Former Beatles manager dies

Published: Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:52:13

Former Beatles manager Allan Klein has died aged 77 after suffering from Alzheimer's. The Associated Press said he died at his home in New York on Saturday. During his 50-year-career, Klein was known for his ruthless deal making, representing the Rolling Stones and later the Beatles in arrangements that both ended in court.

Klein was blamed by many for contributing to the break up of the Beatles, after the decision to hire him in 1969 led to conflict within the group. The band split a year later.

He tried to gain control of copyrights for the Beatles on their behalf but was beaten by Michael Jackson who paid $47.5 million in 1985 for hits including Let it Be.

But he did help the pop group negotiate the largest-ever royalty rate paid to an artist between Apple Corps and EMI in 1969. Klein also fell out with the Rolling Stones after initially helping them to secure a better contract with their label, when he bought the rights to some of the group's biggest hits. The relationship with the band ended in a courtroom battle, but not before Mick Jagger reportedly chased him through a hotel.

Klein himself enjoyed his controversial reputation and oncec sent out a holiday card with the quote: "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because I'm the biggest bastard in the valley." Klein was reputed to be the basis for manager "Ron Decline," played by Jon Belushi, in the 1978 film parody "The Rutles," and the inspiration for John Lennon's 1974 song "Steel and Glass." He iss survived by partner, Iris Keitel; his estranged wife, Betty; three children, four grandchildren and a sister.

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