The Beatles Roadie
My youngest son who is a music tutor , asked me the other day if had I heard of The Cavern in Liverpool. After spluttering a yes, he told me he was off up north to play there as backing soundtrack for a play in the life of Mal Evans. Now I was quite young when the Beatles were happening and some of you may well remember that Mal Evans was the Beatles roadie/skivvy/servant who travelled with the Beatles everywhere during the height of their fame. He started life off as a bouncer at the Cavern before the Beatles became big and became like one of the band. There is strong evidence that he co-wrote several Beatles songs notably tracks from the Sgt Peppers album – also had a hand in the title of it. His pay – even at the height of the Beatles fame was peanuts The very sad thing was that he found what a lot of people have found during their life – that true loyalty never pays. He agreed to forfeit any recognition for his co-writing their songs because of the very famous “Lennon – McCartney” on any record meant it was a winner. My son spoke with the family afterwards and they said that McCartney met with them 10 years ago and he denied that Mal Evans ever made any contribution to the songs – well he would wouldn’t he . Needless to say, he was not the Paul McCartney some of them remembered. Funny, I have met many people during my lifetime and career who knew McCartney closely and personally and none have EVER had a half decent word to say about McCartney the person. Or any of the Beatles come to think of it.
Sadly Mal Evans was shot dead by Police in Los Angeles after a domestic incident
I found out this information on Wikipedia, because I didn’t know anything about the man but I sure intend to read his published diaries. Whichever way you look at it, it was a whole tragic story for his family.
It would take me a lifetime for me to try and type a resume but if you have a bit of time, read the Wiki link. It looks long winded and is sad but good reading on a man who’s loyalty never paid off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal_Evans#Early_life
Oh illigner, how tragic is that. As much as I would like to disagree that loyalty doesn’t pay off I am sad to say I believe that is a true fact in so many instances. Have seen it all too often. I will read the wiki link and in a small way all who do will remember his contribution and his loyalty. Thank you for posting this xxxx
Thank you very much skippy. Sorry the link doesn’t work – a bit of copy and paste should take us to the Wiki page I enjoyed reading about him and I think it gives a glimpse of things that happen behind the scenes. It is a shame that in this day and age of youngsters all clambering for “celebrity” status, they don’t realise that it is not all glitz and glamour. x
This is sad iligner and happens so often – for all the money the Beatles made, surely Mal Evans could have had a share and, even just a little bit of recognition. Money and power takes over from reason and compassion. Enjoyed reading your blog xoxox
That is very true fy2. It seems Lennon and McCartney were only interested in their own profile and sadly Mal Evans, probably through loyalty and naivety, went along with it.
so very sad illgner and i had no idea of any of this 🙂
That’s what I thought Pollie.He apparently accompanied them everywhere and was the bloke seen trying to prevent the police advancing any further in the famous scene when the Beatles were playing the live “impromptu” rooftop concert on top of the London Apple HQ in 1969.