Who's the Redhead on the roof?---book review

If you are a Beatles fan, then you have seen the photos of the Beatles during the rooftop concert and have seen a redheaded guy holding music for John Lennon.    Ever wonder who that guy was?   Well through this blog, we were able to learn that his name is Kevin Harrington and he worked for the Beatles in the late 1960's.    And he has written an ebook with the appropriate title Who's the Redhead on the Roof?

Interestingly enough, Kevin got the job in 1966 when he 15 years when he saw an ad in the "help wanted" section of the newspaper for an office boy wanted at NEMS.   For awhile Kevin was the boy that delivered things for Brian Epstein---pretty impressive!    Things progressed along and Kevin eventually ended up working alongside Mal Evans at EMI, getting the Beatles whatever they needed.

I really enjoyed reading the kind things about Mal in this book.   I often say that Mal does not get the recognition he deserves and Kevin really shows how kind Mal was to "the boys" and others.    Even though they didn't part on the best of terms, Kevin never bad mouthed Mal, which he could have easily done.   

Kevin and Mal in a photo from the book

The part I loved the most in this book is the chapter about the Apple Scruffs.   I found it hilarious that Kevin felt intimated by the Apple Scruff girls at first.    Really?    But I guess I can understand---they were there every day in all types of weather and knew where the Beatles would be.   But he eventually became friends with them and received the honor of  being named "Mr. Valentine" in the Apple Scruff Monthly in 1970.   He even asked one of the girls to be his "date" to the premiere of "Let it Be."    

Kevin and George leave 3 Savile Row with some fans outside

Kevin shares a little of what went on in the studio from 1968-1970, but he stayed away from the politics and knew very little about the disagreements between the Fab 4.    He did accompany Paul to a trip out to Kinfauns to talk to George after George quit the band, but stayed in the car the entire time.  

If you are looking for a book that is technical and gives you the complete ins and outs of working in the studio with the Beatles, you aren't going to find it here.    But if you are looking for a quick summer read about a guy that had one of the best jobs ever and his personal memories of that job, then this is the book for you.    I really enjoyed it and I found myself often laughing at some of the stories.  Can you imagine having to buy tampons for Yoko Ono?   I would put "Who's the Redhead on the Roof" as one of my "must read" Beatle books for the summer of 2015.

It is only available on ebook (which is a shame because I would like a "hard copy" version).  You can order it for $9.99 through Amazon.