CNN is reporting that legendary rock manager Allen Klein has died following a lengthy battle with Alzheimers. Klein was famous for his roster of famous clients, most notably the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and infamous for his hardball tactics and professional ruthlessness. He attained an additional element of pop-culture infamy when he was spoofed by John Belushi as cutthroat Ron Decline "the most feared promoter in the world" in Eric Idle's much-loved Beatles satire The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash. Klein controversially took over the Beatles' finances at the behest of John Lennon, a move many feel hastened the band's breakup by amplifying divisions with the group. Klein also organize the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh.
Klein isn't the only controversial figure to have passed in the past few days. Robert McNamara, former Defense Secretary and Ford President has died at 93. McNamara's handling of the Vietnam War was the subject of Errol Morris' 2003 Oscar-winning documentary Fog Of War.