In his life – Cilla Black unveils Brian Epstein plaque

Published: 30 September, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

A PLAQUE honouring “fifth Beatle” Brian Epstein was unveiled in Seven Dials on Tuesday by one of the stars he helped make famous.

Cilla Black was the guest of honour at the ceremony at 13 Monmouth Street, the first London office of the Liverpudlian manager, who tragically died aged just 32. The unveiling was also attended by David Bieda, who runs the Seven Dials Trust and has been a resident of the area for 17 years, and Jonathan Simpson, the Mayor of Camden.

Epstein was affectionately known as “the fifth Beatle” by John Lennon – John and his wife Cynthia asked him to be godfather to their son Julian.

Ms Black said of the plaque: “It is about time too. I wrote to Paul McCartney a couple of years ago because I think Brian should be honoured in the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in America. He was a great man, a true gentleman. He believed in me and I certainly believed in him. If Brian would have said I could climb Mount Everest, I would have said, ‘where’s my backpack, I’m off’.”

Mayor Simpson said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have Cilla here, as a longstanding fan. Just two weeks ago, I had it pointed out to me by a friend who is here today, that I absolutely murdered You’re My World at a karaoke bar nearby, and two days later he went back and the bar staff were asking if the Mayor of Camden was doing a cover. My friend flatly denied it for my reputation’s sake.”

He added that Epstein’s life had “brought so much joy to the world in terms of the music artists that he worked with”.