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Peter Brown's 1983 Rolling Stone interview
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UsurperTom
Feb 8, 2013, 6:41:26 PM2/8/13
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Below is Peter Brown's interview with Rolling Stone on May 12, 1983.
Brown was promoting his new book on the Beatles, "The Love You Make."
The one-page article by Brant Mewborn titled “Beatles book: sex and
drugs and rock & roll” was in the "In the News" section.
As a footnote to Beatles history, Peter Brown makes a respectable
showing: manager Brian Epstein's assistant, executive director of
North End Musical Store (NEMS) Enterprises, administrative director of
Apple Corp, best man at John Lennon and Yoko Ono's wedding, a
character in the lyrics of "The Ballad of John and Yoko "Peter Brown
called to say/We can make it okay"). But with the publication of "The
Love You Make: an Insider's Story of the Beatles," Brown emerges as
something more: a trusted friend and confidant who has broken the
unofficial code of silence of the Beatles' innermost circle.
Coauthored with Steven Gaines, the book reads like a paperback pulp
novel, and the sensational revelations were even excerpted in the
"National Enquirer." In the name of setting the record straight,
Brown maintains, among other things, that the late Brian Epstein had a
sexual encounter with John; that George Harrison seduced Ringo Starr's
first wife, Maureen; that Paul McCartney has an adult illegitimate
son; that John was a hard-core acidhead and went through heroin
addiction with Yoko; and that Paul overdubbed many of Ringo's drum
tracks.
Brown’s post-Beatles career has included a five-year stint as
president of the Robert Stigwood Organization; as John and Yoko’s
neighbor in Manhattan’s Central Park West, he has sublet his apartment
to such glamorous tenants as Mick Jagger, John Travolta, James Taylor,
Carly Simon and Al Pacino.
Mewborn: How did the Beatles react to your decision to tell all?
Brown: The attitude of all of them was, "Yes, I suppose it's a good
idea." It wasn't, "What a fabulous idea!" But they were totally
cooperative. For the first interviews, we went down for the weekend to
Paul's house in Sussex, and he was super. In London, we did a long
session with Paul for several hours. I had people coming over for
dinner that night, and Paul was going on and on. I kept hoping that he
would finish the interview so I could get home and start cooking.
Mewborn: You don't play favorites, but with whom did you have the best
rapport, John or Paul? And how would you explain their balance of
power within the group?
Brown: I could communicate with Paul. I suppose I was closer to him,
but I was always enamored of John's enigmatic personality. Paul was
the thorough one, the workaholic, and John was lazy. But in the
beginning, John was absolutely the boss. It was his group. It was John
the leader, John everything. And John was never a compromiser. John
did what John wanted. So when Paul took over, it was only because John
had lost interest. Of course, that was a problem when Yoko came along
and got John to assert himself again. He wanted to everything back.
Mewborn: How far back do you go with the Beatles?
Brown: I knew them before Brian even went to see them at the Cavern.
But it wasn't until London that I actually started to live lives with
them. Brian would make all of the decisions, but I was the only other
intermediary. No one else was allowed to talk with them. There was the
red phone on my desk that only they had the number to. It was really
an FBI kind of setup.
Mewborn: In a sense, then, you were heir to Brian's position.
Brown: Exactly-well, no. There was no conception that anyone could
ever take his place. And I was a bit emotional about not being seen as
stepping into Brian's shoes. If I'd known that someone like Allen
Klein would come along and appoint himself manager, then I might have
been more assertive.
Mewborn: You discuss Brian's gay lifestyle and how George and Ringo
liked to upset him by dropping in on his private parties unannounced.
Brown: It was a friendly tease, they were never nasty. I would often
be at these parties, and suddenly two Beatles would arrive at the
door, which stopped everything. They would stay just long enough to
get Brian uptight, and all the boys there would be highly amused and
not know how to behave.
Mewborn: How did you confirm Brian and John's sexual encounter?
