The Beatles
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The Beatles formed in 1960 in Liverpool, England and forever changed the course of music history. They are the biggest, greatest and highly influential British rock band up to the present. They managed to maintain their worldwide success in six years since 1964 and their supremacy remained unchallenged even up to this day, decades after they disbanded in 1970. Their direct and energetic songs kept them at the top of the charts. They've set new trends in rock music with their albums such as, Rubber Soul in 1965, Revolver in 1996 and their eponymous album in 1968.
The Beatles were the named the top selling artists of all time in the US and by 1985, EMI estimated over a billion copies of their records were sold worldwide.
Contents |
About
In 1957, teenage rebel and guitarist, John Lennon formed a rock and roll band known as The Quarrymen. Four months later, they were joined by another guitarist, Paul McCartney whom he met while playing at the Woolton Parish Church. A friend of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, joined The Quarrymen two years later.
In the late 50's, their group constantly changed lineups. Members came and went, joining them but eventually leaving. The members that remained with The Quarrymen were John Lennon (rhythm guitar), George Harrison (lead guitar) and Paul McCartney (rhythm guitar).
In May 1960, they toured with Johnny Gentle as his backup band. Since they had no drummer, the group secured the service of Tommy Moore an hour before their first gig. He was considerably older than the others that this became an issue to him and subsequently left the band and went back to work as a fork lift truck driver in a bottling company. Norman Chapman became their second drummer but his career with the band was very short-lived. He left a few weeks later after being called to National Service.
The Quarrymen constantly changed their name from Johnny and The Moondogs, John and the Beatles, The Silver Beatles and in August 17, 1960, they dropped the Silver off their band name and settled for The Beatles.
John Lennon's college friend, Stuart Sutcliffe joined the band on bass and Pete Best as their new drummer. The Beatles started playing in Hamburg bars, namely Kaiserkeller and Indra, where they played a grueling six to seven hours, seven nights a week.
At the end of 1960, they went back to Liverpool and suddenly they became the most exciting act in their local circuit. The following year, they returned to Hamburg for their engagements but Stuart Sutcliffe didn't join them. He stayed in Germany to concentrate on his art school studies and eventually dropped out of the band.
His departure led McCartney to take over on bass, while the other remained on their instruments. In the middle of that year, they had their first recording as a backup band for the singer/guitarist, Tony Sheridan in Germany.
Their engagements in Hamburg gained them artistic fans including Stuart's girlfriend, Astrid Kricherr, who influenced them (except Best) to change their hairstyle into mop tops which gave them their most distinctive trademark. During their third stay in Hamburg on the opening of Star Club, the group was informed about Sutcliffe's tragic death due to brain hemorrhage.
Near the end of 1961, their increasing popularity caught the attention of Brian Epstein, the manager of a local record store and he eventually became their manager. In January 1, 1962, they acquired an audition at Decca Records. Unfortunately, they were turned down flat as did several British labels. When they were hopeless in getting a record, Epstein met producer, George Martin of Parlophone, an EMI subsidiary. Epstein's perseverance paid off when Martin signed them in mid-1962.
Epstein groomed The Beatles by changing their appearances with tailored suits and ties. Aside from changing their looks, another change took place. In August 1962, drummer Pete Best was kicked out of the band. There are many speculations surrounding the cause of his offing from the band. Some of the reasons are his personality (refused to adopt their trademark hairstyle), his musical shortcomings (Martin thought he wasn't good enough for the band and suggested to Epstein to have another drummer during recording), and the jealousy of the three founding members because of his increasing popularity (many fans considered him good looking). They immediately enlisted Ringo Starr (real name Richard Starkey), who was at that time a drummer of another popular Merseybeat group, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Ringo Starr had been with The Beatles when they recorded the single Love Me Do in September of 1962. The single was Paul McCartney and John Lennon's originals and their songwriting tandem would be credited to The Beatles' material all throughout their career.
Love Me Do was a minor hit in the UK charts, peaking at number 17. Eighteen months later, it reached the US market where it topped the US singles charts. It was swiftly followed by From Me To You and their title track Please, Please Me, where the latter amazingly topped the British charts for 30 weeks.
