'Fifth Beatle' Neil Aspinall dead at 66

LONDON, March 24 (UPI) -- Neil Aspinall, the British business adviser known as the "Fifth Beatle," has died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He was 66.

The Daily Mail said former Beatle Paul McCartney flew from London during the weekend to be with Aspinall.

"As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come," Apple Corps -- the company the Beatles set up to manage their business interests -- said in a statement issued on behalf of

McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. "All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man."

The newspaper said Aspinall is believed to have suffered from lung cancer.