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A Cellarful of Noise
From his first encounter with the sturggling group in 1961, through their meteoric rise, to his tragic, untimely death in 1967, Brian Epstein was in many ways the heart and soul of the Beatles. Much more than simply their manager, confidant, and group guru, Epstein helped create a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
A Cellarful of Noise, Epstein's long out-of-print autobiography, gives readers the inside story of his discovery and management of the world's most famous rock 'n' roll band. From their initial struggles to their wild rocket ride to the pinnacle of success, this true story includes
How a request for a record led to the discovery of the Beatles; Why Ringo Starr replaced the original Beatle drummer; How Paul McCartney was nearly blinded by a fan; and hundreds of other fascinating little-known facts of Epstein's life with the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and other top stars.This new edition of A Cellarful of Noise features an introduction by world-renowned Beatles expert Martin Lewis, which, along with Epstein's own words, creates a compelling insightful exploration of the life and times of a gifted man who had an ear for genius.
Hardcover
First published November 1, 1964
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 31, 2020
Straight from the Horses Mouth
Starting this book I had wondered what made Epstein write a bio in 1964 at such a young age, and just as The Beatles were properly getting going. Considering his fate come 1967, it was lucky he got his version of events down when he did, but as it transpires it was likely he was trying to combat his reputation in the industry for being so aloof.
And he certainly does. This book is a concise look behind the curtain at the workings of one of the most successful band managers of all time. He’s happy to tell his audience that he charged his acts a lofty 25% of their earnings, as well as telling us The Beatles were paid just $10k for their performance on the Ed Sullivan shows. When it easily could have been seven times that. (It’s still the most watched show of all time.)
There is very little about his personal life. Save for his hilarious misadventures when called up for national service (he was eventually discharged being told he was a ‘compulsive civilian’!), and that can be put down to his fears of exposing his homosexuality, at a time when it was still illegal.
Epstein may have stumbled across his role as manager of the world’s most successful act ever, but just like producer George Martin, his role in creating that success was intrinsic.
Starting this book I had wondered what made Epstein write a bio in 1964 at such a young age, and just as The Beatles were properly getting going. Considering his fate come 1967, it was lucky he got his version of events down when he did, but as it transpires it was likely he was trying to combat his reputation in the industry for being so aloof.
And he certainly does. This book is a concise look behind the curtain at the workings of one of the most successful band managers of all time. He’s happy to tell his audience that he charged his acts a lofty 25% of their earnings, as well as telling us The Beatles were paid just $10k for their performance on the Ed Sullivan shows. When it easily could have been seven times that. (It’s still the most watched show of all time.)
There is very little about his personal life. Save for his hilarious misadventures when called up for national service (he was eventually discharged being told he was a ‘compulsive civilian’!), and that can be put down to his fears of exposing his homosexuality, at a time when it was still illegal.
Epstein may have stumbled across his role as manager of the world’s most successful act ever, but just like producer George Martin, his role in creating that success was intrinsic.
February 2, 2013
I re-read this because I couldn't really remember having read it before. I can see why. Brian Epstein's story has been told so many times (and better) that his rather slight account gets lost in the shuffle. His boyish enthusiasm, charm and ideals come shining through but anyone who knows about his "secret" life will find it all a bit too fantastic. The book was obviously written for some quick cash and to further promote his stable of talent. Still, it is a first person narrative of a time and place I find fascinating so I can't completely dismiss it.
March 25, 2015
While I am a massive Beatles fan, I am not the type who buys every book about them. In fact, I buy very few. There are so many now that you could probably build a house out of Beatles books without ever having to double-up on a title. I’m certain that some of them have been written just by taking an average of existing books and no-one has really noticed.
However, when I saw from an Amazon email (well played!) that The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein’s memoir, A Cellarful of Noise was available for Kindle, I was immediately interested. Although a short volume, it deserves to stand out from the mountain of other Beatles books because it was written by someone who was there at the time it was happening. Therefore, it’s not built on decades of received wisdom.
It was written in 1964 – a time when anyone would have said that The Beatles had peaked, little knowing they were still on the ascendancy. Epstein writes in an entertaining, conversational manner, avoiding all trace of self-indulgence. Although the book is not merely about his association with The Beatles, he is enough of a professional to know that there’s really only one reason anybody would be interested in reading it. The book therefore opens with The Beatles’ triumphant first tour of the US, before a couple of short chapters on the author’s childhood and upbringing, but he quickly comes back to the topic he knows his audience is most interested in.
Epstein was probably the last honest man in the music business, if not the first. There is hardly a trace of cynicism and one comes away completely convinced that he only had any association with his clients because he completely believed in them as artistes. He also writes with wit and charm. If you told someone that certain passages were written by Stephen Fry, they would probably believe you.
However, when I saw from an Amazon email (well played!) that The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein’s memoir, A Cellarful of Noise was available for Kindle, I was immediately interested. Although a short volume, it deserves to stand out from the mountain of other Beatles books because it was written by someone who was there at the time it was happening. Therefore, it’s not built on decades of received wisdom.
