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Kenneth Womack

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Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans Kindle Edition

by Kenneth Womack (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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The first full-length biography of Mal Evans, the Beatles’ beloved friend, confidant, and roadie.

Malcolm Evans, the Beatles’ long-time roadie, personal assistant, and devoted friend, was an invaluable member of the band’s inner circle. A towering figure in horn-rimmed glasses, Evans loomed large in the Beatles’ story, contributing at times as a performer and sometime lyricist, while struggling mightily to protect his beloved “boys.” He was there for the whole of the group’s remarkable, unparalleled story: from the Shea Stadium triumph through the creation of the timeless cover art for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the famous Let It Be rooftop concert.

Leaving a stable job as telecommunications engineer to serve as road manager for this fledgling band, Mal was the odd man out from the start—older, married with children, and without any music business experience. And yet he threw himself headlong into their world, traveling across the globe and making himself indispensable.

In the years after the Beatles’ disbandment, Big Mal continued in their employ as each embarked upon solo careers. By 1974, he was determined to make his name as a songwriter and record producer, setting off for a new life in Los Angeles, where he penned his memoirs. But in January 1976, on the verge of sharing his book with the world, Evans’s story came to a tragic end during a domestic standoff with the LAPD.

For Beatles devotes, Mal’s life and untimely death have always been shrouded in mystery. For decades, his diaries, manuscripts, and vast collection of memorabilia was missing, seemingly lost forever…until now.

Working with full access to Mal’s unpublished archives and having conducted hundreds of new interviews, Beatles’ scholar and author Kenneth Womack affords readers with a full telling of Mal’s unknown story at the heart of the Beatles’ legend. Lavishly illustrated with unseen photos and ephemera from Mal’s archives, Living the Beatles’ Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans is the missing puzzle piece in the Fab Four’s incredible story.

Print length

588 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Dey Street Books
Publication date

November 14, 2023
File size

60630 KB
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From the Publisher

Working with full access to Mal's unpublished archives and having conducted hundreds of new interviews, Beatles scholar and author Kenneth Womack affords readers with a full telling of Mal's unknown story at the heart of the Beatles' legend.

Including never-before-seen photos and ephemera


Mal's drawing of the Abbey Road cover shoot	John, Mal, and Paul backstage at Munich's Circus-Krone-Bau	John's letter endorsing Mal's memoirs

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kenneth Womack is one of the world’s foremost writers and thinkers about the Beatles. In addition to such titles as Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles (2007), the Cambridge Companion to the Beatles (2009), and The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four (2014), he is the author of a two-volume biography devoted to the life and work of Beatles producer George Martin, including Maximum Volume (2017) and Sound Pictures (2018). His book, Solid State: The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles (2019), was feted as the go-to book by the Los Angeles Times for readers interested in learning about the band’s swan song. His most recent book, entitled John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life John, was published in September 2020.

Womack serves as the Music Culture critic for Salon, as well as a regular contributor to a host of print and web outlets, including Slate, Billboard, Time, Variety, The Guardian, USA Today, The Independent, NBC News, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Womack also serves as the Founding Editor of Interdisciplinary Literary Studies: A Journal of Criticism and Theory, published by Penn State University Press, and as Co-Editor of the English Association’s Year’s Work in English Studies, published by Oxford University Press. Over the years, he has shared his work with public libraries and community organizations across the nation, as well as with audiences at Princeton University, Harvard University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Grammy Museum Experience, and the 92nd Street Y. He has also served as an expert commentator for ABC’s 20/20 and NBC’s Access Hollywood.

--This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BH5SHCCW
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dey Street Books (November 14, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 60630 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 588 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0063248522

Best Sellers Rank: #82,308 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #51 in Biographies of Actors & Actresses
- #126 in History eBooks of Women
- #216 in Historical European Biographies (Books)

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Kenneth Womack is a world-renowned authority on the Beatles and their enduring cultural influence. His Beatles-related books include a two-volume biography devoted to famed producer Sir George Martin; Solid State: The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles; John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life; and All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs. Womack is also the author of five novels, including John Doe No. 2 and the Dreamland Motel, The Restaurant at the End of the World, Playing the Angel, I Am Lemonade Lucy!, and The Time Diaries.

