Living the Beatles Legend: On the Road with the Fab Four – The Mal Evans Story
On the Road with the Fab Four – The Mal Evans Story
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Living the Beatles Legend: On the Road with the Fab Four – The Mal Evans Story
Buy Now for $31.99
-
Narrated by:
-
By:
-
Kenneth Womack
About this listen
**MiCannes Award Music Book of the Year**
The first full-length biography of Mal Evans, the Beatles’ beloved roadie, assistant, confidant and friend
A towering figure in horn-rimmed glasses, Malcolm ‘Mal’ Evans was an invaluable member of the Beatles’ inner circle. Serving as their long-time roadie, personal assistant and protector, he was a sometime lyricist, occasional performer and regular fixer at the height of the group’s fame and beyond.
But Mal’s dedication to his beloved ‘boys’ and his own desire for stardom took its toll, leading to the dissolution of his marriage and his untimely death in January 1976.
Until now, Mal’s extraordinary life has remained shrouded in mystery. Drawing on hundreds of exclusive interviews and with full access to Mal’s unpublished archives – including his personal diaries, manuscripts and memorabilia – renowned Beatles scholar Kenneth Womack paints the first complete portrait of this complicated figure at the heart of the Beatles’ story.
Living the Beatles Legend is a fascinating but ultimately tragic tale about life at the edges of superstardom.
©2023 Kenneth WomackCritic Reviews
'Exhaustively detailed … captures Beatlemania up close' Observer
‘A meticulously researched job in not only piecing together the roadie’s viewpoint of the Beatles’ story, but also in depicting the tragedy of a man who was so in love with the group he destroyed his own life’ Daily Mail Book of the Week
‘Womack has woven a portrait full of complex threads that lead everywhere and, near the end of Evans’ life, nowhere … This book is just amazing’ Q
‘A celebration – not just of Evans, but of all the unsung supporting characters who make creative life possible … It removes the cloud of mythology that often shrouds the Beatles’ story and reminds us that their superstardom was by no means predestined’ Guardian
‘A Holy Grail for fans’ People
Overall Womack narrates well, but I wish he had gone for some UK pronunciation of place and people names - they do grate at times, annoying you out of your focus. But, that is a minor niggle.
As most reviewers of the book (any format) will say, while you know the story, this adds a new view and perspective. The second volume will not be audible-able: it is documents, photos, Mal’s diary and draft memoir. Another treasure trove for Beatlemaniacs.
Great tale - pronunciation grates
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Awesome book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great insight to the history of the greatest band ever.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Instead of allowing Evans' written words to speak for themselves, Kenneth Womack has tried to use the diary entries to retell the narrative of the legend of the Beatles.
Womack's halting and grating narration spoiled the listening experience completely. He should have learnt the pronunciation of English place names before he undertook the job. Better still, employ someone with an accent similar to that of Mal Evans to give the diary quotations a sense of verisimilitude.
This book SHOULD have been so much better.
This book SHOULD have been so much better
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.