HarperNonFiction to publish Gary Kemp and Simon Halfon ‘immersive exploration’ into the world of The Beatles
HarperNonFiction is to publish Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp and Supersonic producer Simon Halfon’s “immersive exploration” into the world of The Beatles. HarperNonFiction publishing director Ajda Vucicevic struck the deal for world all-language rights for 1967 – The World of Brian Epstein and The Beatles with Tim Bates at PFD. The book will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 13th October 2026.
The book is a fusion of biography and detective story, offering a portrait of The Beatles’ inner circle and the cultural moment of the 1960s through Brian Epstein’s address book. It follows a recognisable cast of characters – from Mick Jagger to David Bailey – to explore a “dazzling society of celebrities, musicians, icons, power players and the occasional shady character”. The publisher added: “When Gary Kemp, a lifelong Beatles fan, first acquired the address book, he was seized by an irresistible curiosity. Who was Brian Epstein, really? And who were all these fascinating names? This project offers an intimate and unprecedented exploration of the connections he forged and the figures who helped define a generation. More than just an address book, it is a time capsule of one of the most electrifying years in modern culture: 1967.”
Vucicevic said: “Gary has produced one of the most vivid, definitive accounts of the Beatles’ world — brilliantly written and rigorously researched. It’s a thrilling dive into the characters who orbited Brian Epstein and the band’s core and, thanks to Simon’s inspired design and meticulous visual research, a stunning portrait of the era. Essential for every music fan.”
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Kemp said: “Writing this book felt like an archaeological dig into the life of Brian Epstein, as it was in that final year of his life. Every entry of the 404 in his address book, known or obscure, opened a different aspect of him, sometimes intriguing, often surprising. It was a thrill to work alongside Simon in adding a bit more to pop culture’s greatest story, and a chance to build a picture of the man who made it happen. This is a life through contacts.”
Halfon said: “What appears to be a small black binder opens into a vivid, quietly revealing portrait of Brian Epstein’s world in 1967. Its pages trace the connections of a life well lived at the epicentre of a rapidly shifting cultural moment. More than an address book, it captures a year when both Brian and the Beatles sat at the centre of everything. Working with Gary to illustrate and layout his text – drawing on some of the rarest and most compelling images available – has been a real privilege.”