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4.6 out of 5

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Cynthia Certo-Parravicini

Beautifully written book about a complicated man and extraordinary life

Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024

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This is a beautifully written book about a complicated man who literally traveled the world, but whose life (and memoirs) met a mysterious end.

I think the hardcover version is lovely and found the 514+ pages of text captivatingly easy to read. Many of the photographs have never been seen before, capturing intimate (and surprising) moments with Mal and the Beatles. I would, however, love to see these photos in color. I greatly look forward to Volume 2 of this project, which hopefully will include more of Mel’s original writings as well as color photographs!

I also got the E-book (for searching purposes), and loved listening to the Audiobook version! The Foreward alone -- written and read by Mal’s son, Gary Evans – is very moving and worth the purchase price of the Audiobook.

In addition to the frenzy of early Beatlemania, this book allows Mal to take the reader inside his many adventures, including the spiritual journey to Rishikesh India, cruising the Greek Islands, a Learjet jaunt to the Rocky Mountains with Paul McCartney, parties at the iconic Friar Park manor, mingling with fans outside EMI Recording Studios (now known as “Abbey Road”), on the set of Frank Zappa’s movie (also featuring Ringo and Keith Moon), and behind the scenes at the epic concert for Bangladesh with “George Harrison and Friends,” to name but a few. Mal’s writings show him to be a very creative, sensitive man who struggled when his compulsion to follow his passions (i.e., the Beatles and their individual pursuits) conflicted with obligations to his wife and children back in England.

Author Ken Womack delves deep into the period preceding Mal’s shocking death in 1976, with insightful interviews of Mal’s live-in LA girlfriend, Francine Hughes, providing some much-needed perspective into how such a violent end could have unfolded. In addition, I was fascinated by the detailed story of how Mal’s long-missing memoirs were eventually rescued by some surprising heroes. I hope we get to see much more of what was in those missing boxes in the very near future!

8 people found this helpful

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TRS

Very interesting book

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024

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The book is well written and carefully researched. It is quite impressive.
Mal’s story is a bit sad. He is a loving person and with Neal Aspinall, they are the true 5th and 6th Beatles. Their contributions are immeasurable, and they were true friends.
It is very easy to get attached to Mal in this book. He was not always treated well by the Beatles and their management. He was paid almost nothing to do the important job of being the Beatles security.
I will probably read again in the very near future.

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Darene Dorton

Mal Evans' story was a good part of The Beatles Storytles

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024

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This is an excellent read. Mal Evans was a remarkable person.
I was a Beatles Fan back in the early 1960s.
I read everything about them that I could get my hands on. The magazines and newspapers carried stories of the glory of being the Top. How exciting!
But that was all part of the hype.
The Beatles were really just four young men learning how grow up in spite of their new found fame. They were just people, like you and I.
They had the good fortune to have Brian Epstein as their Manager, and Mal Evans who did the heavy lifting for them. He was always there for them, often leaving his wife and children alone for long periods of time.
This book reveals what that life was like.
The story is fascinating, and yet bittersweet.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to grasp a better understanding of just who these people were/are.
As you read this book, it would be wise to have some tissues ready in case it should rain.

3 people found this helpful

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Cruiser Boy

A Treasure Trove

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023

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This book is a treasure trove of memories from the long-unheralded puzzle piece of The Beatles' story, Ole Mal. Being a self-described "Beatlemaniac" for over fifty years and, within that time, having devoured countless books, documentaries, and films about the band, I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised to learn so many new things about them and their inner circle. A sad ending to such a colorful life.
Very highly recommended to my fellow Beatle fans.

11 people found this helpful

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Frev

The Story of Mal Evans and The Beatles

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024

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The story of Beatles’ road manager Mal Evans is a wonderful and sad tale of a man who travelled and lived in the Beatles orbit. Author Ken Womack did wonderful work in putting together Mal’s story from Evans’ journals and memorabilia, making it possible for Mal to pretty much relay the stories in his own words. This is an excellent book all Beatles fans should read, it brings Mal Evans back to life to be loved again.

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Donald E. Butler

Mal was a true friend to these guys!

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2024

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Great book!I almost met Mal once in Hollywood at Whalin’s Sound City. It was when George’s Red Les Paul(Lucy) was nicked (stolen) by a guy who was working for George. I did meet George!

