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| Beatles' ally Neil Aspinall dies | Beatles' ally Neil Aspinall dies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Neil Aspinall, who ran the Apple Corps music empire for the Beatles, has died aged 66 in a New York hospital, the company has announced. | |
| A childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, he was regarded by some of the band as the 'fifth Beatle'. | A childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, he was regarded by some of the band as the 'fifth Beatle'. |
| In a joint statement, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Apple Corps paid tribute to "Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance". | In a joint statement, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Apple Corps paid tribute to "Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance". |
| Despite no musical training, he sang in the chorus of 'Yellow Submarine'. | Despite no musical training, he sang in the chorus of 'Yellow Submarine'. |
| Road manager | Road manager |
| He played background instruments on hits such as 'Magical Mystery Tour', 'Within You Without You' and 'Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!'. | He played background instruments on hits such as 'Magical Mystery Tour', 'Within You Without You' and 'Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!'. |
| But it was for his stewardship at Apple Corps that Neil Aspinall will be best remembered. | But it was for his stewardship at Apple Corps that Neil Aspinall will be best remembered. |
| This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine Neil Aspinall on George Harrison | This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine Neil Aspinall on George Harrison |
| He was chief executive from 1970 until last year. | He was chief executive from 1970 until last year. |
| Throughout his career, he remained fiercely loyal to the group, looking after their business interests and taking legal action on their behalf. | Throughout his career, he remained fiercely loyal to the group, looking after their business interests and taking legal action on their behalf. |
| Money-maker | Money-maker |
| He is credited with ensuring they continued to make money decades after they split up. | He is credited with ensuring they continued to make money decades after they split up. |
| He was behind successful retrospective albums such as 'Beatles Anthology' and 'Beatles One'. | He was behind successful retrospective albums such as 'Beatles Anthology' and 'Beatles One'. |
| Apple Corps estimates that in his last 20 years at the company, the Beatles sold 70 million albums. | Apple Corps estimates that in his last 20 years at the company, the Beatles sold 70 million albums. |
| Neil Aspinall, top right, with the Fab Four, in 1964 | Neil Aspinall, top right, with the Fab Four, in 1964 |
| Neil Aspinall first befriended Paul McCartney and George Harrison at the Liverpool Institute Grammar School in the 1950s. | Neil Aspinall first befriended Paul McCartney and George Harrison at the Liverpool Institute Grammar School in the 1950s. |
| In The Beatles Anthology DVD, he described his first encounter with George Harrison behind the school's air-raid shelters. | |
| "This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine, Aspinall said. | "This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine, Aspinall said. |
| "It was one of the first cigarettes either of us had smoked. We spluttered our way through it bravely but gleefully." | "It was one of the first cigarettes either of us had smoked. We spluttered our way through it bravely but gleefully." |
| In 1961, he became the Beatles' road manager and drove them between gigs in his van before becoming their personal assistant. | In 1961, he became the Beatles' road manager and drove them between gigs in his van before becoming their personal assistant. |
| 'Good friend' | 'Good friend' |
| The surviving band members and Yoko Ono said: ""All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man." | The surviving band members and Yoko Ono said: ""All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man." |
| In a separate statement, Ringo Starr added: "I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed." | In a separate statement, Ringo Starr added: "I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed." |
| Mr Aspinall died at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. | Mr Aspinall died at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. |
| It's understood he was suffering from lung cancer. | It's understood he was suffering from lung cancer. |
| He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and five children. | He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and five children. |