Beatles fans may recognize the late Neil Aspinall as the band's longtime road manager, a trusted associate who later headed their multimedia company, Apple Corps. He also had a rather interesting relationship with Best, given how Aspinall eventually fell in love with his friend's mother, Casbah Club owner Mona Best. According to Meet the Beatles for Real, then-19-year-old Aspinall was one of the many boarders who lived in the Best residence in 1960. Mona was 36 years old and "somewhat separated" from her husband, Pete's stepfather, Johnny Best, who was rarely home.
Johnny was unwilling to grant his wife a divorce despite the obvious strain in their marriage. While it's unclear how Aspinall's friendship with Mona blossomed into love, one thing led to another, and on July 21, 1962, Mona gave birth to Vincent Roag Best (pictured above, playing the drums). To avoid the stigma of having an illegitimate child, Mona listed Johnny Best as the child's father.
Pete Best's friendship with Aspinall, however, was primarily tested by the drummer's firing from the Beatles on August 16, 1962. Expecting that he'd stay loyal to the Best family, Beatles manager Brian Epstein was planning to get a new roadie. However, Aspinall continued working for the band while also preserving his friendship with Pete and his romance with Mona, which lasted a total of eight years, per Goldmine Magazine.
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