Timeline
More from year 1967
Related articles
Dec 18, 1966
Aug 27, 1967
Dec 08, 1980
Apr 17, 1998
Dec 05, 2023
Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.
About
After the death of their manager Brian Epstein on August 27, 1967, The Beatles didn’t attend his funeral in Liverpool, held on August 29. However, on this day, they did pay their respects by attending a memorial service held at the New London Synagogue at 33 Abbey Road, London.
The service, which took place at 6 pm, was officiated by Rabbi Louis Jacobs, who praised Epstein “encouraging young people to sing of love and peace rather than war and hatred.” Other artists from Brian Epstein’s management company, NEMS, including Cilla Black, Gerry Marsden, The Fourmost, and Billy J. Kramer, also attended the service. Press photographers were not permitted inside the synagogue, allowing for a private moment of reflection for The Beatles and their fellow artists to mourn their loss.
The Beatles didn’t attend the actual Liverpool funeral, in deference to the parents, as their presence would have made it into a media circus.
The service at the graveside was held by Rabbi Dr Norman Solomon, who said, disparagingly, that Epstein was “a symbol of the malaise of our generation”. The comment shocked and saddened many in attendance for it was completely out of line and very uncharitable.
A few weeks later, on October 17, all four Beatles attended a memorial service for Epstein at the New London Synagogue in St John’s Wood (near Abbey Road Studios), which was officiated by Rabbi Louis Jacobs. I still have the programme as a memento of a very sad day.
The service was attended by many of Brian’s friends, family and clients. The mourners included Cilla Black, Gerry Marsden, The Fourmost and Billy J. Kramer, and The Beatles and their ladies. I also remember touching base with Lulu that day. She wore hot pants with suspenders holding them up!
Angie McCartney – Step-mother of Paul McCartney – From “Angie McCartney: My Long and Winding Road“, 2013
Last updated on May 1, 2024
Going further
The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years
"With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group."
We owe a lot to Barry Miles for the creation of those pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - a day to day chronology of what happened to the four Beatles during the Beatles years!
If we like to think, in all modesty, that the Paul McCartney Project is the best online ressource for everything Paul McCartney, The Beatles Bible is for sure the definitive online site focused on the Beatles. There are obviously some overlap in terms of content between the two sites, but also some major differences in terms of approach.
Contribute!
Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!