Nickname ...Eppie
His autobiography, "A Cellarful of Noise", written during the height of "Beatlemania", was supposedly ghost-written by Beatles press agent Derek Taylor.
John Lennon wrote the song "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", allegedly after rejecting one of Brian's romantic advances.
While he preferred listening to classical music, he had a keen sense of pop music trends.
Was the Beatles' first manager, and referred to them as "the boys".
Was dismissed from the British Army for being "incurably civilian", but was given a good character reference: "Sober, conscientious, and utterly trustworthy".
Ran a record shop concession in a chain of furniture stores owned by his father.
Studied for three terms at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London; his classmates included Peter O'Toole and Susannah York.
Epstein at first thought the name "Beatles" sounded silly, when he saw it on a Liverpool concert bill. In asking his staff about them, though, he was surprised to learn they were among his frequent customers, sometimes browsing NEMS between shows at the Cavern, and he'd liked the members he'd dealt with.
Along with their business dealings, Epstein and George Martin also developed a casual friendship; Epstein would join Martin and wife-to-be Judy Lockhart-Smith on afternoons or evenings out. Epstein's wedding gift to the two was a set of silver napkin rings - eleven, to commemorate the number present at the bridal dinner.
Was given a copy of the The Velvet Underground's first album (with the banana cover) by one of his contacts, and played it almost incessantly during a 1967 vacation. Reportedly considered bringing the Velvets to England to perform, but died before things could be worked out.
Sponsored the only Monkees concerts given in England in the 1960s; a series of shows at Wembley.
One of Epstein's last signings was The Cyrkle, of "Red Rubber Ball" fame; John Lennon provided the band's new name.
Besides the Beatles, Brian Epstein also managed Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer, and Tommy Quickly, while his NEMS Enterprises lineup represented The Bee Gees, Jimi Hendrix, and Cream.