Brown: John told Hunter Davies the whole story, including the fact
that it was consummated. But Hunter was told not to put it in ("The
Beatles-The Authorized Biography" in 1968). Brian didn't want to tell
me, because he thought it was a breach of confidence with John. But he
had to-I mean, he was so pleased. So I had it firsthand from Brian,
and Hunter Davies had it firsthand from John. But I never told anyone
until now. When people read it, I'm sure they won't think it's that
extraordinary. I mean, everyone knows John as having an artistic
nature, being a rebel. Why wouldn't he experiment?
Mewborn: You detail the Beatles' drug exploits graphically, but you
never seem to be involved with acquiring the drugs.
Brown: I wouldn't do a thing like that. I wouldn't have been asked.
That was the road managers' job. I, however, would have to sign the
petty cash slip to buy them (laughs). It had to go down as something-
candy, very expensive candy.
Mewborn: What has been the reaction to the book among the Beatles
camp?
Brown: I think that Patti and Maureen were nervous about having talked
about the "incest" incident, but I haven't heard anything yet. No
one's called, except Yoko, who's been the same as ever. But I'd expect
that from Yoko-she's so sophisticated, so inscrutable.
Mewborn: Were you well-off financially when you left the Beatles’
employ?
Brown: No, I wasn’t. I was on a very good salary and had a lot of
perks, but I never made a fortune. The Beatles never paid anyone that
well. I made much more money after leaving them. They thought in an
old-fashioned Liverpool way, like, “Let’s be sensible, no sense
getting carried away.” (laughs)
Mewborn: Did you ever find that having your identity so married to the
Beatles was a drawback?
Brown: No, I really rather enjoyed it. It’s funny, because only since
I’ve been in the US has it been suggested that this or that happened
because I was manger of the Beatles’ company. And always my reaction
is, “How dare you think that!” I suppose I certainly was lucky, but I
just never thought of it that way. My ego has always been sufficient
enough to think that I did it. I don’t have any affiliation with
anyone now, but I still manage to get a decent seat at a good
restaurant.
Brown was promoting his new book on the Beatles, "The Love You Make."
The one-page article by Brant Mewborn titled “Beatles book: sex and
drugs and rock & roll” was in the "In the News" section.
As a footnote to Beatles history, Peter Brown makes a respectable
showing: manager Brian Epstein's assistant, executive director of
North End Musical Store (NEMS) Enterprises, administrative director of
Apple Corp, best man at John Lennon and Yoko Ono's wedding, a
character in the lyrics of "The Ballad of John and Yoko "Peter Brown
called to say/We can make it okay"). But with the publication of "The
Love You Make: an Insider's Story of the Beatles," Brown emerges as
something more: a trusted friend and confidant who has broken the
unofficial code of silence of the Beatles' innermost circle.
Coauthored with Steven Gaines, the book reads like a paperback pulp
novel, and the sensational revelations were even excerpted in the
"National Enquirer." In the name of setting the record straight,
Brown maintains, among other things, that the late Brian Epstein had a
sexual encounter with John; that George Harrison seduced Ringo Starr's
first wife, Maureen; that Paul McCartney has an adult illegitimate
son; that John was a hard-core acidhead and went through heroin
addiction with Yoko; and that Paul overdubbed many of Ringo's drum
tracks.
Brown’s post-Beatles career has included a five-year stint as
president of the Robert Stigwood Organization; as John and Yoko’s
neighbor in Manhattan’s Central Park West, he has sublet his apartment
to such glamorous tenants as Mick Jagger, John Travolta, James Taylor,
Carly Simon and Al Pacino.
Mewborn: How did the Beatles react to your decision to tell all?
Brown: The attitude of all of them was, "Yes, I suppose it's a good
idea." It wasn't, "What a fabulous idea!" But they were totally
cooperative. For the first interviews, we went down for the weekend to
Paul's house in Sussex, and he was super. In London, we did a long
session with Paul for several hours. I had people coming over for
dinner that night, and Paul was going on and on. I kept hoping that he
would finish the interview so I could get home and start cooking.
Mewborn: You don't play favorites, but with whom did you have the best
rapport, John or Paul? And how would you explain their balance of
power within the group?
