Allan Williams, who managed the early bookings of The Beatles, has died at the age of 86. Williams is credited with driving the legendary band to Hamburg, Germany, where they gathered formative experiences.
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Allan Williams, who worked with the legendary British band from 1960 to 1961 in Britain and Hamburg, died on Friday, according to the club he once owned in Liverpool, England.
"Today our founder and the man who discovered the Beatles passed away at the age of 86. Allan Williams, you will be missed," the Jacaranda Club tweeted.
The club also added a message on its Facebook page, saying that Williams' legacy "has allowed us to remain at the heart of the Liverpool music scene for almost 60 years and his memory will live on through every band that plays our famous stage."
Williams is credited with personally having driven the band in 1960 to Hamburg, where The Beatles were to spend several extended periods gathering invaluable professional experience up to 1961. He managed their bookings until a falling-out with the group over finances in 1961, and was succeeded by Brian Epstein.
At the time, he reportedly warned Epstein about taking over the group, saying, "Don't touch them with a [...] bargepole, they will let you down."
He later co-wrote a memoir entitled "Allan Williams: The Man Who Gave The Beatles Away," which was published in 1975.
5 guys who've been called the 'fifth Beatle'
The Beatles were a foursome, but these five people have been labeled the "fifth Beatle" at some point. They were producers, friends of the band - and one even has a very tragic story.
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George Martin - the inventive Beatle
In 1962, George Martin listened to the band's demo tape and, while he wasn't convinced about the quality of their performance, he liked their charisma. Martin offered the foursome a record deal and the rest is history. He produced almost all of The Beatles' records, which won him six Grammys. Until his death in March 2016, he was considered one of Britain's greatest music producers.
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Pete Best - the forgotten Beatle
He played drums with The Beatles for two years before he was thrown out of the band, never to have contact with them again. After the initial shock, Pete Best built a quiet, normal life for himself. He initially took a break from music, but came back in 1988 with a band of his own. "The Pete Best Band" still tours actively around the world.
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Stuart Sutcliffe - the lost Beatle
In the early years, John Lennon's college friend played bass with The Beatles. In Hamburg, he fell in love with German artist Astrid Kirchherr, who photographed the band during their concerts. She was the one who convinced them to try their iconic bowl cuts. In 1961, Sutcliffe stayed in Hamburg to be with Kirchherr, but he tragically died a year later due to a cerebral hemorrhage.
Image: Getty Images/Keystone/John Lennon
Klaus Voormann - the secret Beatle
In 1960, the graphic designer and illustrator met The Beatles in Hamburg. Since then, he's been a longtime friend and partner of the band. He designed a number of their record covers, including their "Revolver" album, in which he can be seen on the right side of the collage. In 1967, he won a Grammy for his design.
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Brian Epstein - the enterprising Beatle
Paul McCartney himself is said to have dubbed Brian Epstein the "fifth Beatle." As the band's manager, Epstein had the guys wear suits and ties, defined their look, and organized TV appearances and world tours. In 1967, he died at the age of just 32 of an overdose of pills and alcohol. His death marked the beginning of the end of The Beatles, who broke up three years later.