It was written in 1964 – a time when anyone would have said that The Beatles had peaked, little knowing they were still on the ascendancy. Epstein writes in an entertaining, conversational manner, avoiding all trace of self-indulgence. Although the book is not merely about his association with The Beatles, he is enough of a professional to know that there’s really only one reason anybody would be interested in reading it. The book therefore opens with The Beatles’ triumphant first tour of the US, before a couple of short chapters on the author’s childhood and upbringing, but he quickly comes back to the topic he knows his audience is most interested in.
Epstein was probably the last honest man in the music business, if not the first. There is hardly a trace of cynicism and one comes away completely convinced that he only had any association with his clients because he completely believed in them as artistes. He also writes with wit and charm. If you told someone that certain passages were written by Stephen Fry, they would probably believe you.
January 18, 2018
I especially liked the chapter called 'tomorrow' about the Beatles future. Brian is going to push them to do more films:). I also like this quote "...when the mods and the rockers battled it out on the beaches of South-east England". Maybe this should have been a Beatles movie??? But this is my fav quote: " Happy and gay though they are, teenagers milling in the thousands around town halls and hotels and theaters would kill the Beatles if they got their hands on them." Oh Brian, if you only knew...
May 21, 2018
a unique portrait of 1964 from Eppy's perspective-- fascinating. I loved reading this beautiful 1st edition copy that my husband got for me. I want to read more about Brian's life. I also really loved The Fifth Beatle graphic novel, which is soon going to be made into a film.
March 2, 2025
A limited number of publications concerning Brian Epstein and his initial interactions with The Beatles, as well as their subsequent ascent to fame and eventual dominance in pop culture, are likely to possess the same level of candour as “A Cellarful of Noise”. It has been four decades since I perused this 119-page 1981 reprint by New English Library, and although I have aged and the pages have yellowed, Epstein's account of his upbringing in Liverpool, his challenging education, experiences with national service, and his roles in acting and retail within his father's family business, prior to meeting The Beatles in the damp, musty Cavern Club, remains remarkably vivid.
Epstein's decision to manage the Beatles leading them into uncharted territory within the realms of showbusiness success, continues to resonate. "A Cellarful of Noise" sincere narrative reflects both his and The Beatles' struggles to gain acceptance in a music industry that dismissed guitar groups and failed to recognize that The Beatles would eclipse Elvis. Their unwavering self-belief is conveyed with striking clarity as is their shock in how that success manifested from first success across Britain, America and then the world. Furthermore, as The Beatles achieved success, they faced the overwhelming phenomenon of Beatlemania, during which even individuals in show business and aristocracy displayed discourtesy towards Brian and the band, rendering the fervour of their fans almost commonplace.
Additionally, there are delightful insights into Epstein's relationship with The Beatles, including moments of mutual annoyance. Paul McCartney's habitual tardiness is noted by the punctual and professional Epstein, while a rude woman at a literary luncheon for Lennon’s poetry book “In His Own Write”, comments in the literary Beatle’s presence that she can’t believe she has stooped to ask him to sign ten copies. She is swiftly rebuffed by Lennon as he quips, “And I never thought I’d be forced to sign my name for someone like you.”
"A Cellarful of Noise", serves as a significant and candid autobiography penned by Brian Epstein during the tumultuous period of Beatlemania. More importantly, it captures the unprecedented height of his success as a manager, not only for The Beatles but also for artists such as Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. An essential and honest book about the Beatles success.
Epstein's decision to manage the Beatles leading them into uncharted territory within the realms of showbusiness success, continues to resonate. "A Cellarful of Noise" sincere narrative reflects both his and The Beatles' struggles to gain acceptance in a music industry that dismissed guitar groups and failed to recognize that The Beatles would eclipse Elvis. Their unwavering self-belief is conveyed with striking clarity as is their shock in how that success manifested from first success across Britain, America and then the world. Furthermore, as The Beatles achieved success, they faced the overwhelming phenomenon of Beatlemania, during which even individuals in show business and aristocracy displayed discourtesy towards Brian and the band, rendering the fervour of their fans almost commonplace.
Additionally, there are delightful insights into Epstein's relationship with The Beatles, including moments of mutual annoyance. Paul McCartney's habitual tardiness is noted by the punctual and professional Epstein, while a rude woman at a literary luncheon for Lennon’s poetry book “In His Own Write”, comments in the literary Beatle’s presence that she can’t believe she has stooped to ask him to sign ten copies. She is swiftly rebuffed by Lennon as he quips, “And I never thought I’d be forced to sign my name for someone like you.”
"A Cellarful of Noise", serves as a significant and candid autobiography penned by Brian Epstein during the tumultuous period of Beatlemania. More importantly, it captures the unprecedented height of his success as a manager, not only for The Beatles but also for artists such as Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. An essential and honest book about the Beatles success.
January 17, 2020
I am a huge fan of music biographies and memoirs, and seeing as there are so many out there, I try to pick the ones with the most substance - up-close and personal, behind-the-scenes accounts of those who were actually there. I thought that this book was going to be just that, and I was a bit disappointed at how shallow and surface-level Epstein's book really was. This did not ruin the book for me, but I would have loved a deeper look into Epstein's and the Beatles' lives.
