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John, Paul, George, Ringo and Me: The Real Beatles Story
Liverpool-born author Tony Barrow worked beside The Beatles as the world-famous group's own public relations man through each exciting phase of their dazzling career in the sixties. His up-close-and-personal profiles of John, Paul, George, and Ringo probe their true personalities and reveal their amazing lifestyles as no other book has done Barrow gives a devastatingly honest, powerfully authoritative, and absolutely credible eyewitness account of how his history-making clients acted in and out of the spotlight. Also published here for the first time is his astonishing collection of photographs, including candid snapshots taken in the sanctuary of dressing rooms and hotel suites from where press and paparazzi were excluded. Barrow watched the Beatles' "greatest gig of all" at New York's Shea Stadium and, at Paul's request, he made a personal souvenir recording of The Beatles' final concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. The author lets his quirky Liverpudlian sense of humor run all through the text because "rock 'n' roll was never invented to be taken too seriously."
280 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 14, 2009
How to keep sane? Stop stressing about these titles...
Barrow’s account does not presume to tell the whole story. Implicit from the first page is an understanding that the reader has read at least one ‘comprehensive’ biography so that one could keep up with what part of the Beatles’ professional history as a band is being tackled (and yes, Barrow does shift timelines from time to time). Of course, whether or not the events he deigns to talk about are factual is going to be always a matter of debate in these kinds of things.
Still, I did enjoy his story as the PR of the band. It would always be refreshing to have another point of view from someone who dealt differently with the Beatles—even if only for a brief period of time. Without going into too meticulous a detail so as to not reveal the tricks of the trade, Barrow depicts how promoting an act in the 60s was often led by sheer luck, risky yet imaginative efforts, a flair for flamboyance and exaggeration, and a truly intimate rapport with the wider world of the press.
The way Barrow bridged the gap between the Fab Four and the often initially-skeptical (and, in my opinion, seemingly gullible and hugely repetitive, yet still quite honorable) media people of London and of America is a revelation in and of itself. Though may be considered trivial or incredulous as compared to the way PR is being done nowadays, Barrow’s simple but practical ideas of facilitating one-on-one telephone/radio/face-to-face interviews, press conferences, and photo shoots are especially noteworthy, particularly in light of the fact that the Beatles had an unprecedented shot to fame that made the press ravenous and willing to have whatever little piece of each Fab Four they could get (never mind if the ‘boys’ inevitably got disdainful of the shallow and oft-repeated inane questions posed on them).
What is commendable, if his word is to be taken, is that Barrow was careful to respect both sides, knowing how important it was to keep the press (and, of course, the fan base) inundated with little tidbits about the band without compromising the image of the latter.
It was also interesting to finally have someone place names to obscure people who have formed part of the band’s periphery at the height of Beatlemania, like other promoters, press agents, photographers, and magazine editors. It is here, too (at least in my experience), that Barrow lays out what really went on in the tumultuous events of the 1966 world tour. The depth of dangers encountered in both Tokyo and Manila were given more detail than in the past accounts I have read. And, lest I forget, there was also the historic-yet-hazy Elvis-Beatles meet-up. Now that was a mindbender.
For those alone, I really am glad to have found this book.
Don’t be too harsh to disparage this book, just because it may feel (or, in fact is) incomplete. Barrow’s work with the band was not like Neil Aspinall’s in that it was almost literally from beginning to end. Indeed, it is with Barrow’s distinct footing with, and entry to, the Beatles’ entourage that his accounts are a little more straightforward than most, expressing candidness that often pierced thru the ‘public’ persona each Beatle projected to the world. As one of the people that had to work closely with the press, Barrow was afforded a different lens with which to apprehend events, cutting through all the shenanigans of kowtowing, the indulgences and excesses of suddenly-rich pop acts, and the politics that wound from Epstein to the other people at NEMS, among others.
For myself, I consider this account as a supplement, something that gives another dimension to the already-rich (and convoluted) Beatles story.
Basically what I am saying is, yes, this is worth the read.