Brown: I could communicate with Paul. I suppose I was closer to him,
but I was always enamored of John's enigmatic personality. Paul was
the thorough one, the workaholic, and John was lazy. But in the
beginning, John was absolutely the boss. It was his group. It was John
the leader, John everything. And John was never a compromiser. John
did what John wanted. So when Paul took over, it was only because John
had lost interest. Of course, that was a problem when Yoko came along
and got John to assert himself again. He wanted to everything back.
Mewborn: How far back do you go with the Beatles?
Brown: I knew them before Brian even went to see them at the Cavern.
But it wasn't until London that I actually started to live lives with
them. Brian would make all of the decisions, but I was the only other
intermediary. No one else was allowed to talk with them. There was the
red phone on my desk that only they had the number to. It was really
an FBI kind of setup.
Mewborn: In a sense, then, you were heir to Brian's position.
Brown: Exactly-well, no. There was no conception that anyone could
ever take his place. And I was a bit emotional about not being seen as
stepping into Brian's shoes. If I'd known that someone like Allen
Klein would come along and appoint himself manager, then I might have
been more assertive.
Mewborn: You discuss Brian's gay lifestyle and how George and Ringo
liked to upset him by dropping in on his private parties unannounced.
Brown: It was a friendly tease, they were never nasty. I would often
be at these parties, and suddenly two Beatles would arrive at the
door, which stopped everything. They would stay just long enough to
get Brian uptight, and all the boys there would be highly amused and
not know how to behave.
Mewborn: How did you confirm Brian and John's sexual encounter?
Brown: John told Hunter Davies the whole story, including the fact
that it was consummated. But Hunter was told not to put it in ("The
Beatles-The Authorized Biography" in 1968). Brian didn't want to tell
me, because he thought it was a breach of confidence with John. But he
had to-I mean, he was so pleased. So I had it firsthand from Brian,
and Hunter Davies had it firsthand from John. But I never told anyone
until now. When people read it, I'm sure they won't think it's that
extraordinary. I mean, everyone knows John as having an artistic
nature, being a rebel. Why wouldn't he experiment?
Mewborn: You detail the Beatles' drug exploits graphically, but you
never seem to be involved with acquiring the drugs.
Brown: I wouldn't do a thing like that. I wouldn't have been asked.
That was the road managers' job. I, however, would have to sign the
petty cash slip to buy them (laughs). It had to go down as something-
candy, very expensive candy.
Mewborn: What has been the reaction to the book among the Beatles
camp?
Brown: I think that Patti and Maureen were nervous about having talked
about the "incest" incident, but I haven't heard anything yet. No
one's called, except Yoko, who's been the same as ever. But I'd expect
that from Yoko-she's so sophisticated, so inscrutable.
Mewborn: Were you well-off financially when you left the Beatles’
employ?
Brown: No, I wasn’t. I was on a very good salary and had a lot of
perks, but I never made a fortune. The Beatles never paid anyone that
well. I made much more money after leaving them. They thought in an
old-fashioned Liverpool way, like, “Let’s be sensible, no sense
getting carried away.” (laughs)
Mewborn: Did you ever find that having your identity so married to the
Beatles was a drawback?
Brown: No, I really rather enjoyed it. It’s funny, because only since
I’ve been in the US has it been suggested that this or that happened
because I was manger of the Beatles’ company. And always my reaction
is, “How dare you think that!” I suppose I certainly was lucky, but I
just never thought of it that way. My ego has always been sufficient
enough to think that I did it. I don’t have any affiliation with
anyone now, but I still manage to get a decent seat at a good
restaurant.
who?
Feb 8, 2013, 10:25:42 PM2/8/13
to
in the mid to late 80. Thought it was pretty good. Fast
forward to when I arrived in this group. Posters said he
made up things? Whatever they were? Harrison said that
plenty of people wrote books about the Beatles but most
of them never met the Beatles and the stories weren't
true.
Jeff
Nooffa Subject
Feb 9, 2013, 11:14:22 AM2/9/13
to
-People - Peter Brown-
Manager of the record counter at Lewis's Department Store in Liverpool, a
direct competitor with Brian Epstein's NEMS shop. Epstein lures him away
from Lewis's to work for him at NEMS.
