The “Fifth Beatle” Dies In NYC
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For any Beatle-maniacs out there the name Neil Aspinall is a familiar one. A childhood friend of both Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Aspinall was around the legendary act from the start coining him the name “the fifth Beatle.” He was the band’s first road manager and personal assistant and later went on to head the band’s Apple Corp until April of 2007. 
(Beatles with Aspinall and Commer van)In addition to taking the Beatles to and fro early gigs in his Commer van (sorta like a VW bus), Aspinall was present on many Beatles tracks: He played tamboura on "Within You Without You", harmonica on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", percussion on "Magical Mystery Tour", and sang in the chorus of "Yellow Submarine."After the death of the band’s manager Brian Epstein in 1967, Aspinall was asked to head Apple Corps. Through the years, he helped the company in lawsuits against EMI and Apple Computer, Inc. He also was the executive producer on the Beatles Anthology, and also dipped his fingers in projects like the Beatles One album."All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man,” a statement from Ringo and McCartney read. “As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come.”Aspinall died in NYC at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer. He was 66.
(Beatles with Aspinall and Commer van)In addition to taking the Beatles to and fro early gigs in his Commer van (sorta like a VW bus), Aspinall was present on many Beatles tracks: He played tamboura on "Within You Without You", harmonica on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", percussion on "Magical Mystery Tour", and sang in the chorus of "Yellow Submarine."After the death of the band’s manager Brian Epstein in 1967, Aspinall was asked to head Apple Corps. Through the years, he helped the company in lawsuits against EMI and Apple Computer, Inc. He also was the executive producer on the Beatles Anthology, and also dipped his fingers in projects like the Beatles One album."All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man,” a statement from Ringo and McCartney read. “As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come.”Aspinall died in NYC at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer. He was 66.
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