Maureen Cleave
Journalist, Fabs confidante BORN 1934
Born in British India, Maureen Cleave was working as the London Evening Standard’s showbiz editor and pop critic when she first encountered The Beatles in Liverpool in January 1963. Having written the first national article on the group, a bond was formed, particularly with John Lennon: she was present when The Beatles received their MBEs at Buckingham Palace, while a later interview with
Lennon in March 1966 featured his notorious “bigger than Jesus” remark, provoking much disquiet in the US Christian heartlands. Cleave – affectionately dubbed “Maureen Thingy” by the group – was on-hand to watch the fireworks during the Fabs’ last US tour. She refuted the rumour that Lennon wrote Norwegian Wood about her, but lent constructive criticism to the lyrics for A Hard Day’s Night. She left The Beatles’ orbit in 1966, later reflecting on how, “Theirs was the fascination of repetitive siblings, the almost sinister attraction of identical quads – how alike they were, how very different.” She also guested on Juke Box Jury, wrote for the Telegraph and The Observer, and interviewed names including the Stones and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Clive Prior