Plaques are a private thing. The people who now live in the homes that were once occupied by Beatles or related people have the right to choose if they want their home invaded daily by the millions of Beatle fans that visit Liverpool each year, which is what will happen the moment a plaque appears. Be sensible people, and don't get too emotional about this. The family who now live in Brian's home on Queens Drive obviously DON'T want to be invaded, hence the reason they don't like tour buses stopping out side their HOME. It's their prerogative. Please don't call it a "disgrace" that the City of Liverpool doesn't care enough to install plaques on these homes, it's NOT up to the City of Liverpool, it's up to the people who lives in these residences NOW. People who don't live here just don't understand and get emotional about it like the comments here, but you don't have to live Beatles daily like some of these families do. Most families really don't mind crowds gathering outside their homes each day, having their photos taken, etc., and we should be grateful for that and take the positive from this situation rather than the negative and criticising the people of Liverpool, the City Council, etc., for just trying to get on with their daily lives.
I do understand about the intrusive behaviour of Beatle fan mobs. I would get upset about it too. How tiresome that must be! If I were living in one of the old Brian places, and was not living there because Brian did, I would most certainly move elsewhere. I know, I know, that's easier said than done. But ... shouldn't they have known before they bought the places...?
Y'know, there are Brian admirers such as myself, who enjoy The Beatles as the phenomenon they were but don't get all goofy and "fannish" about them and aren't really interested in "Beatle sites" and the like (yes, I was shocked after over 40 years to find I am not the only one), and I would hope that the "Eppy lovers," at least, would try to avoid bothering people.
BTW, it's a bit annoying sometimes that when people discover my high regard for Brian Epstein, they automatically assume I'm primarily a Beatle fan. I can't see as I'm a "fan" of anything.
If I knew for sure that these families living in the old Epstein residences were actually asked about having a plaque installed, and they consequently turned it down for the reasons you state, I would really feel a lot better about it all. The problem lies with the Boys being given all the admiration, and Brian being shoved to the side as "just their manager" ~ to the point of being misunderstood and even disrespected in many cases (the latest example). I'm sorry I act like a frickin' protective/defensive mother or something, but I yam what I yam. Somebody's gotta be, I s'pose. Therefore, I hereby rescind my "disgrace" remark regarding the plaques only ~ and will put an appropriate edit into the main post here ~ ~ however, the sorry indifference and neglect of Brian in the case of other honours such as the MBE snub, statues and other likenesses (dignified-looking, I would hope), and other items honouring his Boys alone, still irks me. This also goes for the goll-durned R&R Hall of Fame induction ~ not to mention Brian's omission from other things such as Cirque LOVE, Beatles Monopoly, Beatles Rock Band, etc. etc.
He was the fifth Beatle, after all ~ if anyone could ever have been a fifth Beatle, that is ~ and he was more of a fifth Beatle than any musician ever could have been. We have that on record from both Paul and George Martin. :)
It's way past time Brian Epstein was given props. That's where the main disgrace lies.
And you got it right: the downplaying of Brian's legacy is surely not any fault of the City of Liverpool. Governmental units exist to reflect the feelings and beliefs and uphold the rights of their citizens.
Governmental units can, however, play significant roles in bringing certain issues to the attention of their citizens ~ hint-hint-nudge-nudge-wink-wink!
Anyway ~ thanks again, Anonymous! Soapboxes rock! Besides, the christine does need to be pulled aside and smacked upside the head now and then.
(Sometimes she enjoys it) ;)
~*~*~
p.s. I have no earthly idea who now lives in the former Brian homes on Queens Drive, Chapel Street, Kingsley Hill, Rushlake Green, or even Whaddon House or Faulkner Street ~ but (in my humble opinion) it would be a real shame and waste if the current residents do not personally carry a great deal of regard for Brian and his legacy ~ even though they understandably would not wish their lives upset by Beatle fan mobs.
I'm now off my soapbox!
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Thank you for your input ~ I just may re-post it to the Fifth Beatle Movie forum when I get a chance. :)
I do understand about the intrusive behaviour of Beatle fan mobs.
I would get upset about it too. How tiresome that must be!
If I were living in one of the old Brian places, and was not living there because Brian did, I would most certainly move elsewhere.
I know, I know, that's easier said than done. But ... shouldn't they have known before they bought the places...?
Y'know, there are Brian admirers such as myself, who enjoy The Beatles as the phenomenon they were but don't get all goofy and "fannish" about them and aren't really interested in "Beatle sites" and the like (yes, I was shocked after over 40 years to find I am not the only one), and I would hope that the "Eppy lovers," at least, would try to avoid bothering people.
BTW, it's a bit annoying sometimes that when people discover my high regard for Brian Epstein, they automatically assume I'm primarily a Beatle fan. I can't see as I'm a "fan" of anything.
If I knew for sure that these families living in the old Epstein residences were actually asked about having a plaque installed, and they consequently turned it down for the reasons you state, I would really feel a lot better about it all. The problem lies with the Boys being given all the admiration, and Brian being shoved to the side as "just their manager" ~ to the point of being misunderstood and even disrespected in many cases (the latest example). I'm sorry I act like a frickin' protective/defensive mother or something, but I yam what I yam. Somebody's gotta be, I s'pose.
Therefore, I hereby rescind my "disgrace" remark regarding the plaques only ~
and will put an appropriate edit into the main post here ~
~ however, the sorry indifference and neglect of Brian in the case of other honours such as the MBE snub, statues and other likenesses (dignified-looking, I would hope), and other items honouring his Boys alone, still irks me. This also goes for the goll-durned R&R Hall of Fame induction ~ not to mention Brian's omission from other things such as Cirque LOVE, Beatles Monopoly, Beatles Rock Band, etc. etc.
He was the fifth Beatle, after all ~ if anyone could ever have been a fifth Beatle, that is ~ and he was more of a fifth Beatle than any musician ever could have been.
We have that on record from both Paul and George Martin. :)
It's way past time Brian Epstein was given props. That's where the main disgrace lies.
And you got it right: the downplaying of Brian's legacy is surely not any fault of the City of Liverpool. Governmental units exist to reflect the feelings and beliefs and uphold the rights of their citizens.
Governmental units can, however, play significant roles in bringing certain issues to the attention of their citizens ~ hint-hint-nudge-nudge-wink-wink!
Anyway ~ thanks again, Anonymous! Soapboxes rock!
Besides, the christine does need to be pulled aside and smacked upside the head now and then.
(Sometimes she enjoys it) ;)
~*~*~
p.s. I have no earthly idea who now lives in the former Brian homes on Queens Drive, Chapel Street, Kingsley Hill, Rushlake Green, or even Whaddon House or Faulkner Street ~ but (in my humble opinion) it would be a real shame and waste if the current residents do not personally carry a great deal of regard for Brian and his legacy ~ even though they understandably would not wish their lives upset by Beatle fan mobs.
Reply
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