The Beatles‘ press officer Tony Barrow, who is credited with coining the phrase “the Fab Four” to describe the pop group, has passed away.
Barrow (pictured above in the white shirt) died on Saturday (May 14) at his home in Morecambe, in the north of England. The cause of death has not yet been announced. He was 80 years old.
Following the news, Paul McCartney took to Twitter to pay tribute to Barrow. “Tony Barrow was a lovely guy who helped us in the early years of The Beatles. He was super professional but always ready for a laugh,” McCartney wrote, adding: “He will be missed but remembered by many of us.”
Barrow worked with The Beatles between 1962 and 1968. He coined the phrase “the Fab Four” in an early press release, which went on to become the group’s popular nickname.
After The Beatles, Barrow later represented acts such as The Kinks, The Bay City Rollers, The Monkees, Tony Bennett and The Jackson Five.
Tony Barrow was a lovely guy who helped us in the early years of The Beatles. He was super professional but always ready for a laugh. (1/2)
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) May 15, 2016
He will be missed but remembered by many of us. (2/2)
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) May 15, 2016
Earlier this month, Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono attended the memorial service of late Beatles producer George Martin, who passed away in March aged 90.