08/11/1964 - Moves to London.
05/28/1967 - Attends a party thrown by Brian Epstein at Kingsley Hill.
Among other guests are John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and
their wives and girlfriends; Terry Doran, The Fool, Klaus Voorman, Lulu,
Neil Aspinall, Mal Evans, Lionel Bart, Kenny Everett, Nat Weiss, Mick
Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Robert Stigwood, Derek Taylor and his wife
Joan. Although he was invited, Paul McCartney does not attend which both
angers and depresses Epstein. Due to the heavy consumption of drugs, the
party soon degrades into a "Mad Hatter's tea party; everyone was
crackers" - Cynthia Lennon.
08/18/1967 - Brian Epstein tells Peter and Brian's mother that he will
soon travel to the USA and Canada to appear in some TV programs.
08/25/1967 - Brian Epstein asks Brown and Geoffrey Ellis down to his
country home in Kingsly Hall, Uckfield, Sussex, for the Bank Holiday
weekend. After they arrive, Epstein decides to drive back to London by
himself because an expected group of "rent boys" he had invited failed to
arrive.
08/26/1967 - (5:15pm Approx.) From his Belgravia home, Brian Epstein
phones Brown at Kingsley Hill. He agrees to phone to arrange to take the
train back from London.
08/27/1967 (2:30pm Time Approx.) Antonio Garcia phones Brian Epstein's
secretary Joanne Newfield. Soon, Alistair Taylor, and Brown's Doctor
John Gallway are all outside Brian's bedroom door.
08/27/1967 (3:00pm Time approx.) - Brown calls a pay phone at the
dormitories at the University College in Bangor, North Wales. It is
ignored for a while until Jane Asher finally picks it up. Brown
immediately asks for Paul McCartney. When McCartney comes to the phone,
Brown tells Paul of Brian Epstein's death. Panic in the band quickly
settles in.
09/08/1967 - A verdict of accidental death is recorded at a coroner's
inquest on the death of Brian Epstein. Among those called to testify at
the inquest is Brown.
03/12/1969 - Brown is in attendance as Paul McCartney marries Linda
Eastman at the Marylebone Registrar's office. Heather See, Mike McGear
(Best Man), and Mal Evans (witness). Due to the ongoing controversies,
none of the other members of The Beatles attend the ceremony. The
registrar is Mr. E.R. Sanders. The ceremony is delayed as the the couple
wait for Mike McCartney who is delayed by his train which has broken down
on the way from Birmingham.
03/12/1969 - On the night of Paul McCartney's wedding, Patti Harrison is
alone at she and her husband, George Harrison's Esher bungalow, Kinfauns
when the police perform a raid. Patti immediately calls George, who has
Brown call Martin Polden, a top London lawyer. George is busy working
with Jackie Lomax and Paul McCartney at Abbey Road Studio when the raid
begins, so he calls Pete Shotton, whom he asks to get to the couple's
home and stay with Patti until he can get there. Soon, George and Derek
Taylor arrive to find the house in complete disarray. George and Patti
are immediately arrested by the infamous Sgt. Norman Pilcher, who claims
he and his dog "Yogi" found the marijuana in a binocular case.
03/19/1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono take a private charter Hawker
Siddeley Jet piloted by captain Trevor Coppleston (Brown is also aboard)
as well as photographer David Nuttal, from Paris, France to the British
territory of Gibralter.
03/20/1969 - (9:05am) John Lennon and Yoko Ono are married at the British
Consulate in Gibraltar. Brown gives the bride away. Mr. Ceril Joseph
Wheeler in the British Consulate building officiates. Witnesses are
Brown and Photographer David Nuttal of Apple. The license cost 4 Pounds
14 Shillings. Total cost for the whole event around £8000.
03/26/1969 - Day 2 of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Amsterdam bed-in for
peace in room 902 at Amsterdam Hilton. Brown leaves after the first day.
12/31/1970 - brown renounces Paul McCartney's lawsuit to dissolve The
Beatles.