I loved reading Epstein's voice come out in his writing; he is not overly humble, nor overly proud. He simply tells it like it is. It was also interesting to read a piece written in the midst of the Beatles' success, rather than as a retrospective written years later. I particularly enjoyed the last chapter, in which Epstein (who died before he could see the last three years of the Beatles' career) speculated on the future of his life as a music manager.
Overall, A Cellarful of Noise was a bit simplistic and superficial, but nonetheless entertaining.
I loved reading Epstein's voice come out in his writing; he is not overly humble, nor overly proud. He simply tells it like it is. It was also interesting to read a piece written in the midst of the Beatles' success, rather than as a retrospective written years later. I particularly enjoyed the last chapter, in which Epstein (who died before he could see the last three years of the Beatles' career) speculated on the future of his life as a music manager.
Overall, A Cellarful of Noise was a bit simplistic and superficial, but nonetheless entertaining.
September 12, 2022
This is an intriguing (but guarded) view from the trenches of Beatlemania from their erstwhile manager Brian Epstein, written in 1964 when they were still quite early on in their careers, and yet already an exhausted household name. It’s peppered with amusing (but probably well known) anecdotes and insights, such as little fallings-out between Brian and different band members. Even without his looking for it, you can detect a certain reluctance of Paul’s to be managed. Added up, not a lot is really said about the Beatles or the music they produced, but then again it’s not really about them.
The main takeaway from Brian’s story, which is ultimately one of not knowing where he belonged until he happened along the Cavern one night, is never knowing what would have happened if he hadn’t died so young. Would he have fallen out with the band altogether some day, or would they have outgrown him? Would the music, and the story, play out anything like it did if he’d stayed with us? It’s difficult not to contemplate as you read Brian’s cheery and certain assessments of the band’s status - and that of his other artistes, most of whom did not succeed in the same way. There’s a sense of polite PR about much of his writing here, but there are shards of honest uncertainty peeking through as well. Again though, maybe this is just a case of looking for something like that when inevitably reading the book in a post-Brian world.
It’s interesting, then, but too brief. Which is sort of sadly apt.
The main takeaway from Brian’s story, which is ultimately one of not knowing where he belonged until he happened along the Cavern one night, is never knowing what would have happened if he hadn’t died so young. Would he have fallen out with the band altogether some day, or would they have outgrown him? Would the music, and the story, play out anything like it did if he’d stayed with us? It’s difficult not to contemplate as you read Brian’s cheery and certain assessments of the band’s status - and that of his other artistes, most of whom did not succeed in the same way. There’s a sense of polite PR about much of his writing here, but there are shards of honest uncertainty peeking through as well. Again though, maybe this is just a case of looking for something like that when inevitably reading the book in a post-Brian world.
It’s interesting, then, but too brief. Which is sort of sadly apt.
December 18, 2023
Felt like a cash grab memoir- all over the place and a little delusional… but it’s Brian Epstein so I won’t go below 3 stars
August 20, 2024
A fun and insightful look into the Beatles and his other artists! One I would definetly recommend if your a fan of that era! An incredible autobiography and one I certainly enjoyed reading!
May 16, 2025
"I hope everybody has a wildly, wonderfully good time. For this - and only this - is what the Beatles are all about."
October 13, 2007
Brian Epstein was the manager of The Beatles. He made them take off their leather trousers for the purpose of putting on pant suits with collarless jackets. Along with their excellent songwriting this seemed to caused a cultural revoltution.
My edition of the book actually came from the 60's so there is no foreword or outside info regarding the writing, but I think Derek Taylor (Epstein/Beatles publicity person) wrote the text. Basically it's an afternoon read in how he found the Beatles. It's rather dry, and the most interesting part is when he writes (Taylor again) about the violence of Beatlemania.
What he doesn't talk about is his homosexuality. And that I think (due to the time) maybe the most interesting aspect of Brian Epstein. As I mentioned before I am totally fascinated with the great rock n' roll managers of the past. Especially the British ones from late 50's to 70's. After that the manager became an accountant - which is not bad for the artist, but for sure less fun.
What's intresting is that pretty much the major managers of this period were, or if they are still with us, gay. I think the gay sensibility had a lot to do with rock n' roll. Basically it was shaped by men of a certain class and were at the very least familar with the Gay subculture of its time.
With respect to Epstein, he kicked the door down for British bands to get in to do their thing. The rest followed him. And being the leader he for sure made mistakes that others learned from. Hopefully in the near future there will be a well-researched bio on the man - because for sure he had the vision - and that vision was four guys in a band with guitars. What happened afterwards was probably a surprise to Epstein.
My edition of the book actually came from the 60's so there is no foreword or outside info regarding the writing, but I think Derek Taylor (Epstein/Beatles publicity person) wrote the text. Basically it's an afternoon read in how he found the Beatles. It's rather dry, and the most interesting part is when he writes (Taylor again) about the violence of Beatlemania.
What he doesn't talk about is his homosexuality. And that I think (due to the time) maybe the most interesting aspect of Brian Epstein. As I mentioned before I am totally fascinated with the great rock n' roll managers of the past. Especially the British ones from late 50's to 70's. After that the manager became an accountant - which is not bad for the artist, but for sure less fun.
What's intresting is that pretty much the major managers of this period were, or if they are still with us, gay. I think the gay sensibility had a lot to do with rock n' roll. Basically it was shaped by men of a certain class and were at the very least familar with the Gay subculture of its time.
