Beatles 'shark' Allen Klein passes away aged 77

London (ANI): Music mogul Allen Klein, whose career highlights included celebrated clients such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, passed away aged 77 in New York after suffering from Alzheimer's. The record label executive was said to have earned an infamous reputation as a ruthless operator, digging out money-spinning deals from labels for his clients during his career spanning five decades.

Klein was also held responsible by many for making contributions to the demise of The Beatles after his failure to acquire control of copyrights on their behalf, reports the BBC. He once told Playboy magazine: "Don't talk to me about ethics. Every man makes his own. It's like a war."

Klein said he had been roped in by John Lennon in 1969 since the Beatles wanted "a real shark - someone to keep the other sharks away" and protect the interests of the band. By the time he extracted a lucrative recording deal for The Beatles, the four had already gone off the talking terms, with the group splitting in 1970.

Klein funeral is set to take place in New York on July 7.