Living the Beatles’ Legend

The Untold Story of Mal Evans

De: Kenneth Womack

Narrado por: Gary T. Evans, Kenneth Womack

The first full-length biography of Mal Evans, the Beatles’ beloved friend, confidant, and roadie.

Malcolm Evans, the Beatles’ long-time roadie, personal assistant, and devoted friend, was an invaluable member of the band’s inner circle. A towering figure in horn-rimmed glasses, Evans loomed large in the Beatles’ story, contributing at times as a performer and sometime lyricist, while struggling mightily to protect his beloved “boys.” He was there for the whole of the group’s remarkable, unparalleled story: from the Shea Stadium triumph through the creation of the timeless cover art for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the famous Let It Be rooftop concert.

Leaving a stable job as telecommunications engineer to serve as road manager for this fledgling band, Mal was the odd man out from the start—older, married with children, and without any music business experience. And yet he threw himself headlong into their world, traveling across the globe and making himself indispensable.

In the years after the Beatles’ disbandment, Big Mal continued in their employ as each embarked upon solo careers. By 1974, he was determined to make his name as a songwriter and record producer, setting off for a new life in Los Angeles, where he penned his memoirs. But in January 1976, on the verge of sharing his book with the world, Evans’s story came to a tragic end during a domestic standoff with the LAPD.

For Beatles devotes, Mal’s life and untimely death have always been shrouded in mystery. For decades, his diaries, manuscripts, and vast collection of memorabilia was missing, seemingly lost forever…until now.

Working with full access to Mal’s unpublished archives and having conducted hundreds of new interviews, Beatles’ scholar and author Kenneth Womack affords listeners with a full telling of Mal’s unknown story at the heart of the Beatles’ legend. Living the Beatles’ Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans is the missing puzzle piece in the Fab Four’s incredible story.

©2023 Kenneth Womack (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Taylor Swift can teach the Beatles how to treat hard workers

All the details about the Beatles recording great music was interesting. And the Beatles gradual acquisition of fabulous mansions and other parts of the opulent rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Taylor Swift gave $100,000 bonuses to 50 semi truck drivers on her United States tour. I was stunned by the amount of work that Mal Evans did for all of them. He was probably worth eight people. They all knew they were not paying him adequately. It was poignant, when it was stated that one of the Beatles treated him like a north England Mill operator. Fortunately, Taylor Swift has set a new standard that will pressure the old rock ‘n’ roll bands, who are still touring to give out bonuses that are commensurate with sometimes staggering profits. The disruption in the worker’s family life is certainly worth some type of bonus if the tour is successful.

Complicated, dedicated Mal the roadie

I've waited a while for this publication. It's higher than my highest hopes. Mal's dark side was always there, but the drug use exacerbated the underlying insecurity. He was conflicted by his life on the road, ambition to be a star and appalling inconsideration of his loving wife and kids that he left in the U.K. for the bright lights of celebrity shadows.

The narration by author Kenneth Womack is excellent. Such a complicated biography being written in a way that I think I somewhat know Mal really wasn't expected. Incredible highs and such tragic lows. What a ride... 200 miles.

All You Need is Mal

What an incredible book. The stories Mal shares and the loyalty he had for the Fab Four. Unfortunately, his family would pay the price, but he was loved by family, friends, fans and Beatles alike. The book makes you wish you had met him at some point.

The journey

The story was good to hear from start to finish so I am through writing

The unknown right hand man

The story of Mal Evans was both incredible and incredibly sad the way it ended. But what a ticket to ride! Very enjoyable to listen to and to understand what it was like in the 60s to be a roadie for the biggest band in the entire world and what musicians get today is almost embarrassing in comparison ! It was so great to discover how these diaries were hidden away for many years, and when it are gems of information about Mal’s relationship with each of the Beatles. This poor guy got shanked a few times, but his service to the Beatles was taken for granted, and he just sucked it up and loved what he was doing. Definitely worth listening to or reading.

The big man who faithfully served The Beatles and was paid a pauper’s wage for his efforts

Paul: “Mal, we don’t need you anymore”. Really Paul? Otherwise, an enjoyable listen of the unsung hero’s life.

Excellent book which gives the inside story of the Beatles through the lens of humanistic frailties

Excellent book which gives the inside story of the Beatles through the lens of humanistic frailties

Lots of Beatle revelations by the man who was with them from start to finish!

Finding out many things I did not know about the Beatles from their right hand man was pretty interesting!

Must Read for Beatles Fans

I just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the ending is tragic, as a Beatles fan I felt I needed to know more about big Mal and his life with the band. This story filled in some areas surrounding what Mal did for the band.

A Lot of New Information

So many never before published stories about the boys told my a man who lived it and loved it. Evans' devotion to the band was unfailing despite the high price paid by the ones he loved beyond the Beatles.