With respect to Epstein, he kicked the door down for British bands to get in to do their thing. The rest followed him. And being the leader he for sure made mistakes that others learned from. Hopefully in the near future there will be a well-researched bio on the man - because for sure he had the vision - and that vision was four guys in a band with guitars. What happened afterwards was probably a surprise to Epstein.
August 19, 2020
We are lucky to have an interesting and important angle on the Beatles by their manager, Brian Epstein -- especially considering his untimely death. If I were still an English teacher, I would use this book to teach memoir and characterization. There are many lessons about business, creativity, music, individuality, cooperation, success, social acceptance, bullying and fame. There is much to learn in spite of the fact that Epstein sugar coats the Beatles' drug use. He avoids any confession about his sexuality, but hints at problems associated with it, which makes this a good book about discussing sexuality -- how it was dealt with in the 50s and now. Epstein's writing is light, funny, evocative and interesting.
July 1, 2019
Not much to write home about if you are familar with the topic, but Epstein's other artists and the descriptions of the various Beatle are interesting. This is written in 1964 and it has to be read in context. Very British, thank you.
June 1, 2014
Written in the summer of 1964. Certainly a different perspective.
July 29, 2014
Not a noteworthy literary effort but an interesting music business book by a guy who (everybody now knows) managed to Beatles in their success.
Read
August 11, 2026Seeing the play 'Please Please Me' in London sent me down a Brian Epstein rabbit hole (will do a more detailed review of that play later on the playtext), and the fascination has not stopped since. I was so fascinated with him, I became a Beatles fan simply by proximity. And thus, I was super delighted and grateful to know that Brian had written an autobiography before his unfortunate early passing. I love autobiographies and memoirs in a sense that you sort of get to have a peek into a person's mind, like a way to satiate your desires to dissect and study someone's brain (you know, like a normal person).
In A Cellarful of Noise, Brian recounts his upbringing and his journey of becoming the manager of the world's most famous band. In the beginning of the book, he acknowledges the absurdity of writing an autobiography before the age of 30 and justifies it with wanting to put down his own account amidst the exaggerated and inaccurate narratives. I am so glad he decided to do so, because I really loved getting to know more about how Eppy managed to make these bugs meet the peak of stardom, and I also immensely enjoyed all the little anecdotes he shared about his life and with the Beatles. Even though he was quite new to the music scene when he discovered the Beatles, you could tell by his attitude and experiences in his early life why he had succeeded in making the boys. He mentioned that before NEMS, he worked as a salesman in his father's furniture store. His attitude towards making a sale was not the desire for a customer to part with their money, but instead he honestly felt they would be better off with the piece of furniture he was selling. This was the same with the Beatles. You could feel in every word and page where he mentions the boys that he truly loved them (and from the stories he shared, they loved him too<3) and believed that they were talented and could conquer the world. I love how his answer to the secret of the Beatles' success was simply "because they make good music". However, in the later part of the book, he talked about the stress of managing so many artistes, and how the Beatles stopped being a challenge for him once they rose to fame, which really makes me wonder whether he would have been able to save the boys from falling apart had he lived longer, something I had firmly believed in before. Maybe he would have resolved some of the tension within the band, but if they were destined to break up, nothing would have stopped them.
Although I've always felt that Eppy's queerness doesn't define him in a way many modern media narratives tend to frame it, and I also understand that it is impossible to address it during the time period this book was written, I still really wish we could have heard him speak about his experiences being queer through his own words. So much of his story and his supposed "secret life" is told nowadays through someone else's lens. It always makes me incredibly sad when I remember that he died only a month after the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK (for some reason I always thought he died one month before, but searching it up it was indeed one month after, which doesn't really make it any less tragic). I'm not sure if it's a recent thing, but there has been a resurgence of Brian-related works, be it stage productions or books or audio dramas, and I'm really glad that he is remembered and loved, not just for bringing us the Beatles, but also simply being him. (There's one part in the book that made me quite sad, where he goes "Do people want me or the Beatles through me?" I hope he knows that there are many interested in him as a person equal to how others feel about the Beatles.)
A little note for the trigger tag I've added (on theStoryGraph): I guess it is expected of a man in the 60s to have this view, but he does seem to have a bit of an internalised prejudice against women in the music industry, as I assume most men do during that time, and this will also probably be evident in one of my upcoming reads "The Other Fab Four" which tells of the story of The Liverbirds, a female rock band from Liverpool during the Merseybeat scene who didn't make it quite as big as the Beatles but still had their own success in Hamburg. I saw an excerpt of the girls travelling to London in hopes of getting Brian to manage them, but things did not work out. Excited to read about them next :)
In A Cellarful of Noise, Brian recounts his upbringing and his journey of becoming the manager of the world's most famous band. In the beginning of the book, he acknowledges the absurdity of writing an autobiography before the age of 30 and justifies it with wanting to put down his own account amidst the exaggerated and inaccurate narratives. I am so glad he decided to do so, because I really loved getting to know more about how Eppy managed to make these bugs meet the peak of stardom, and I also immensely enjoyed all the little anecdotes he shared about his life and with the Beatles. Even though he was quite new to the music scene when he discovered the Beatles, you could tell by his attitude and experiences in his early life why he had succeeded in making the boys. He mentioned that before NEMS, he worked as a salesman in his father's furniture store. His attitude towards making a sale was not the desire for a customer to part with their money, but instead he honestly felt they would be better off with the piece of furniture he was selling. This was the same with the Beatles. You could feel in every word and page where he mentions the boys that he truly loved them (and from the stories he shared, they loved him too<3) and believed that they were talented and could conquer the world. I love how his answer to the secret of the Beatles' success was simply "because they make good music". However, in the later part of the book, he talked about the stress of managing so many artistes, and how the Beatles stopped being a challenge for him once they rose to fame, which really makes me wonder whether he would have been able to save the boys from falling apart had he lived longer, something I had firmly believed in before. Maybe he would have resolved some of the tension within the band, but if they were destined to break up, nothing would have stopped them.
