'Fifth Beatle' has died

How many 'fifth Beatles' were there?

RIP George Martin.

Good question Merlot!

Not really sad news is it? He had a long and fulfilling life.

Classic FM played a beautiful piece this morning which they play often that I hadn't realised was composed by Sir George.

I agree roses. He was 90. It was his time. I can't honestly say it makes me feel sad that he's gone - I didn't know him!

DH said, 'Just think what an awful racket some pop music would have been without him'

We've a lot to thank him for

RIP George. As a Beatles fanatic in my youth, he was very much part of it.

Radio 5 did a couple of hours on the death of Sir George Martin but it was more like a Beatles tribute. I could never stand the Beatles, and without George Martin they would have sounded the trite and tinny band they were. Only George Harrison could actually play and only later as a solo artist. George Martin padded them out with session musicians who could play, but he did so much more than produce the Beatles, I didn't hear any of it this morning.

I expect a deluge of indignation from Beatles fans. Feel free to beat me up!

rosesarered I think always sad when someone dies.

No deluge from me - we all have differing views I saw them live five times. They were great (I'm prejudice I know). I didn't notice any session musicians.

it's*

Yeah, God Bless George. A fan of the Beatles and of Sir George Martin, a lovely, gentle man.

My son does keep coming and telling me about the latest celeb who has died, it's been quite a lot recently. If I tie him up, will it stop?

Bill Wyman's been diagnosed with cancer too.

caffeineaddict what an odd thing for you to say, you must spend a lot of time 'feeling sad' then.

He was a successful record producer/manager, who presumably loved his job and had a good innings at 90.Nothing for anyone but his family to feel sad about.

It's sad in that, as with Bowie he was a part of our lives for such a long time; I don't think caffeineaddict wrote it with the implication that she/he was wailing into her/his cornflakes #don'tshootthemessenger

I'm going off here for today, too much making judgements of people and not the topics for my liking.

Exactly what Tegan said! I didn't say I was 'feeling sad' rosesarered, I just said it was sad that he has died, and I think it's always sad when someone dies. The loss of life is a sad thing.

I think it's crazy to call him the 'fifth Beatle'. I was hardly aware of his existence and I loved the Beatles!

Caffeine; do you watch those BBC4 programmes about the making of certain albums? It always fascinates me how a simple idea can change a whole song or album, usually thought of by the producer/sound engineer etc. Sometimes even a mistake that they then keep in.

..caffeine; if I was you I'd just shut up and go and have a cup of coffee [and I'll join you ].....

Why is it crazy btw? The 5th Beatle is a generic term that applies to several people who have been involved with the band over the years..most people are aware of the term [imo]....

btw has anyone got a problem with the words 'record producer' [just wondering...] might as well criticise the whole post...

Crazy probably because he never had the to die for looks that the actual Beatles seemed to have at that time. Or the personality. Or the sound.

Shall I go on?

I saw them when there were (I think) six of them. None of them were wots-'is-features. I would have noticed.