Alistair Taylor served as the assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein and was a key support figure for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. After Epstein’s death, Taylor continued to assist the band, making their lives easier. Despite his professional role, Taylor felt more like a friend to the Beatles, particularly Paul McCartney, whom he had a special fondness for.
### Brian Epstein’s Assistant’s Favorite Beatle
During his time with the Beatles, Taylor was often asked which member he preferred. Reflecting on a conversation with Mal Evans, another close associate of the band, Taylor recounted Evans’s answer to the same question: “The one I was last with.” Taylor admired this response but admitted that he felt closest to Paul McCartney.
### A Friendly Bond with Paul McCartney
Taylor shared that McCartney made him feel more like a friend than an employee. They often vacationed together, and McCartney would visit Taylor’s home when having relationship issues with his girlfriend, Jane Asher.
“I never really thought of them as employers,” Taylor explained. “They employed me, but they were great friends. Particularly Paul, because he would come home with me, call me up, and invite me to join him at Cavendish Avenue when he felt down. We went on holiday to Scotland and Greece together.”
Too Close for Comfort
Despite their close bond, Taylor never discussed McCartney’s breakup with Asher. He felt too close to both of them to broach the subject.
“I never found out why he broke up with Jane, and that’s the gospel truth,” Taylor said. “I adore Jane to this day. She’s a wonderful person. It might sound strange, but I felt too close to both of them. Paul never talked about it, and I didn’t feel I could ask him why.”
### A Songwriting Lesson Turned Beatles Hit
Taylor’s relationship with McCartney also led to the creation of one of The Beatles’ well-known songs. Curious about McCartney’s songwriting process, Taylor received a lesson at the harmonium in McCartney’s living room. McCartney instructed Taylor to say the opposite of whatever he did, resulting in the song “Hello, Goodbye.”
Recalling the experience, Taylor said, “I’ve no memory of the tune. Melodies were as common around the Beatles as bugs in May. Some become hits, others fade away. I wonder if Paul made up that song on the spot or if it was already forming in his mind.”
