseyside acts, including Cilla Black, and Gerry and The Pacemakers
- He died in 1967, aged 32, following a drug overdose – the inquest ruled it as an accidental death
However, Epstein did not sign the contract himself, saying “even though I knew I would keep the contract in every clause, I had not 100% faith in myself to help The Beatles adequately”.
“I wanted to free The Beatles of their obligations if I felt they would be better off,” he said.
The contract outlines that Epstein’s fee would be 10%, rising to 15% if their earnings should exceed £120 a week – McCartney had negotiated the maximum limit down from 20%.
Following Best’s departure from the band, another contract was signed on 1 October 1962 with Ringo Starr as drummer – and Epstein’s cut at a higher percentage.
The original contract, from the collection of Epstein’s publisher Ernest Hecht, is being auctioned for the first time next month.
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- The Beatles - The Blue Album 1967-1970 (2023 Edition) - Blue Vinyl - Sealed - UK - 3-LP vinyl set - £69.99, $88.19, €81.89 (New Item) (arrived 30-Apr-2024 10:35)on April 30, 2024 at 1:13 pm
THE BEATLES The Blue Album 1967-1970 (50th Anniversary 2023 UK/EU 37-track 180-gram Blue Vinyl triple album 3-LP, the landmark compilation album now expanded with 9 additional tracks, all halfspeed mastered and featuring some new mixesby Giles Martin. Including Blackbird, Glass Onion and the new song, Now And Then. Gatefold picture sleeve with new liner notes insert, hype sticker & factory sealed. Recommended)
- The Beatles - Hey Jude - UK p/s - South African - vinyl LP - £30.00, $37.80, €35.10 (New Item) (arrived 29-Apr-2024 10:24)on April 30, 2024 at 1:13 pm
THE BEATLES Hey Jude (1970 South African 10-track stereo LP on the black & silver 'one box' EMI logo label with 'Pressed For OR' print along the bottom. This is a slightly odd export issue as it comes housed in the UK Garrod & Lofthouse printed fully laminated picture sleeve [CPCS106]. The condition remains nice allround. The cover is Excellent with a couple of indentation marks & the vinyl is clean & grades VG+ with only minor cosmetic signs of play PCSJ149)
- The Beatles - Rubber Soul - 2 Box - EMI - UK - vinyl LP - £35.00, $44.10, €40.95 (New Item) (arrived 27-Apr-2024 11:56)on April 30, 2024 at 1:13 pm
THE BEATLES Rubber Soul (1979 UK issue of the 1965 14-track stereo vinyl LP on the two EMI boxed logo label with 'EMI Records' perimeter text, front laminated picture sleeve. The sleeve shows only minimal wear & the vinyl has minimal signs ofplay PCS3075) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- The Beatles - The Beatles [White Album] + Poster + Photos - VG - Japanese - 2-LP vinyl set - £30.00, $37.80, €35.10 (New Item) (arrived 29-Apr-2024 08:52)on April 30, 2024 at 1:13 pm
THE BEATLES The Beatles (1976 Japanese issue of the 1968 30-track stereo double LP, with fold-out poster, four portraits & Japanese/lyric insert, numbered & embossed side opening gatefold sleeve. The sleeve does have some notable fading and general marks from storga and handling, while not excessive it remains in Very Good condition. The all-important vinyl has only very light signs of play leaving it Excellent EAS-77001.2) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- The Beatles - Rubber Soul - Transitional Label Variant - UK - vinyl LP - £295.00, $371.70, €345.15 (New Item) (arrived 29-Apr-2024 08:55)on April 30, 2024 at 1:13 pm
THE BEATLES Rubber Soul (Incredibly rare 1970 UK issue of the classic 1965 14-track stereo LP, a unique copy which captures the label variants in mid transition: Side 1 has a 1 EMI box logo label design - this was used very briefly during 1969only between the Apple label and the standard two EMI box logo - whilst the regular 2 EMI box logo label is printed on Side 2. Both sides have 'Gramophone Co.' text printed around the perimeter. What's more, both the front laminated flipback picture sleeve and vinyl are in beautiful condition with minimal wear and the lightest of play. A seldom seen piece of Beatles' pressing history! PCS3075) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
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