Barrow’s account does not presume to tell the whole story. Implicit from the first page is an understanding that the reader has read at least one ‘comprehensive’ biography so that one could keep up with what part of the Beatles’ professional history as a band is being tackled (and yes, Barrow does shift timelines from time to time). Of course, whether or not the events he deigns to talk about are factual is going to be always a matter of debate in these kinds of things.
Still, I did enjoy his story as the PR of the band. It would always be refreshing to have another point of view from someone who dealt differently with the Beatles—even if only for a brief period of time. Without going into too meticulous a detail so as to not reveal the tricks of the trade, Barrow depicts how promoting an act in the 60s was often led by sheer luck, risky yet imaginative efforts, a flair for flamboyance and exaggeration, and a truly intimate rapport with the wider world of the press.
The way Barrow bridged the gap between the Fab Four and the often initially-skeptical (and, in my opinion, seemingly gullible and hugely repetitive, yet still quite honorable) media people of London and of America is a revelation in and of itself. Though may be considered trivial or incredulous as compared to the way PR is being done nowadays, Barrow’s simple but practical ideas of facilitating one-on-one telephone/radio/face-to-face interviews, press conferences, and photo shoots are especially noteworthy, particularly in light of the fact that the Beatles had an unprecedented shot to fame that made the press ravenous and willing to have whatever little piece of each Fab Four they could get (never mind if the ‘boys’ inevitably got disdainful of the shallow and oft-repeated inane questions posed on them).
What is commendable, if his word is to be taken, is that Barrow was careful to respect both sides, knowing how important it was to keep the press (and, of course, the fan base) inundated with little tidbits about the band without compromising the image of the latter.
It was also interesting to finally have someone place names to obscure people who have formed part of the band’s periphery at the height of Beatlemania, like other promoters, press agents, photographers, and magazine editors. It is here, too (at least in my experience), that Barrow lays out what really went on in the tumultuous events of the 1966 world tour. The depth of dangers encountered in both Tokyo and Manila were given more detail than in the past accounts I have read. And, lest I forget, there was also the historic-yet-hazy Elvis-Beatles meet-up. Now that was a mindbender.
For those alone, I really am glad to have found this book.
Don’t be too harsh to disparage this book, just because it may feel (or, in fact is) incomplete. Barrow’s work with the band was not like Neil Aspinall’s in that it was almost literally from beginning to end. Indeed, it is with Barrow’s distinct footing with, and entry to, the Beatles’ entourage that his accounts are a little more straightforward than most, expressing candidness that often pierced thru the ‘public’ persona each Beatle projected to the world. As one of the people that had to work closely with the press, Barrow was afforded a different lens with which to apprehend events, cutting through all the shenanigans of kowtowing, the indulgences and excesses of suddenly-rich pop acts, and the politics that wound from Epstein to the other people at NEMS, among others.
For myself, I consider this account as a supplement, something that gives another dimension to the already-rich (and convoluted) Beatles story.
Basically what I am saying is, yes, this is worth the read.
February 4, 2017
Simply the best book about the Beatles that I've read. Recommended to me by a Beatles tour guide in Liverpool. The author, Tony Barrow, was the Beatles' press manager from 1962-1968 so he's writing from an intimate place in their inner circle. It wasn't all fun and games being around them, and for me, their pedestal isn't quite as high as it was before I read this. But that's a good thing. He makes them human. Well worth the read for any fan.
July 19, 2016
Brian Epstein was a sad and successful guy. John Lennon was sadistic. Paul was and is a workaholic. George was the biggest lady-killer. Ringo was "a great Beatle." This book was written by the Beatles' PR guy. I liked seeing how his job changed from push to pull as they became more successful. You understand why they had to stop touring (spoiler: everything got too big and dangerous) and eventually break up. The writer wasn't that dynamic, but he took his job seriously. I hoped for more in-the-trenches PR anecdotes than an accounting of the band's history from an insider.
August 18, 2025
I don't think I really learned anything new but it's always enjoyable to read an insider's perspective on the boys.
October 4, 2013
Tony was right there in the beginning and reveals quite a bit in this book. He actually worked for Brian Epstein. A candid look into some little or less known details and happenings in their quest to be "the topper most of the popper most".
August 10, 2021
#29 of 120 books pledged to read during 2021
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews