THE BEATLES' ORIGINAL CONTRACT GOES ON DISPLAY

MARKING the 47th Anniversary of its signing, The Beatles' original contract with Brian Epstein will go on display at the Beatles Story, Liverpool from Friday 25 September until Friday 9 October. Visitors can view this historic document for a limited period before the piece of music memorabilia, currently owned by Imagine Corporation, goes to auction and possibly lost to the public forever.

The Contract, which is dated 1st October 1962, established the most famous manager/group partnership in the music world and is itself a part of both music and British History. The agreement - which gave Epstein a 25 per cent cut of the group's earnings - bears the signatures of all four Beatles and that of Harold Harrison and James McCartney on behalf of their underage sons, along with Brian Epstein. The legendary document also contains two signatures by John Lennon, who inadvertently signed in the wrong place, before realising his mistake.

This is the second of two contracts which Brian Epstein gave the band to sign, the first which omits his name, was given to the band on 24 January 1962. This initial document did however include the signature of drummer Pete Best, who was released from the band on 16 August 1962, only six weeks before this definitive contract was signed by replacement drummer Richard Starkey, AKA Ringo Starr.

Lawyer David Harris who drew up this document said:- "The Liverpool music scene exploded with the arrival of the Beatles, but when Brian Epstein asked me to draw up a contract for his management of them in December 1961, no one, I think, not even he, thought they would take off quite as they did. Thereafter I drew up contracts for all his other groups and singers and for various other local groups as well, but none, however good they were, achieved anything near their outstanding success. Because of that success and his flair as a Manager generally, Brian formed Nems Enterprises Limited with him as Managing Director and the Beatles signed a further contract with that Company which is the one now on display."

Beatles Story Curator, Ann Darby said:- "This is the original Silverman, Livermore Contract between Nems Enterprises Limited and The Beatles and we are thrilled to display it at the Beatles Story for the first time. As the future of the document is uncertain it may well be the last chance for people to view this famous piece of British history."

Jerry Goldman, Managing Director of Beatles Story said:- "The Contract's exhibit corresponds with a number of important Beatles dates, the 1 October marks the 47th anniversary of the signing of this momentous document and 9 October 2009 coincides with John Lennon's 69th birthday, it is appropriate that we have such an important piece of The Beatles memorabilia here for everyone to enjoy."

Beatles Rock Band Game...
Photographs by Ian Fairbrother

THESE are a few pictures of the first few people to buy the new Beatles Rock Band game in the Liverpool One HMV store.