Neil Aspinall | |
|---|---|
 Aspinall in 2006 | |
| Born | 13 October 1941 |
| Died | 24 March 2008 (aged 66) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Road manager, personal assistant, record producer, executive |
| Years active | 1961−2007 |
| Spouse | Suzy Aspinall (née Ornstein) |
| Children | 5 |
Neil Stanley Aspinall (13 October 1941 – 24 March 2008) was a British music industry executive. A school friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, he went on to head the Beatles' company Apple Corps.
The Beatles employed Aspinall first as their road manager, which included driving his old Commer van to and from shows, both day and night. After Mal Evans started work for the Beatles, Aspinall was promoted to become their personal assistant, later becoming chief executive of their company, Apple Corps. He was one of several Beatles associates to earn the nickname "the fifth Beatle".[1][2][3]
On behalf of Apple, Aspinall was involved in court cases against Allen Klein, EMI and Apple Computer. He supervised the marketing of music, videos and merchandising, as well as being a director of Standby Films, which was run from his home in Twickenham, London. On 10 April 2007, Aspinall retired from Apple Corps and died of lung cancer in New York in 2008.
- ^ Kozinn, Allan (24 March 2008). "Neil Aspinall, Beatles Aide, Dies at 66". The New York Times.
- ^ Lister, David (24 March 2008). "Neil Aspinall - a story worth telling". The Independent.
- ^ "Beatles Manager and Mentor Neil Aspinall Passes Away". Rolling Stone. 24 March 2008.