The convenient death of Mal Evans

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from the February 12, 1976 issue of *Rolling Stone*

'Sixth Beatle' Mal Evans Killed in Los Angeles

By Patrick Snyder and Dolores Ziebarth

Los Angeles -- Malcolm "Mal" Evans, 40, who was road manager and bodyguard of the Beatles from 1963 until their breakup, was shot to death by police in his rented duplex at 8122 West 4th Street the night of January 4th.

Earlier in the evening, Fran Hughes, 26, who was living with Evans, called John Hoernle, Evans's collaborator on a book about the Beatles. Hoernle said he found Evans despondent, crying, "really doped up and groggy." Evans told him, "Please make sure you and Joanne [Lenard, the assistant on the book project] finish the book." Then the two men went to an upstairs bedroom, where Evans picked up a 30.30 rifle which Hoernle said was unloaded. They scuffled over the rifle but Hoernle was unable to take it away.

Hughes called the police, telling them, "My old man has a gun and has taken Valium and is totally screwed up."

Four officers arrived shortly and two of them, "David D. Krempa, 30, and Robert E. Brannon, 27, went upstairs. According to the police report, Evans, upon seeing the policemen, pointed the rifle at them. Lt. Charles Higbie of the LAPD robbery and homicide division said, "Officers directed him to put down the rifle. He refused to put down the rifle. The officers then fired six shots, four of which struck Evans, killing him instantly.

Evans's manuscript, tentatively titled *Living with the Beatles Legend*, was to have been delivered to Grosset and Dunlap January 12th for publication this year. Evans, who had produced part of Keith Moon's last solo album, had also contracted to produce a new group called Natural Gas, made up of Joey Molland (formerly of Badfinger), ex-Humble Pie Jerry Shirley, ex-Rare Bird David Kaffinetti and Mark Clake (formerly of Uriah Heep). The group has not signed with any label but was scheduled to record January 5th.

Evans was described by friends as both a "fantastic person" and "very troubled man." He was separated from his wife Lilly, who reportedly had asked for a divorce shortly before Christmas.

"If Brian Epstein was the fifth Beatle," Evans's lawyer John Mason said, "then Mal was the sixth."

Evans's body was cremated in Los Angeles January 7th, with Harry Nilsson and other friends attending. The ashes were flown to England for final services.

-- from the February 12, 1976 issue of *Rolling Stone*