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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Beatles' ally Neil Aspinall dies | Beatles' ally Neil Aspinall dies |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Neil Aspinall, who ran the Apple Corps music empire for the Beatles, has died at a hospital in New York, aged 66. | |
| A school friend of Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison, he was regarded by some of the band as the "fifth Beatle". | |
| In a joint statement, Sir Paul, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Apple Corps paid tribute to "Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance". | |
| Notoriously media-shy, he nonetheless fought hard to protect the Beatles' music, image and copyright. | |
| Road manager | Road manager |
| Aspinall also played background instruments on tracks including Magical Mystery Tour, Within You Without You and Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite. | |
| But it was for his stewardship at Apple Corps that Neil Aspinall will be best remembered. | But it was for his stewardship at Apple Corps that Neil Aspinall will be best remembered. |
| This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine Neil Aspinall on George Harrison | This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine Neil Aspinall on George Harrison |
| He was chief executive from 1970 until last year. | He was chief executive from 1970 until last year. |
| Throughout his career, he remained fiercely loyal to the group, looking after their business interests and taking legal action on their behalf. | Throughout his career, he remained fiercely loyal to the group, looking after their business interests and taking legal action on their behalf. |
| He led the legal battle with Apple computers over the use of the Apple name and a royalties dispute between the Beatles and record label EMI. | |
| Money-maker | Money-maker |
| He is credited with ensuring they continued to make money decades after they split up. | He is credited with ensuring they continued to make money decades after they split up. |
| He was behind successful retrospective albums such as Beatles Anthology and Beatles One. | |
| Apple Corps estimates that in his last 20 years at the company, the Beatles sold 70 million albums. | Apple Corps estimates that in his last 20 years at the company, the Beatles sold 70 million albums. |
| Neil Aspinall, top right, with the Fab Four, in 1964 | Neil Aspinall, top right, with the Fab Four, in 1964 |
| Neil Aspinall first befriended Paul McCartney and George Harrison at the Liverpool Institute Grammar School in the 1950s. | Neil Aspinall first befriended Paul McCartney and George Harrison at the Liverpool Institute Grammar School in the 1950s. |
| In The Beatles Anthology DVD, he described his first encounter with George Harrison behind the school's air-raid shelters. | In The Beatles Anthology DVD, he described his first encounter with George Harrison behind the school's air-raid shelters. |
| "This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine, Aspinall said. | "This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine, Aspinall said. |
| "It was one of the first cigarettes either of us had smoked. We spluttered our way through it bravely but gleefully." | "It was one of the first cigarettes either of us had smoked. We spluttered our way through it bravely but gleefully." |
| In 1961, he became the Beatles' road manager and drove them between gigs in his van before becoming their personal assistant. | In 1961, he became the Beatles' road manager and drove them between gigs in his van before becoming their personal assistant. |
| 'Good friend' | 'Good friend' |
| The surviving band members and Yoko Ono said: ""All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man." | The surviving band members and Yoko Ono said: ""All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man." |
| In a separate statement, Ringo Starr added: "I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed." | In a separate statement, Ringo Starr added: "I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed." |
| Mr Aspinall died at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. | Mr Aspinall died at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. |
| It's understood he was suffering from lung cancer. | It's understood he was suffering from lung cancer. |
| He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and five children. | He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and five children. |