Manager of the record counter at Lewis's Department Store in Liverpool, a
direct competitor with Brian Epstein's NEMS shop. Epstein lures him away
from Lewis's to work for him at NEMS.
08/11/1964 - Moves to London.
05/28/1967 - Attends a party thrown by Brian Epstein at Kingsley Hill.
Among other guests are John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and
their wives and girlfriends; Terry Doran, The Fool, Klaus Voorman, Lulu,
Neil Aspinall, Mal Evans, Lionel Bart, Kenny Everett, Nat Weiss, Mick
Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Robert Stigwood, Derek Taylor and his wife
Joan. Although he was invited, Paul McCartney does not attend which both
angers and depresses Epstein. Due to the heavy consumption of drugs, the
party soon degrades into a "Mad Hatter's tea party; everyone was
crackers" - Cynthia Lennon.
08/18/1967 - Brian Epstein tells Peter and Brian's mother that he will
soon travel to the USA and Canada to appear in some TV programs.
08/25/1967 - Brian Epstein asks Brown and Geoffrey Ellis down to his
country home in Kingsly Hall, Uckfield, Sussex, for the Bank Holiday
weekend. After they arrive, Epstein decides to drive back to London by
himself because an expected group of "rent boys" he had invited failed to
arrive.
08/26/1967 - (5:15pm Approx.) From his Belgravia home, Brian Epstein
phones Brown at Kingsley Hill. He agrees to phone to arrange to take the
train back from London.
08/27/1967 (2:30pm Time Approx.) Antonio Garcia phones Brian Epstein's
secretary Joanne Newfield. Soon, Alistair Taylor, and Brown's Doctor
John Gallway are all outside Brian's bedroom door.
08/27/1967 (3:00pm Time approx.) - Brown calls a pay phone at the
dormitories at the University College in Bangor, North Wales. It is
ignored for a while until Jane Asher finally picks it up. Brown
immediately asks for Paul McCartney. When McCartney comes to the phone,
Brown tells Paul of Brian Epstein's death. Panic in the band quickly
settles in.
09/08/1967 - A verdict of accidental death is recorded at a coroner's
inquest on the death of Brian Epstein. Among those called to testify at
the inquest is Brown.
03/12/1969 - Brown is in attendance as Paul McCartney marries Linda
Eastman at the Marylebone Registrar's office. Heather See, Mike McGear
(Best Man), and Mal Evans (witness). Due to the ongoing controversies,
none of the other members of The Beatles attend the ceremony. The
registrar is Mr. E.R. Sanders. The ceremony is delayed as the the couple
wait for Mike McCartney who is delayed by his train which has broken down
on the way from Birmingham.
03/12/1969 - On the night of Paul McCartney's wedding, Patti Harrison is
alone at she and her husband, George Harrison's Esher bungalow, Kinfauns
when the police perform a raid. Patti immediately calls George, who has
Brown call Martin Polden, a top London lawyer. George is busy working
with Jackie Lomax and Paul McCartney at Abbey Road Studio when the raid
begins, so he calls Pete Shotton, whom he asks to get to the couple's
home and stay with Patti until he can get there. Soon, George and Derek
Taylor arrive to find the house in complete disarray. George and Patti
are immediately arrested by the infamous Sgt. Norman Pilcher, who claims
he and his dog "Yogi" found the marijuana in a binocular case.
03/19/1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono take a private charter Hawker
Siddeley Jet piloted by captain Trevor Coppleston (Brown is also aboard)
as well as photographer David Nuttal, from Paris, France to the British
territory of Gibralter.
03/20/1969 - (9:05am) John Lennon and Yoko Ono are married at the British
Consulate in Gibraltar. Brown gives the bride away. Mr. Ceril Joseph
Wheeler in the British Consulate building officiates. Witnesses are
Brown and Photographer David Nuttal of Apple. The license cost 4 Pounds
14 Shillings. Total cost for the whole event around £8000.
03/26/1969 - Day 2 of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Amsterdam bed-in for
peace in room 902 at Amsterdam Hilton. Brown leaves after the first day.
12/31/1970 - brown renounces Paul McCartney's lawsuit to dissolve The
Beatles.
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