A New Movie About The Visionary Music Manager Who Discovered The Beatles

Filming of a new biopic film about Brian Epstein, the legendary music manager who discovered The Beatles, has begun in Liverpool. Starring Son Of Rambow and X-Men: First Class star Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Epstein.

Epstein faced jail time after being charged in 2007 with sexually exploiting young girls, but eventually worked out an agreement with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid jail time altogether.

Early Life and Education

Epstein was raised by his shoe salesman father and attended high school at Waverly-Shell Rock public schools before enrolling at Cooper Union and New York University, taking classes but not earning degrees there.

He discovered the Beatles while working at his family’s Walton Road music store and avoided being court-martialed by consulting Army psychiatrists.

By the early 1980s, Epstein had established his own firm to assist those with fortunes exceeding $1 billion. Les Wexner, founder of The Limited clothing stores was among his early high-profile clients; Epstein was also noted for covering travel costs on trips with Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker to Africa using his private plane, according to logs Gawker discovered. Additionally, Epstein owned luxury properties in New York, Miami, the US Virgin Islands and Paris.

Professional Career

In 1961, Epstein opened a record department at North End Road Music Stores (NEMS). His talent for talent-spotting soon became clear – Epstein soon discovered The Beatles, an eight-member Liverpool group led by four young men already well known for performing weekly lunchtime concerts at Cavern Club in their native city.

Paul managed other musical artists as well, such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer & the Dakotas and Cilla Black – his high standards of business behavior contributing to their success and helping secure its continuation.

Jonas Akerlund’s (Lords Of Chaos) forthcoming biopic about Epstein will feature Jacob Fortune-Lloyd from The Queen’s Gambit as Epstein, who faced discrimination as an openly homosexual man during England’s 1960s era.

Achievement and Honors

After Brian Epstein died in August 1967, Clive took control of NEMS (New End Music Stores), its artists and management company. Clive named Queenie as co-chairperson for NEMS Enterprises alongside Robert Stigwood.

Sol Epstein was an avid athlete, competing in marathons. Once, he finished in the top ten of his age group!

At a 2014 ceremony in Brooklyn, Epstein and fellow Beatles manager Andrew Loog Oldham were honored together with Peter Asher’s moving and memorable induction speech on behalf of both managers. Many in attendance protested this decision to honor both together instead of individually; many demanded Oldham and Epstein be given individual tribute.

Personal Life

Epstein was Jewish and was part of the Greenbank Drive Hebrew Congregation in Liverpool, attended cheder classes to study religious studies and Hebrew liturgy, participated in his bar mitzvah ceremony with help from his father for learning his parsha, and participated in its commemorative rituals.

Following his mother’s death in 1962, he received a 9% stake of his family’s Northern Songs music store chain and shortly after became its manager. Notably he gained success managing not only The Beatles but also Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas as well as Cilla Black.

Joanne remembers fondly her late husband’s gift of notes given during the last two weeks of his life and his 1966 Christmas card list as she mourns their deaths from drug overdose.

Net Worth

Epstein’s parents, Harry and Malka (known to him by her Jewish surname Queenie), owned and ran a furniture store in Liverpool. Next door was North End Road Music Store which Epstein purchased and renamed as NEMS.

After NEMS’ success, many companies attempted to sell Beatles-related merchandise. But Epstein would only sign deals which included substantial royalties for each band member.

Epstein died worth approximately $10 million at his death in 1967 and would likely have owed over 100 Million Dollars had his 9% stake in Northern Songs been worth it at that point in time. Today, Sony Music owns the Beatles song catalog which is estimated to be worth billions; including all their recordings as well as trademark for NEMS trademark.