Although I've always felt that Eppy's queerness doesn't define him in a way many modern media narratives tend to frame it, and I also understand that it is impossible to address it during the time period this book was written, I still really wish we could have heard him speak about his experiences being queer through his own words. So much of his story and his supposed "secret life" is told nowadays through someone else's lens. It always makes me incredibly sad when I remember that he died only a month after the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK (for some reason I always thought he died one month before, but searching it up it was indeed one month after, which doesn't really make it any less tragic). I'm not sure if it's a recent thing, but there has been a resurgence of Brian-related works, be it stage productions or books or audio dramas, and I'm really glad that he is remembered and loved, not just for bringing us the Beatles, but also simply being him. (There's one part in the book that made me quite sad, where he goes "Do people want me or the Beatles through me?" I hope he knows that there are many interested in him as a person equal to how others feel about the Beatles.)
A little note for the trigger tag I've added (on theStoryGraph): I guess it is expected of a man in the 60s to have this view, but he does seem to have a bit of an internalised prejudice against women in the music industry, as I assume most men do during that time, and this will also probably be evident in one of my upcoming reads "The Other Fab Four" which tells of the story of The Liverbirds, a female rock band from Liverpool during the Merseybeat scene who didn't make it quite as big as the Beatles but still had their own success in Hamburg. I saw an excerpt of the girls travelling to London in hopes of getting Brian to manage them, but things did not work out. Excited to read about them next :)
December 2, 2025
With the possible exception of George Martin, no non-Beatle was as essential to their success as their manager Brian Epstein. This memoir/autobiography provides an interesting look into his pre-Beatles interests, successes, and failures, the business side of bringing the Beatles from little clubs to ballrooms to Ed Sullivan, and the strain that fame leveled on everyone in the Beatle circle. Though the book was ghost written by the Beatles-insider Derek Taylor, it rings with Epstein's voice and personality. Alongside Michael Braun's slightly-earlier book Love Me Do!, it provides a tantalizing in-the-moment look at the band, just after they conquered America. Unlike Love Me Do! there's a professional distance here. Epstein does not refer to his sexuality, he claims that the only stimulants the Beatles used was the roar of the audiences, and that no violent incident was associated with any Beatle-insider or event. This is all forgivable, a product of its time, but it makes me wish for a follow-up book, by Epstein, much later on.
Of course, that's impossible, because Epstein died in 1967, from an overdose of sleeping pills. Though it was officially ruled not a suicide, his drug abuse was certainly an ongoing problem. It was a problem partly caused, and certainly exacerbated by, the homophobia of the '60s. Homosexuality was still illegal, and stigma was even higher than it is today. My favorite part of the book, then, actually comes from Craig Brown's introduction to a 21st-century edition:
"Had he lived, Brian Epstein would now be pushing ninety. ... He would undoubtedly have expanded his empire. Over the past fifty-odd years society's misgivings about his homosexuality would have transformed into qualifications. By now he would be Sir Brian Epstein, or perhaps even Lord Epstein of Belgravia, a valued board member of the Garrick Club, Tate Modern and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts."
Of course, that's impossible, because Epstein died in 1967, from an overdose of sleeping pills. Though it was officially ruled not a suicide, his drug abuse was certainly an ongoing problem. It was a problem partly caused, and certainly exacerbated by, the homophobia of the '60s. Homosexuality was still illegal, and stigma was even higher than it is today. My favorite part of the book, then, actually comes from Craig Brown's introduction to a 21st-century edition:
"Had he lived, Brian Epstein would now be pushing ninety. ... He would undoubtedly have expanded his empire. Over the past fifty-odd years society's misgivings about his homosexuality would have transformed into qualifications. By now he would be Sir Brian Epstein, or perhaps even Lord Epstein of Belgravia, a valued board member of the Garrick Club, Tate Modern and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts."
February 16, 2026
“I don’t know how long the Beatles will last and neither do they . . . This sort of bigness doesn’t dissolve overnight or even in a year.”
Brian Epstein, fastidious in dress and work habits, managed a record store and took great pride in keeping up with trends and inventory. So when a teenage boy entered NEMS in Liverpool to buy a record by a popular local group appearing in the Cavern, he hunted for the disc, then the scruffy boys in leather jackets and unkempt hair. He liked what he saw, and on a whim decided he wanted to manage them. In two short years, he and the lads rose to the “toppermost of the poppermost,” as John Lennon often quipped.
