Statue for Brian Epstein

Beatles manager Brian Epstein to be celebrated with statue.

A new statue of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, showing him walking to see the band, will celebrate his legacy in Liverpool, the team behind it has said.

The Brian Epstein Legacy Project wants to place the work on Whitechapel, close to the music impresario’s record shop. A spokeswoman said the crowdfunded work would be the first in the city centre to commemorate an LGBT figure. Sculptor Andy Edwards said showing Epstein in full stride was a nod to his Pier Head statues of the Fab Four.

Sculptor Andy Edwards working on the statue

Epstein signed a management contract with The Beatles in 1961 after having seen them in action at the Cavern Club, just a short walk from his NEMS Record Store. He was also instrumental in the careers of several other Liverpool acts, including Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, and Tommy Quickly.

Tom Calderbank, who has led the project, said he was “absolutely delighted” to be submitting the plans for the work. “This is a tribute to the hard work, enthusiasm and tenacity of our committee who have spent five years working towards this goal,” he said.
“The Epstein family have supported us from the start, and I’m made up we’re able to repay that faith by confirming that Brian will finally be justly honoured in his hometown.”

Edwards said his design for the statue was “intended to be in the same style as our Beatles statues”. “It relates to them not only in the walking pose, but it maps the short journey Brian would take to The Cavern from his NEMS office, or maybe to meet his boys on the waterfront”.

The planning application will be decided upon by Liverpool City Council later in the year.

The walking Epstein statue complements the walking Beatles statue at the waterfront in Liverpool.

In other Brian Epstein news, the movie about him, “Midas Man”, has been halted after filming in Liverpool had taken place in October. “The director of Midas Man, Jonas Akerlund, is taking a break from the film,” the production told Deadline. “Until some matters become clearer, we are not able to add any further comment to this statement. In the meantime, we can confirm that filming of Midas Man will continue in London … before breaking for Christmas. Filming will restart in early January in Los Angeles.”

Sources close to the production has been saying that Swedish movie director Jonas Akerlund is likely to bow out of the project due to other work commitments interfering with the movie. Discussions are reportedly underway with a replacement director.