Anniversary of The Tragic Death of Fifth Beatle, Mal Evans

01/05/2011
. (Gibson) On this day in 1976, Mal Evans, long time Beatles road manager was shot dead in Los Angeles. Who was the Fifth Beatle? Several in the Beatles camp have claimed that crown, but nobody deserves it more than gentle giant Mal Evans. He was there from the very early days at the Cavern to the band's implosion in the '70s.

On January 5, 1976 a drunk, Valium-popping Evans called John Hoernie, the collaborator on his memoirs, and told him to make sure he and his assistant finished the book. A concerned Hoernie went to Evans' motel/apartment at 8122 West 4th Street to talk with the obviously depressed man. During their brief talk, Evans picked up a rifle.

Mal was a big man, a gentle giant. Everyone said and there was no possible way for Hoernie to overpower him. Fran Hughes called the police and when they arrived, officers David D. Krempa and Robert E. Brannon confronted Evans upstairs. When they told him to put down his gun he refused and the police fired six shots. Mal Evans died instantly. more on this story

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