The book is a short and easy read. Two days should do. It starts with the heady days conquering America. How did I get here? he seems to ask. Well, since you asked . . . Epstein delves into his childhood and not-exactly-meteoric rise from shaky academics to a capable and reliable furniture store then record department salesman. He was as devoted to the Beatles as they were to him.
How much of this he actually wrote is debatable. Beatles publicist Derek Taylor presumably ghost-wrote it. Why not? By the time it came out in 1964, Epstein was managing the world’s most famous group as well as Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black and others. The strain of managing this juggernaut, the book ominously notes, “increases and thrives like a malignant disease.”
Three years later, Epstein died of a drug overdose. Fans may argue that this was the beginning of the end of the Beatles, but there is no question this set a chain of unraveling financial troubles. But more than 60 years later, his vision of a relatively unknown British group being bigger than Elvis certainly bore out.
Brian Epstein, fastidious in dress and work habits, managed a record store and took great pride in keeping up with trends and inventory. So when a teenage boy entered NEMS in Liverpool to buy a record by a popular local group appearing in the Cavern, he hunted for the disc, then the scruffy boys in leather jackets and unkempt hair. He liked what he saw, and on a whim decided he wanted to manage them. In two short years, he and the lads rose to the “toppermost of the poppermost,” as John Lennon often quipped.
The book is a short and easy read. Two days should do. It starts with the heady days conquering America. How did I get here? he seems to ask. Well, since you asked . . . Epstein delves into his childhood and not-exactly-meteoric rise from shaky academics to a capable and reliable furniture store then record department salesman. He was as devoted to the Beatles as they were to him.
How much of this he actually wrote is debatable. Beatles publicist Derek Taylor presumably ghost-wrote it. Why not? By the time it came out in 1964, Epstein was managing the world’s most famous group as well as Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black and others. The strain of managing this juggernaut, the book ominously notes, “increases and thrives like a malignant disease.”
Three years later, Epstein died of a drug overdose. Fans may argue that this was the beginning of the end of the Beatles, but there is no question this set a chain of unraveling financial troubles. But more than 60 years later, his vision of a relatively unknown British group being bigger than Elvis certainly bore out.
January 19, 2022
Brian Epstein wrote this book in 1964, just as The Beatles were conquering America. One could wonder why he wrote his memoirs at the tender age of thirty, or one could thank him for doing so. This is how he discovered the band that changed music - and the world - in his own words.
The book goes at a breakneck speed, but is nevertheless hugely enjoyable and easy to read. It is just under 150 pages, so it doesn't take long to get through at all.
It is obvious that Brian Epstein loved The Beatles, and I would say that rather than being his memoir, it is the story of how he - like the rest of the world - fell in love with the four Mop Tops.
Whilst the early chapters and the last few chapters focus partly on Epstein's early life and other artistes, respectively, it is clear who he adores the most. It is quite a personal memoir, though not as true to real life as I would have liked; in one place, Epstein writes of a girlfriend he lost - Rita Harris - this Rita Harris was actually a boyfriend, and went by a different name. It is a shame that the famous Eppy (as dubbed by the Fab Four) never felt like he could openly acknowledge and accept his homosexuality, and this is simmering below the surface throughout the book.
It is absolutely the closest to the truth that we may ever get, short of either Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr - as they are the only two left - writing their own story.
The book goes at a breakneck speed, but is nevertheless hugely enjoyable and easy to read. It is just under 150 pages, so it doesn't take long to get through at all.
It is obvious that Brian Epstein loved The Beatles, and I would say that rather than being his memoir, it is the story of how he - like the rest of the world - fell in love with the four Mop Tops.
Whilst the early chapters and the last few chapters focus partly on Epstein's early life and other artistes, respectively, it is clear who he adores the most. It is quite a personal memoir, though not as true to real life as I would have liked; in one place, Epstein writes of a girlfriend he lost - Rita Harris - this Rita Harris was actually a boyfriend, and went by a different name. It is a shame that the famous Eppy (as dubbed by the Fab Four) never felt like he could openly acknowledge and accept his homosexuality, and this is simmering below the surface throughout the book.
It is absolutely the closest to the truth that we may ever get, short of either Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr - as they are the only two left - writing their own story.
February 27, 2026
"I could, I suppose, be hugely rich, but I am not sure what good that would do me."
This book reeks of personality, despite being ghostwritten. It's the 1964 memoir of Beatles manager Brian Epsien, but as he catalogues in the book, he was so much more than that. He becomes their friend - and not just a companion to the Beatles, but to the multitude of other 'artistes' that he grows to manage throughout the course of his short life. This is evident due to the candid and considerate descriptions he provides for everyone he works with. His tone is honest and kind.
This book was written three years before Epstein's unfortunate death, so before the strain of business led to a turn to substances. However, the penultimate chapter covers some of the pains, pressures and stresses accompanying his role, yet it also makes it evident as to how much he cared about his job.
Throughout the course of the book, Epstein also shares his point of view on many assumptions made about him, about the way the industry works and the people he meets, all insightfully and respectfully. It all succeeds in presenting him as a man with many experiences who has a genuine interest in the people around him.