Having a huge success in the UK from early 1963, Capitol Records refused to release the singles "Please, Please Me," "From Me To You" and "Love Me Do" (in May 1964, Love Me Do reached the top spot in the US charts for over 18 months). Their reasons maybe because no British act has ever made and sustained commercial impact in the American audience. Despite the refusal of the American counterpart to release the singles, a music director of Chicago's radio station WLS Art Roberts managed to place in rotation the single "Please, Please Me" in late February of the same year. It was the first Beatles' record to possibly make it on the American radio. This time, Swan Label, a Philadelphia based label, tried to issue again a single from The Beatles, She Loves You, but failed to receive airplay. When it was featured in DJ Murray the K of 1010WINS record revue in October, it received an overwhelming response from the American audience. Soon, Capitol Records issued I Want To Hold Your Hand which catapulted to the top of the US charts, on a bigger scale in Britain, selling over a million copies in just 10 days!
Despite the criticisms and comments on how they will vanish within months as their novelty wear off, they remained successful, proving many wrong by having top-five best selling singles and other entries in the US Billboard 100. They continued reaching the top spot until their break-up in 1970. Twelve percent of the charts consists of their singles, it was a feat never repeated.
Their appearance in the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964 had a record-breaking 73 million viewers (almost 40% of the American population at that time) who tuned in and marked the launching of Beatlemania. Their success in the US market gave way to other Brit acts such as The Animals, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks. Other inspired American bands like Lovin' Spoonful and Beau Brummels mounted a challenge of songwriting which they owed to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The Beatles began their world tour in 1964 starting with New Zealand and Australia, where they were greeted by more than 300,000 people, the largest crowd in their touring career. Between their international tours (1964-1965), they still managed to continue releasing chart-topping hits and albums. They performed their first stadium concert in Shea Stadium, New York on August 15, 1965 in front of 55,600 cheering and screaming fans, and realized that they couldn't hear themselves playing or singing anymore.
In the summer of 1966, they toured the Philippines which became an unforgettable event. While there, they unintentionally snubbed the invitation of the country's first lady, Imelda Marcos for a breakfast reception in the Presidential Palace. They were presented an invitation which their manager, Brian Epstein politely declined in behalf of the group. The snubbing was widely spread through radio and Philippine' TV and when they were set to leave the country, they have to make their way to Manila airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) on their own, where angry mobs are waiting for them. The group was pushed and jostled while a roadie was kicked and beaten. Epstein was forced to return the money the band earned while in the Philippines.
As soon as they returned from their unforgettable experience in the Philippines, a casual remark by John Lennon back in March 1966 about The Beatles being more popular than Jesus (due to his opinion that Christianity is dying) led to a clash between the group and the religious society particularly in the southern part of the US and South Africa, where their records were banned and burned. Under the heavy pressure from the American media and the demand for an apology by the religious and social conservatives, John Lennon did apologize in a press conference held in Chicago on August 11, 1966, 18 days after they performed their last concert in Candlestick Park, San Francisco.
From then on, they concentrated on recording, which resulted to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, released on the first day of June, 1967. The album was a commercial success, which also marked the beginning of their final period.
The Beatles were not ready for what had happened on August 27, 1967, when their manager, Brian Epstein, was found dead due to drug overdose. The incident left the group without a manager. Their situation even got worse when The Magical Mystery Tour, aired on BBC TV on December 1967, and was panned. Due to lack of basic professionalism and focus, it received their first ever negative criticism. In early 1968, they decided to spend time studying transcendential meditation in Uttar Pradesh, India with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During their stay, Harrison became interested in Indian music, and he bought a sitar which was used in their single Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown). It was the first time a sitar was used on a rock record. They also used another Indian instrument on their record (the swarmandel).
Upon returning from India, The Beatles started Apple Records and in the middle of 1968, they became busy recording The White Album which added to their string of successful albums. The audience discerned the The Beatles' individual songs. Each member became more concerned in expressing themselves which presented a growing problem.
George Harrison resented his junior status, he became a skilled songwriter but had problems in putting it into the album due to Paul's dominance of the production. Ringo Starr, usually a good-natured man, quit the band for a couple of weeks in the middle of The White Album sessions. Personal interests also started to take place. John Lennon's artistic and romantic pursuits with his future wife, Yoko Ono, also diverted his attention away from the band.
