Neil Aspinall
Neil Stanley Aspinall entered the world on the 13th of October 1941 in Prestatyn, North Wales. His mother had been evacuated from Liverpool to escape air-raids during the Second World War. His father served away at sea with the Royal Navy while his son was born. The family returned to Liverpool later in 1942 once the bombing subsided. Aspinall attended West Derby School and passed his 11-Plus exams. He gained a place at the Liverpool Institute when he was twelve years old. Paul McCartney shared an English class with him there. George Harrison also studied at that same school. Aspinall recalled meeting Harrison behind the school's air-raid shelters. A shaggy-haired boy asked for a drag of his Woodbine cigarette. They spluttered through their first smoke together. This moment sparked a friendship that would last decades.
Aspinall bought an old grey and maroon Commer van for £80 in early 1961. The Beatles needed reliable transport for two or three shows per night. Public transport could not handle the distance between locations anymore. Each band member paid five shillings per concert to ride in the vehicle. Harrison described the van as covered in graffiti by fans who felt free to write on it. Girls' names and phrases like 'I love you, John' appeared everywhere. The van became the center of attention whenever it pulled up to a venue. Aspinall left his accounting job because driving them earned more money than his office salary. He drove the group down to London on New Year's Eve 1962 for their Decca audition. The trip took ten hours because he lost his way. They arrived at 10 o'clock at night to see drunks jumping in Trafalgar Square fountains.
Brian Epstein appointed Aspinall as personal assistant after Mal Evans joined the team. His role expanded beyond driving to arranging appointments and buying suits or meals. Aspinall traveled to the United States with the group during their first American tour. George Harrison fell ill with a fever and had a high temperature. Aspinall stood in for Harrison during camera rehearsals for The Ed Sullivan Show. He later sourced photographs for the Sgt. Pepper album cover before Peter Blake finished the design. McCartney suggested Aspinall appear as the compere introducing the group on the record. Aspinall also arranged late-night club visits for McCartney and Mal Evans. They ate steak and chips at The Bag O'Nails nightclub in Soho. Aspinall used a torch from his pocket to inspect food portions in the dimly lit room. Lennon did not pass his driving test until 1965 but rarely drove himself anyway.
Aspinall was not a professional musician yet played instruments on several recordings. He performed tamboura parts on the track Within You Without You. A harmonica appeared on Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! Percussion work showed up on Magical Mystery Tour. Many participants sang together on the chorus of Yellow Submarine including him. These contributions remained minor compared to the core band members. His primary value lay in logistics rather than musical performance. The Beatles valued his presence behind the scenes more than any instrument he could play. He helped manage equipment and acted as a bodyguard when needed. This dual role allowed him to stay close to the creative process without being a performer.
Aspinall instigated three lawsuits against Apple Computer Inc starting in 1978. The first suit settled in 1981 for £41,000 paid to Apple by Apple Computer. A condition allowed Apple Computer to use its logo if it avoided music business entry. A second suit arose in 1989 regarding the Apple IIGS synthesizer chip violation of the 1981 agreement. Settlements reached £13.5 million in 1991. McCartney praised Aspinall for trademarking the Apple name worldwide calling him Mr X within the organization. Apple Corps sued again in September 2003 over iTunes Music Store and iPod distribution rights. The trial began on the 27th of March 2006 in the UK and ended on the 8th of May 2006. A judge ruled that the iTunes store did not infringe on the trademark of Apple Corps. Aspinall also handled
court cases involving EMI throughout these decades.
Aspinall fathered a child named Vincent Roag Best with Mona Best in late July 1962. He had been romantically involved with her while renting a room in their house. Pete Best was dismissed from the Beatles just three weeks after his son's birth. Aspinall married Suzy Ornstein at the Chelsea Register Office on the 30th of August 1968. Magic Alex served as best man at the ceremony. They went on to have four children including daughters Gayla Dhara Mandy and son Julian. Standby Films Ltd ran from their home in Twickenham London. In 1999 they released a film about Jimi Hendrix called Hendrix Band of Gypsys. Aspinall died of lung cancer in New York City on the 24th of March 2008. His funeral took place at the Church of St Mary the Virgin
in Twickenham. George Martin and Pete Townshend attended the service. Townshend played Bob Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man as a tribute. Aspinall left nearly £7 million in his will for his wife of 40 years.
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Common questions
When and where was Neil Aspinall born?
Neil Stanley Aspinall entered the world on the 13th of October 1941 in Prestatyn, North Wales. His family returned to Liverpool later in 1942 once the bombing subsided.
How did Neil Aspinall meet George Harrison at school?
Aspinall recalled meeting Harrison behind the school's air-raid shelters when a shaggy-haired boy asked for a drag of his Woodbine cigarette. This moment sparked a friendship that would last decades.
What role did Neil Aspinall play during The Beatles first American tour?
Brian Epstein appointed Aspinall as personal assistant after Mal Evans joined the team. He traveled to the United States with the group and stood in for Harrison during camera rehearsals for The Ed Sullivan Show.
Why did Neil Aspinall sue Apple Computer Inc starting in 1978?
Aspinall instigated three lawsuits against Apple Computer Inc to protect the trademark rights of Apple Corps. A judge ruled that the iTunes store did not infringe on the trademark of Apple Corps in May 2006.
Who were Neil Aspinall parents and what was his relationship with Mona Best?
His mother had been evacuated from Liverpool to escape air-raids during the Second World War while his father served away at sea with the Royal Navy. Aspinall fathered a child named Vincent Roag Best with Mona Best in late July 1962.