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 Beatles Ballads (1980 UK 20-track LP compilation including Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be & more, picture sleeve displaying John Patrick Byrne's painting. The sleeve is Excellent with a minor spot of edge wear to the back mainly whilst the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with minimal play PCS7214)
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THE BEATLES Beatles '69 (Rare 1969 UK 72-page softback songbook of sheet music & lyrics for twenty one songs from 'The White Album' including Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Honey Pie, Back In The U.S.S.R & more, also including some superb black and whitepictures of the band. As is usual with books of this type, capo positions are ignored, so don't attempt to play 'Julia' in D open, just capo at II & use the open C shape, transposing the other chord positions accordingly. For the required Travispicking, you'll just have to practice! The cover has a lttle discolouration and storage wear, but no major rips or tears and the inner pages remain in excellent condition)
- The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's - Pathé - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $30.50, €29.75 (New Item) (arrived 13-Jan-2025 18:00)on January 14, 2025 at 6:35 pm
THE BEATLES Sgt. Pepper's - Pathé - EX (1973 UK issue of the 1967 13-track stereo LP, fully laminated gatefold sleeve with intact sheet of cut outs. This is a contract pressing made by Pathé Marconi in France while the British plant inHayes underwent refurbishment. As such, the UK style labels state 'Made in France' along with 'EMI Records Ltd'. The sleeve shows a little light shelfwear & the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with some faint paper hairlines not affecting playPCS7027)
- The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's - 1st - Complete - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £295.00, $359.90, €351.05 (New Item) (arrived 13-Jan-2025 18:00)on January 14, 2025 at 6:35 pm
THE BEATLES Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967 UK first press 13-track stereo LP with 'The Gramophone Co' & 'Sold In The UK' label text, fully laminated internal flipback gatefold picture sleeve complete with intact sheet of cut-outs & the often missing flame inner. The sleeve is a nice example with light shelf wear & minor corner wear with all its components in check; the cut-outs are unused & the inner is clean & crisp with a split to the bottom edge. The vinyl has beenprofessionally cleaned & grades Excellent with some minor spindle marks & light paper hairlines which have little effect on play. This is the original unbanded first press & a must own in any vinyl collection PCS7027)
- The Beatles - Revolver - EMI - Fr Lam - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £40.00, $48.80, €47.60 (New Item) (arrived 13-Jan-2025 18:00)on January 14, 2025 at 6:35 pm
THE BEATLES Revolver (1979 UK 14-track stereo LP issue of the 1966 album on the two EMI Box label with 'EMI Records Ltd' perimeter text, front laminated picture sleeve. The sleeve shows just a few light marks and laminate creasing, whilst the vinyl shows just light cosmetic wear and some signs of play PCS7009) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
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