 LIVERPOOL-BORN writer and musician Gary Hall has published a vitriolic attack on the Beatles, labelling them "clap-trap". Living Life Without Loving The Beatles: A Survivor's Guide has already sold 1,000 copies, but how many Merseysiders would be interested? ESTHER McVEY, broadcaster and prospective parliamentary candiate for Wirral South Conservatives "Whoever says the Beatles are over-rated is talking through his hat and just wants to be contentious to sell his book. Public opinion has said they're brilliant over the last 40 years. "To create songs that range from the Long and Winding Road through to Sergeant Pepper means that the breadth of The Beatles' appreciation runs through all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. "It is the equivalent of popular poetry in music. There is something there for everyone. There's a Beatle for everyone, a song for everyone, a lyric and a line for everyone. "I'm not the biggest Paul McCartney fan, but I went to see a concert on his latest tour and was astonished by the wealth of material he performed. He was on stage for three hours and I knew the words to almost every song. Who else has created that sort of a repertoire?" JOHN KEITH, 58, author of books on Dixie Dean and Billy Liddell, presenter of Radio Merseyside's Football Phone-in "I think the Beatles have been very positive for Liverpool. Although the individual members may have had their own troubles, the group as an entity has been a great brand image for Merseyside because they were globally famous. "In recent years, there may have been an over-indulgence in the Beatles in Liverpool, but they attract visitors from all over the world. However, I think some of the brilliant comedians from the city might have felt a bit miffed about the attention drawn to the Beatles because they made the city famous long before Merseybeat. "Overall, though, the Beatles have been very positive for the city. If you have a good thing, milk it." GEOFF DAVIES, proprietor of Probe Plus Records, the Liverpool-based label of Half Man Half Biscuit "You cannot dislike the Beatles. There's a case for hating some of the more sickly McCartney stuff, but generally they were very good. "There will always be those who say they hate the Beatles but when you analyse their arguments they usually don't make any sense. There is always some sort of prejudice there to put that judgment under question. Even Nigel out of the Biscuits likes them." STUART MACONIE, Wigan-born writer and broadcaster "I don't think it's strange that some should hate the Beatles, but it would have to be an affectation because if you don't like the Beatles you don't like pop music. It's merely done to get a reaction. "Between Ticket to Ride and Helter Skelter, there's got to be something you like. It's like saying you don't like Elvis - you may not like some of his songs but if you like neither him nor the Beatles then you don't like music, full stop. You may as well spend all your time visiting vintage car rallies instead." | 
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