Beatles' grief for Neil Aspinall

The surviving members of the Beatles have paid tribute to their friend Neil Aspinall, who has died aged 66.

Aspinall was the mastermind of Apple, the group's record label, for nearly 40 years.

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison said in a statement: "As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come.

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man."

Aspinall was a childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison at the Liverpool Institute grammar school in Liverpool.

He became close to the Beatles when the group was formed and became their road manager in 1961, driving them to concerts.

Aspinall had an affair with Mona Best, the mother of the band's original drummer Pete Best and some 20 years his senior.

He threatened to quit when Best was sacked but was persuaded to stay on and watched the group shoot to worldwide fame.

As the Beatles' personal assistant for most of their career, Aspinall was drafted in to help in recording sessions.

He played a tambura on "Within You Without You", harmonica on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", percussion on "Magical Mystery Tour", and can be heard singing the chorus of "Yellow Submarine".

Aspinall took over the management of Apple Corps in 1968 and is credited with steering the company from chaotic beginnings to a massively profitable business.

He quit in 2007, amid speculation that he had becomed frustrated at the way the Beatles' legacy was turning into a "cash cow".

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