SONGLINK SPONSORS BRIAN EPSTEIN PLAQUE
PLUS LONDON LAUNCH OF "EPSTEIN - THE PLAY"

Brian Epstein Brian Epstein & The Beatles Mike Read, Guy Fletcher, Don Black & Bill Martin Donovan unveils the plaque David Stark with Andrew Lancel & Will Finlason

SongLink is proud to be the title sponsor of the Heritage Foundation's Blue Plaque for Brian Epstein which will be unveiled at 12 noon on Sunday 29th June, at Sutherland House, 5/6 Argyll Street, London W1 next door to the London Palladium. Epstein's company NEMS Enterprises occupied offices on the fifth floor of the building from the height of Beatlemania in 1964 until shortly after his tragic death in August 1967, aged just 32. Epstein would have turned 80 on September 19th this year, and was recently posthumously inducted into the USA's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A bio-pic of his life is also currently in development.

David Stark, founder and editor of SongLink, said, "As a lifelong Beatles fan I'm delighted to be involved with this official commemoration of Britain's most famous music manager. Epstein's signing of the Fab Four in 1962 developed into the greatest story in music and showbiz history, thanks to his belief and vision that the group could conquer the world, but even he couldn't have foreseen to what amazing extent that would become true. Sadly Brian only lived to enjoy five years of their phenomenal success from 1963-67, but it's important that we recognise his outstanding contribution to the music industry and popular culture in his short but highly influential life."

VIP guests at the unveiling ceremony will include Geoffrey Ellis, Liverpool friend of Epstein and MD of NEMS Enterprises (later a PRS director) who worked at Argyll Street from 1964-67; Tony Bramwell (NEMS & later head of Apple Records); Beatles author Mark Lewisohn; and actor Andrew Lancel who stars in the upcoming play "Epstein - The Man Who made The Beatles", which opens at Leicester Square Theatre on July 30th. Also present will be Heritage Foundation president, actress Vicky Michelle, Rod Davis of pre-Beatles band The Quarrymen, Adam Ant and other celebrities. The event will be followed by a tribute luncheon at Regents Park Marriott Hotel, which will feature speeches and musical tributes. In addition, messages of goodwill to be read out on the day are coming in from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Cilla Black, Gerry Marsden and others associated with Epstein.

David Stark added, "It's totally fitting that Brian Epstein should be honoured in his 80th birthday year, and at one of the most prestigious show business locations in the world - right next door to the London Palladium, where his clients The Beatles, Cilla, Gerry and Billy J. Kramer all performed. I'm delighted that the current owners and managing agents of Sutherland House have given permission and their blessing for the plaque to be erected, and am sure it will give pleasure and be of enormous interest to the hundreds of tourists and music aficionados who pass by the site each day, not realising that this was the place where so much of the Fab Four's busy day-to-day schedule was meticulously planned by Brian and his staff. The Heritage Foundation and I are proud to honour the man who paved the way for so many others in the music business, and who is still recognised as being one of the most visionary, hard-working and totally honest managers of all time, without whom The Beatles phenomenon might never have happened."

Meanwhile the Brian Epstein plaque coincides with a London run for the acclaimed play "Epstein - The Man Who Made The Beatles" written by Andrew Sherlock which starts on July 30th at Leicester Square Theatre. The two-hander play stars Andrew Lancel as Epstein and Will Finlason as "This Boy", and is directed by Jen Heyes and produced by Bill Elms and Jen Heyes Productions Ltd. The play enjoyed a successful run at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre in 2012/13, and is a window into the private world of the music entrepreneur whose stellar career as Beatles manager made him a household name yet whose controversial personal life remained very much in the closet. Epstein died in 1967 of an accidental overdose at the age of 32, and in what would have been his 80th year is also being inducted posthumously into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, plus a new film is also planned. The play runs from August 5th - September 6th, with previews from July 30th at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX. Book tickets online or via telephone on 08448 733433.
www.epsteintheplay.com | www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Finally, the British Plaque Trust unveiled a Blue Plaque on Sunday April 6th outside The Giaconda restaurant at 9 Denmark St, London W1 - the famous street known as Tin Pan Alley. The plaque commemorate the songwriters and publishers to whom the street was home between 1911 and 1992. Many legendary songwriters and publishers attended and singer/songwriter Donovan was on hand to unveil the plaque. The multi-million selling artist also wrote and recorded a new song for the occasion, titled "Tin Pan Alley", which he performed on the day. www.britishplaquetrust.org.uk