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024

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A must have for any Beatles fan!

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Adamdeus

A mountain of a man both gentle, and kind.

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024

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A true joy from start to finish.
Every page is a thrill and reason to smile.
gone to soon...

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Dimitris Panagiotidis

Irrelevant as well as widely known facts not from Mal's perspective but from the writer's

Reviewed in Germany on January 4, 2024

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The first book about the beatles (and actually among those I have bought) that I will not ever finish. A lot of uninteresting stories and facts about Mal's life, parents, family, mixed with facts about the fab 4 that every fan knows. The book is not written in the first person, but in the third....Mal did that, Mal saw that, Mal thought that..... Many interesting key moments in the Beatles life span, are covered in just one or two pages, i.e. the meeting with Elvis, or the Philippines incident, offering almost nothing new.
I managed to read some 100 pages, then browsed it to the end and will never finish it. 60 pages of references in the end too....

dee v.

Delivered before Christmas

Reviewed in Australia on January 1, 2024

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So happy as I thought I was going to receive this beautiful book after Christmas but I got it before. It was a Christmas gift and ordered less than 2 weeks before Christmas. I was really surprised. Thank you Amazon definitely will order again soon.

Laurent Lavigne

Point de vue intéressant

Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2023

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Mal était investi ds les Beatles . Pas trop payé. Lui et Neil faisait tout en tournée.

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Louis R. Hone

excellent, but...

Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2023

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The hidden truth now comes out. They used and abused Mal and mistreated him as a servant on call 24/7. I finished it last night and noticed that my copy is missing many pages in the footnotes. The paper is nice, but the quality of print for the photographs is very poor. Especially for a book that price.

Lee Marshall

Very good but...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 17, 2023

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Like so many Beatles obsessives, I've waited decades for this book from possibly the only member of the 'inner circle' to finally see the light of day, after false starts, rumour and even antipodean hoaxes of the Mal Evans archive.

Kenneth Womack is one of a few Beatles writers with credibility and a track record of other fabs based books, so expectations are naturally high.

The book is well written, flows nicely and makes for a picture of a simple, fundamentally decent, but possibly slightly immature man who became dazzled by dreams of his own fame and a growing desire to live for himself the lives of his employers. Mal often appears in archive photos and footage and now I understand why - he was desperate for a little piece of the action.

You should never meet your heroes and I came away from the book feeling like I knew Mal a little more, but liked him considerably less than I hoped I would - in particular the poor treatment of his wife and kids who he unceremoniously abandoned on and off for years until the inevitable happened. His none too regular letters home were self pitying, especially when they were so often written whilst playing away, which jarred. He also wrongly assumed that proximity to genius might rub off, which was possibly a touch naïve.

That said, Mal was blessed with a run of bad fortune, which he didn't deserve.

Likewise the Beatles come off as needy and entitled, which they naturally became and treated Mal as a lackey throughout their time as a functioning band (and beyond), without much reciprocation for his service and that made me sad - it would have been so easy to have set him up for life with just one co-writing credit, or a small share in copyright - but it didn't happen.

That this book exists at all is a miracle and I'm so glad that it does; but the challenge for any Beatles chronicler is the impossible benchmark established by Mark Lewisohn. That said, it's good to see the two writers are clearly friends, judging by the name-check in the acknowledgements chapter and that in itself gives this book even more credence.

Mal sadly never lived to see the love and reverence that he continues to be held in around the world; perhaps a little less so once people read this book. But what a tragedy it is that Mal isn't around today to share his anecdotes of life with the Beatles; likewise Brian or Nel...

For me, this is a definite 4.5 star book - it's enjoyable and is absolutely worth the long wait; even if it ultimately leaves you with a slightly sour aftertaste, but that's wholly attributable to the subject matter than it is the writer.

Now we need the definitive work on Brian Epstein and the second installment in Mark Lewisohn's much anticipated trilogy...

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From the Publisher

Including never-before-seen photos and ephemera

Mal's drawing of the Abbey Road cover shoot

John, Mal, and Paul backstage at Munich's Circus-Krone-Bau

John's letter endorsing Mal's memoirs

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Kenneth Womack

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