Maconie dives into the lives that shaped the Fab Four, bringing fresh perspectives to the infamous legends
Stuart Maconie | With A Little Help From Their Friends: The Beatles Changed the World. But Who Changed Theirs? | HarperNorth: £20.99
Reviewed by Chris Connor
The Beatles story is, of course, well entrenched into public consciousness, and interest in the group remains incredibly strong, well over 50 years from their split. This is evidenced by the reception to Peter Jackson’s mammoth Get Back, Paul McCartney’s Glastonbury set in 2022, and their return to the chart summit with ‘Now and Then’ in 2023. You might think it would be hard to squeeze out information on the group that hasn’t been covered in some capacity before, but broadcaster/writer Stuart Maconie has managed just that with With A Little Help From Their Friends. This book tells the story of the people around the group who shaped them into the superstars they would become. While we know many stories of John, Paul, George & Ringo, some of the stories here will be new to those who aren’t die-hard fans.
We begin with the people who supported the group before they would become international, chart-topping superstars. This largely consists of people in Liverpool, be it family members, schoolmates or folk who helped give them a leg up. One of the amazing things about this novel is the sheer number of characters who populated The Beatles’ lives in what by today’s standards was a short recording career of just eight years. This book, of course, acts as a guidebook to Beatles lore whilst also offering a fascinating glimpse at the state of British culture and music in the era and how it evolved.
Maconie wonderfully articulates how The Beatles shaped not just music but masculinity, fashion, politics and other parts of the cultural lexicon. There is a chapter devoted to a reception in the Philippines, which the Beatles were invited to by former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Filipino first lady, Imelda Marcos.
The most interesting tidbits are figures who might be more peripheral but had a deep impact regardless; those who inspired some of the band’s most loved songs that still resonate with audiences all these decades later. It provides a glimpse into how some of those masterful lyrics came into being and how small interactions shaped the band’s success throughout. Did you ever wonder about what inspired ‘Lovely Rita’ or ‘She’s Leaving Home?’ After this you will have answers to these and many more questions.
One story sees George Harrison and Eric Clapton attending a Ray Charles concert and finding Billy Preston part of Charles’ band. Preston, of course, became a key figure in the latter Beatles recordings, featuring heavily on the sessions for ‘Let It Be’ and being part of their iconic rooftop concert. Fifth-Beatle contenders, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best, have been well documented previously but there are other contenders for this fabled fifth member that earn a mention, who casual fans may not be familiar with.
There is a wry sense of humour permeating through the book as Maconie drops in some of his own experiences with the band throughout his years as a celebrated broadcaster. The references to other works discussing the band make this feel all the more comprehensive and it is certainly clear Maconie has read and watched everything available on the group. It’s focus on those around the band, rather than stories that have been told to death, gives this particular approach to their legend a sense of freshness and makes it a crucial part of the vast canon of literature on the group.
With a Little Help From Their Friends treads new ground in terms of Beatles books by expanding the focus beyond the four lads to both their immediate circles and those tangentially related from even the smallest of interactions. It shows how many of their chance encounters shaped their sound and impact on the UK and world. Maconie keeps the chapters short with even the likes of George Martin and Brian Epstein receiving small sections, which keeps it flowing wonderfully and means well-known stories aren’t recycled too often. It is a humorous, gripping look at the sheer number of people who influenced, shaped and facilitated The Beatles’ dominance. It is an impeccably researched work that is a must read for even more casual Beatles fans.
Reviewed by Chris Connor