The Beatles Book
Encyclopedia
The Beatles Book was founded in 1963. It was first published in August 1963 and continued for 77 editions until it stopped publication after the December 1969 edition. It was revived in 1976, and ceased publication in 2003.
and asked Brian Epstein
if he could publish a magazine devoted to The Beatles
. Epstein and the group agreed and the title launched in August 1963 with a print run of 80,000 . By the end of the year circulation had grown to 330,000 copies per month . O’Mahony edited the magazine under the name of Johnny Dean.
The magazine’s photographer, Leslie Bryce had unrivalled access to the group throughout the 1960s, travelling the world and taking thousands of photographs. In addition, Beatles roadies Neil Aspinall
and Mal Evans
wrote many of the articles, and artist Bob Gibson created numerous cartoons and caricatures of the fab four on a regular basis. (He eventually did the cartoons for the Beatles' 1967 Magical Mystery Tour EP-set/US-album booklet.)
In May 1976 O’Mahony revived the publication and republished all 77 original issues surrounded by eight (later sixteen) pages of new Beatles news and articles. The reissue programme completed in September 1982, coincidentally at a time when interest in the band was high due to the impending twentieth anniversary of Love Me Do
. Consequently the decision was taken to continue the magazine with all new content. Publication continued until January 2003 (Issue 321) when it once again ceased.
Publication history
In early 1963 a publisher, Sean O’Mahony, (who already published a magazine about the music scene called “Beat Instrumental”) heard Please Please MePlease Please Me
Please Please Me is the debut album by the English rock band The Beatles. Parlophone rush-released the album on 22 March 1963 in the United Kingdom to capitalise on the success of singles "Please Please Me" and "Love Me Do" .Of the album's fourteen songs, eight were written by Lennon–McCartney...
and asked Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
if he could publish a magazine devoted to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Epstein and the group agreed and the title launched in August 1963 with a print run of 80,000 . By the end of the year circulation had grown to 330,000 copies per month . O’Mahony edited the magazine under the name of Johnny Dean.
The magazine’s photographer, Leslie Bryce had unrivalled access to the group throughout the 1960s, travelling the world and taking thousands of photographs. In addition, Beatles roadies Neil Aspinall
Neil Aspinall
Neil Stanley Aspinall 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....
and Mal Evans
Mal Evans
Malcolm Frederick 'Mal' Evans was best known as the road manager, assistant, and a friend of The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr....
wrote many of the articles, and artist Bob Gibson created numerous cartoons and caricatures of the fab four on a regular basis. (He eventually did the cartoons for the Beatles' 1967 Magical Mystery Tour EP-set/US-album booklet.)
In May 1976 O’Mahony revived the publication and republished all 77 original issues surrounded by eight (later sixteen) pages of new Beatles news and articles. The reissue programme completed in September 1982, coincidentally at a time when interest in the band was high due to the impending twentieth anniversary of Love Me Do
Love Me Do
"Love Me Do" is The Beatles' first single, backed by "P.S. I Love You" and released on 5 October 1962. When the single was originally released in the United Kingdom, it peaked at number seventeen; in 1982 it was re-issued and reached number four...
. Consequently the decision was taken to continue the magazine with all new content. Publication continued until January 2003 (Issue 321) when it once again ceased.