I kept thinking, as I read this novel, that I would like to know what he would think of the music industry today.
"I believe I always knew that I was dealing with people who were not just a pop group but were exceptional human beings."
This book reeks of personality, despite being ghostwritten. It's the 1964 memoir of Beatles manager Brian Epsien, but as he catalogues in the book, he was so much more than that. He becomes their friend - and not just a companion to the Beatles, but to the multitude of other 'artistes' that he grows to manage throughout the course of his short life. This is evident due to the candid and considerate descriptions he provides for everyone he works with. His tone is honest and kind.
This book was written three years before Epstein's unfortunate death, so before the strain of business led to a turn to substances. However, the penultimate chapter covers some of the pains, pressures and stresses accompanying his role, yet it also makes it evident as to how much he cared about his job.
Throughout the course of the book, Epstein also shares his point of view on many assumptions made about him, about the way the industry works and the people he meets, all insightfully and respectfully. It all succeeds in presenting him as a man with many experiences who has a genuine interest in the people around him.
I kept thinking, as I read this novel, that I would like to know what he would think of the music industry today.
"I believe I always knew that I was dealing with people who were not just a pop group but were exceptional human beings."
January 1, 2021
In A Cellarful of Noise, published in 1964, Beatles manager Brian Epstein offers his personal take on the Fab Four’s beginnings and the overwhelming phenomenon of Beatlemania. The book is also a bit of a memoir, reflecting on Epstein’s early life and the series of events that led him to the Beatles and caused their paths to converge.
I picked this up hoping for some in-depth description of the early Beatles playing the Cavern in Liverpool in the early 1960s. The book offers about two paragraphs of that. Instead, it’s more of a mix of Epstein bio, Tiger Beat boy-band profile, and in-the-weeds discussion of the day-to-day management of Epstein’s entire stable of recording artists.
With the addition of hindsight, A Cellarful of Noise is also just about the saddest book I’ve ever read. Here’s a closeted gay man writing about how he has never fit in or been especially liked, lamenting being ridiculed out of his dream of becoming a dress designer, glossing over the real reasons why the army and drama school didn’t work out for him, and visibly buckling under the strain of managing the most successful band in the world. And three short years later, he would be dead of a drug overdose.
I’ve read some older books that feel dated for a variety of reasons, but never one that felt complicated in this particular way.
I picked this up hoping for some in-depth description of the early Beatles playing the Cavern in Liverpool in the early 1960s. The book offers about two paragraphs of that. Instead, it’s more of a mix of Epstein bio, Tiger Beat boy-band profile, and in-the-weeds discussion of the day-to-day management of Epstein’s entire stable of recording artists.
With the addition of hindsight, A Cellarful of Noise is also just about the saddest book I’ve ever read. Here’s a closeted gay man writing about how he has never fit in or been especially liked, lamenting being ridiculed out of his dream of becoming a dress designer, glossing over the real reasons why the army and drama school didn’t work out for him, and visibly buckling under the strain of managing the most successful band in the world. And three short years later, he would be dead of a drug overdose.
I’ve read some older books that feel dated for a variety of reasons, but never one that felt complicated in this particular way.
September 9, 2023
Kirjana ei kovinkaan hyvä, mutta onhan tällä monenlaista kuriositeettiarvoa. Alun perin kirjoitettu ja julkaistu keskellä pahinta beatlemaniaa, joten haiskahtaa kiireellä ja köykäisesti tehdyltä. Sivuja ei ole kovin paljon ja siihenkin mahtuu toistoa. Monessa kohdassa Epstein tuntuu kirjoittavan vastinetta esitettyihin syytöksiin, eli kirja on selkeästi tarkoitettu ajankohtaiseksi puheenvuoroksi, ei yli puoli vuosisataa myöhemmin luettavaksi. Mutta siinä juuri onkin oma aikakapselimainen viehätyksensä.
Epsteinin oman koulu- ja työhistorian lisäksi myös Beatlesin syntytarina kerrotaan, ja jonkin verran sivuja käytetään myös muiden Epsteinin manageroimien artistien esittelyyn. Alkuperäisessä teoksen pääotsikossa Beatlesia ei mainita, suomennokseen se on survottu, ei kovinkaan tyylikkäästi. Mutta sikäli perusteltu ratkaisu, että Beatlesistahan tässä kirjassa lähinnä on kyse.
Managerin luotettavuus manageroitaviensa luonnehdinnoissa on tietenkin myös kyseenalaista. Jokseenkin vilpittömän tuntuisesti Epstein kyllä kertoo myös hankaluuksista ja ristiriidoistaan artistiensa välillä.
Olisi mukava vilkaista alkukielistä teosta, että onko siinäkin sana "artisti" kirjoitettu kursiivilla. En keksi mitään muuta syytä, miksi suomennoksessa on näin. Enkä kyllä toisaalta ymmärrä sitäkään, miksi se olisi alkukielisessä niin.
Epsteinin oman koulu- ja työhistorian lisäksi myös Beatlesin syntytarina kerrotaan, ja jonkin verran sivuja käytetään myös muiden Epsteinin manageroimien artistien esittelyyn. Alkuperäisessä teoksen pääotsikossa Beatlesia ei mainita, suomennokseen se on survottu, ei kovinkaan tyylikkäästi. Mutta sikäli perusteltu ratkaisu, että Beatlesistahan tässä kirjassa lähinnä on kyse.
