Q&A: Chris 0'Dell on the Beatles, the Stones and life in the rock n' roll asylum

     Chris O'Dell (Photo by Joyce Ravid)

Editor's note: Chris O'Dell's book, "Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved", is difficult to put down. The inside stories she tells are fascinating. We questioned Chris via email. Pictures of Chris O'Dell and her friends are in the slideshow at the bottom fo the page.

Q: There are many books out about the "secrets" of the Beatles. What distinguishes yours from them?
Chris O'Dell: Well, I'm not sure what you mean by secrets, but I believe that my book is an insider's view of that historical period from a unique position. I was one of the very first tour managers and certainly only one of three Americans working at Apple and around the Beatles during the Sixties. I also became a part of their intimate circle of friends. I hope that my book gives the reader the feeling that they are right there with me.

Q: Did the Beatles have an "other world" aura about them as you dealt with them or were they just other people like you and me?
Chris O'Dell: They were definitely people like you and me but with a lack of privacy that we might enjoy. I think that they tried as much as possible during those years to hold on to their "normality." Paul took the bus to Apple, George tried spirituality, Ringo had his family and John wanted a close relationship which he found with Yoko.

Q: Was Apple really the crazed place we've heard it was or was it somewhat organized?
Chris O'Dell: I think it was fun and full of surprises each day. We all worked hard, the Beatles included, to make Apple a successful business. One must remember that we were mostly all in our twenties at that time, Beatles included, and it was comparable to what Google and yahoo might be today. Yes, in the end, there were excesses and many people taking advantage of the Beatles. But I have to say that the majority of the time, it felt like a business -- a fun place to work -- but a business.

Q: You found Leon Russell weird at first. What changed your mind?
Chris O'Dell: I got to know him on a different level. I think when I found the man who loved through his songs and through his feelings, I got to who he really was.

Q: Describe each of the Beatles. Let's start with John.
Chris O'Dell: John was an eccentric, I guess you could say. By the time I met him Yoko was already in the picture and they were focused on creating art. That seemed strange to some people at the time. But he was always friendly to me. I got to know him the least at the time because he was distracted by Yoko and then they weren't around a lot. Later, in L.A., I spent more time around him. One thing about John was he said it like it was. I liked that.

Q: Paul.
Chris O'Dell: The Charmer, the caring guy who wanted the Beatles to go on forever. He was around a lot and really seemed so natural and so supportive. He was the spokesman, the one who seemed to care the most about Apple succeeding. Only when things got too out of hand, did he take off and do his own thing. He is definitely the one who seemed to like the public spotlight the most.

Q: Ringo's been in the headlines a lot the last couple of years. How does the "Rich" you know differ from the public Ringo?
Chris O'Dell: I've know him a long time and through many different phases. Though I heard Maureen and Barbara both call him Richie, I still think of him and still call him Ringo -- as did the other three Beatles. He can be a very sweet and caring man, but he also can set some strong boundaries around his privacy. He has done a fantastic job of turning his life around from the craziness of the Seventies and Eighties to become a great husband and father.

Q: When George Harrison wrote "Miss O'Dell," you said you were incredibly shocked. How do you feel hearing the song today?
Chris O'Dell: I used to play it occasionally and tear up. Especially after George died. I had a strong feeling of pride that he had left me that song. Today, it's actually the ring tone on my cell phone so I hear a part of it every time someone calls me. I am probably the only person in the world with their own special ring tone.

Q: Bob Dylan has a mysterious public image. How did you find him personally?
Chris O'Dell: Sometimes he could be mysterious. Like when he'd see you in the lobby in the morning on tour and seem like he'd never seen you before in his life! But my experience with him was always good. He loved being a part of the tour and didn't expect to be pampered. That made him so nice to work for.

Q: You were with the Stones at the time "C---sucker Blues" was filmed. Was that an accurate picture of the Stones?
Chris O'Dell: Certainly the film picked up the raunchiest part of the tour. In the background, though, it wasn't quite like that. These guys worked hard, put on a great show, and the bits of craziness were part of that. I think the Stones are and always have been a band that is very serious about what they do, but they carry the reputation of being bad boys and somehow that spills over into reality.

Q: Have you been in touch with Ringo or Paul recently?
Chris O'Dell: I saw Paul for the first time in years at the opening of "Love" in Las Vegas in 2007. Ringo and Barbara I see or talk to more often. I've stayed in touch with them over the years.

Q: A lot of the news stories coming out are calling you a groupie. How do you feel about that categorization?
Chris O'Dell: I don't like it! That's the short answer. The long answer is more complicated. I think it's sad that people don't know how to categorize women from that period who worked and were friends with famous musicians. Not to mention that groupie has become such a derogatory term. Truthfully, there were some amazing fans -- female and male -- who made these bands as popular as they were. My question is why don't they call the guys who worked for these same people groupies? Great question. Good topic.

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