Beatles electronics guru Magic Alex dies

Magic Alex, one of the most colourful and mysteryious characters in the Beatles' story, has died at the age of 74. Born Yanni ('John') Alexis Mardas, he became a close friend of The Beatles in the mid 1960s, eventually becoming head of Apple Electronics in London. In 1965 Mardas exhibited his Kinetic Light Sculptures at London's Indica Gallery, and the following year met John Lennon. The pair formed a close friendship, and Lennon nicknamed him Magic Alex. Mardas made a number of electronic devices which amused Lennon and the other Beatles, and invented and researched a number of other concepts