The lives of The Beatles have been recalled countless times in documentaries and movies.
But one man’s life who is often overlooked, despite the vital role he played the Fab Fours success, is Brian Epstein.
The 32-year-old managed The Beatles for five years before dying from a drug overdose.
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It is argued his death contributed to the band’s break-up around one year later.
But how did Brian become known as the ‘Fifth Beatle’ to many?
Brian led an interesting life having been born during the Great Depression.
He worked at his parent’s Liverpool department store and soon realised he was born to be a salesman. As the family business expanded, his father promoted him to manager of the record department
In 1962, Brian would start work at his most important job to date, manager of The Beatles.
Having seen the band play at a Liverpool club in their leather jackets, Brian immediately knew they needed to change their image if they wanted to be a success.
Opting for mod mohair suits and signature haircuts, Brian started to find the band new gigs. However, their image wasn’t the only thing to change during this time as he fired the drummer, Pete Best, and replaced him with Richie Starkey.
In due time, The Beatles became more trustful of Brian, who they called Eppie, as a result of his hard work and utter devotion.
Brian supposedly dropped out of school at 16 because of being “ragged, nagged, and bullied.”
He was then drafted into the British Army but after 10 months was discharged for being “mentally unfit.” Brian then returned to Liverpool where he had his first homosexual experience.
When he was in the army, it is believed Brian commissioned a tailor to make him an officer’s uniform he could wear when out and about in London.
One night in Piccadilly, Brian was arrested by the military police for impersonating an officer but he managed to avoid a court martial by agreeing to see an army psychiatrist, who quickly learned of his sexuality.
While Brian’s sexuality was not publicly known until some years after his death, it had been an open secret amongst his friends and business partners.
It is thought the Fab Four knew of Brian's homosexuality but did not care as he offered them access to previously ‘off-limits’ social circles and encouraged them professionally.
Despite Lennon often making sarcastic jokes about Brian’s sexuality to him personally and his friends, outsider's weren't allowed to pass comment.
When one of Lennon’s art-school friends asked Brian which one of The Beatles he fancied, he received a letter demanding an apology.
After apologising, the friend was ostracised and reportedly told by Sir Paul McCartney to have no contact with any of them in the future.
There were reports of a brief encounter between John Lennon and Brian during a four-day holiday in Barcelona in 1963.
However, the rumours were quickly shot down when John told Playboy Magazine: “Well, it was almost a love affair, but not quite. It was never consummated. But we did have a pretty intense relationship."
John's first wife, Cynthia Lennon, also emphasised the relationship shared between the two was entirely platonic.
As Beatlemania reached an all time high, Brian took a step back from the daily running of the band, making him doubt his future with the group.
His contract was soon due to expire and he feared it would not be renewed and this led him on a downward spiral to becoming depressed and addicted to drugs
In August 1967, the Beatles travelled to India for the first time without Brian being in charge.
While meeting with Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr learned of Brian's death.
Brian was just 32-years-old when he died, and his passing left the Beatles devastated.
A few years after, the band broke up with Paul McCartney issuing a press release on 10 April 1970 stating he was no longer working with the group.
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