The Fifth Beatle: The Most Important Characters in the Story of the Beatles

'It's bad enough with four . . . ' - Paul McCartney

John, Paul, George and Ringo are four of the most documented and dissected figures in the history of music. Their explosive success and constant stream of chart-topping music begs to be understood, and an onslaught of books, documentaries, and soon, individual biopics have strived to do just that. But what about all the figures who shaped the boys, helped form the band, inspire the music, and propel them to stratospheric success?

In 1964, American DJ Murray the K dubbed himself the Fifth Beatle for the promotion and coverage he'd given the band on his radio show. Since then, the phrase has lived in fans' imaginations everywhere . . . could the Fab Four really have been the Fab Five?

From figures like Stuart Sutcliffe, the original bassist who coined the band name, and Brian Epstein, the manager who shot them into superstardom, to musical giants who inspired them, family members who supported them, and producers and session musicians who helped to create their sound, The Beatles had no shortage of help in their global musical conquest. This book will dive into the stories of these instrumental figures and their contributions, big and small, to the band, and hopefully answer once and for all . . . Who is the Fifth Beatle?