Managerin luotettavuus manageroitaviensa luonnehdinnoissa on tietenkin myös kyseenalaista. Jokseenkin vilpittömän tuntuisesti Epstein kyllä kertoo myös hankaluuksista ja ristiriidoistaan artistiensa välillä.
Olisi mukava vilkaista alkukielistä teosta, että onko siinäkin sana "artisti" kirjoitettu kursiivilla. En keksi mitään muuta syytä, miksi suomennoksessa on näin. Enkä kyllä toisaalta ymmärrä sitäkään, miksi se olisi alkukielisessä niin.
January 20, 2018
I got really excited about this because this is the autobiography of Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles. He wrote this when The Beatles were just about getting into the height of their fame, three years before he died, and it’s an interesting insight into his mind and into how he got to where he got to.
Unfortunately, it’s fairly insubstantial, less like an autobiography and more like a series of blog posts, although Epstein died back in the sixties and so I guess that makes him ahead of his time. But this doesn’t really go into the kind of detail that I was hoping for, and it reads more like a collection of anecdotes than anything else. It still has a certain amount of historical significance, of course, but equally it wasn’t anywhere near as good as I was expecting.
If you’re a big Beatles fan then go ahead and grab yourself a copy of this if you can find one for a reasonable price. From what I’ve seen, copies of this book are pretty hard to find, which is a shame, I guess. People have just forgotten about it, but I haven’t.
Unfortunately, it’s fairly insubstantial, less like an autobiography and more like a series of blog posts, although Epstein died back in the sixties and so I guess that makes him ahead of his time. But this doesn’t really go into the kind of detail that I was hoping for, and it reads more like a collection of anecdotes than anything else. It still has a certain amount of historical significance, of course, but equally it wasn’t anywhere near as good as I was expecting.
If you’re a big Beatles fan then go ahead and grab yourself a copy of this if you can find one for a reasonable price. From what I’ve seen, copies of this book are pretty hard to find, which is a shame, I guess. People have just forgotten about it, but I haven’t.
June 8, 2017
Interesting. I've read a lot of Beatles books, but I'd never read this one before. It was fun to see how many quotes and stories from other books came out of this, as a start. It was also pretty well-written (by Derek Taylor), given that it really was just a little exploitation tome released at the height of Beatlemania. There are things left out -- Epstein being gay being a big one, though that's discussed in the preface to this edition -- and things are left in that you wouldn't necessarily expect. For example, Epstein spoke about John Lennon being occasionally cruel. As an historical text, it's well worth a perusal.
June 13, 2026
I bought this after watching a staging of Please Please Me, I wanted to know more about Epstein. I’ve got another in depth one to read, but I thought that this written in his own words would be interesting.
Much is left out of the book, written when homosexuality was a crime - so there’s no mention of his relationships, nor is there any mention of the merchandise disaster in the US. It is however, an insight in his own words, into his rise from record seller to music manager extraordinaire.
The loneliness he suffered from is apparent, as is his total sense of justice. It’s left me thinking he’s someone I would have liked to be at a dinner table with.
Much is left out of the book, written when homosexuality was a crime - so there’s no mention of his relationships, nor is there any mention of the merchandise disaster in the US. It is however, an insight in his own words, into his rise from record seller to music manager extraordinaire.
The loneliness he suffered from is apparent, as is his total sense of justice. It’s left me thinking he’s someone I would have liked to be at a dinner table with.
August 17, 2020
Engaging and insightful, A Cellarful of Noise captures an angle of the Beatles only their manager Brian Epstein could have seen. His wry sense of humor lightens the mood as he tells of his struggles to succeed in life. We are lucky Epstein found the time to write this book in his busy schedule. If I were still teaching, I would use this book to teach voice, memoir, characterization and conflict. There's so much invaluable information about how to succeed in business, music, the arts in general and life.
January 13, 2024
It's pretty amazing that this book exists. Of all the countless books about the Beatles, mostly written after they broke up to the present, this is an account from someone who was as close to the group at the time and was actually written at the time. More miraculous yet that it exists as the author would die a few years after writing it. It's a fascinating read as Epstein clearly had reason enough to shape the book in certain ways, as well as to hide some of his personal life, which comes across as obvious and intentional at times.
January 17, 2022
My Beatles knowledge is cursory, it’s nice to read something from someone on the inside. Epstein certainly played a key part in getting them exposure and guidance in the music industry. B.E. had serious skeletons to keep out of public knowledge, his sexuality would’ve been difficult to experience in that time period.
I don’t remember learning too much from reading George Harrison's autobiography, this isn’t heavy on personal stories about the band, either.
I don’t remember learning too much from reading George Harrison's autobiography, this isn’t heavy on personal stories about the band, either.
February 15, 2023
Ghost written by his assistant, Derek Taylor, ‘A Cellarful of Noise’ captures the life and work of Beatles manager Brian Epstein well. If you’re looking to learn anything new about the Beatles, this isn’t the book. But if you’re looking for insight into the relationship the band had with their manager, as well as fun stories about the four individual Beatles’ personalities, this is the book for you.
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