Paul Mccartney wanted his father-in-law Lee Eastman, to manage the group but the remaining members disagreed, wanting Allen Klein to be their manager instead. This is the time that the Fab Four could not decide in unison. The three members also felt that if they agreed on Lee Eastman, he would definitely look after Paul's well-being before them. Eventually, the group agreed on American businessman, Allen Klein to take charge of the managerial position.
The Beatles went on the top of their Apple Studio in London on January 30, 1969 and performed their last live concert but were eventually stopped by the police.
In the summer of 1969, the group released one of their most unified album, Abbey Road. Despite the group's progress, (George Harrison composed two of the hit singles off this album, Here Come The Sun and Something), it turned out to be their final album. In September of that same year, John Lennon announced his departure from the group, but it was not made public. He began releasing solo singles and also performing with friends as The Plastic Ono Band.
In March 1970, their Get Back session tapes were given to American producer, Phil Spector who added some instrumentations and mixing in the the tape particularly on string overdubs for the track The Long and Winding Road, which made McCartney dissatisfied. The Get Back sessions tape resulted to Let It Be. Its release was delayed to coincide with the documentary film of the same title.
The outside world was unaware of The Beatles' serious friction. Actually there was no recording done since August 19699 and each member began to pursue their personal interests in music, John Lennon performing with Plastic Ono Band, George Harrison's touring with Delaney and Bonnie, Ringo Starr acting in movies particularly in Magic Christian and Paul McCartney's debut album as a solo artist. When McCartney announced their officially breaking up on April 10, 1970 (a week before the release of his debut solo album), it caught the world in a devastating shock. His announcement was included in the press release of his new album, explaining his hopes about the future and his intention to work independently.
Following the break up was the conflict on the release dates of the group's Let It Be and McCartney's solo album. Lennon, Harrison and Starr asked McCartney to delay the release of his album to a later date to give way to their Let It Be album, which McCartney refused. Their feud grew over the next years, evidenced by McCartney filing a lawsuit against the rest of the group to dissolve The Beatles as an entity on December 31, 1970.
Although they met a bitter end, they each released successful solo albums including John Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, both released in 1970. Paul McCartney's Ram in 1971 and Ringo Starr's Ringo were released in 1973. Their split is, in some way, beneficial to them, letting them freely express their individual talents, especially George Harrison, who was over shadowed by Lennon-McCartney tandem.
Paul Mccartney had a harder time with the critics since he received most of the blame for the band's break up. It was a bit unfair to put all the blame on him since he had contributed more than the others to keep the group intact after their manager's untimely death. Other members also threatened to leave the band before his departure. Despite all of this, Paul McCartney still managed to hit it big with the massive success of Band On The Run.
In 1971, they discovered that their manager, Allen Klein stole £5,000,000 from The Beatles' holdings. Two years later, John Lennon admitted to Paul Mccartney that they should have chosen Lee Eastman's management. In some way, this event helped mend their indifferences, but not entirely. Any hopes of reuniting faded away when John Lennon was assassinated by a fan, Mark Chapman on December 8, 1980 in New York City.
The three surviving Beatles reunited in February 1994 to record and produce a few of John Lennon's unfinished demos. Free As A Bird was released as a part of a television documentary, The Beatles Anthology then later as a single with Real Love in March 1996. Both were included in the never-before released materials in the three Anthology collections released in 1995 and 1996. They again become increasingly popular, selling 450,000 units of Anthology 1 on its first day of release. It was the highest volume of sales for an album on its single day release. A compilation album 1, released in 2000, contains all number one singles released by The Beatles from 1962 to 1970. It sold more than three million copies on its first week and 12 million copies on its third week! The fastest and biggest selling album for 2000. Unfortunately, the following year, George Harrison died of cancer and the remaining members McCartney and Starr, continued on their own careers.
In 2006, with the permission of the three remaining Beatles, Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin remixed 130 Beatles songs and song fragments into a new sound track "Love". This sound track is the basis of a new Cirque Du Soleil theatrical interpretation of dance and imagery.
Band Members
John Lennon Vocals/Guitar (Deceased)
Paul McCartney Vocals/Bass
George Harrison Guitar/Vocals (Deceased)
Ringo Starr Drums/Vocals
Former Members
Stuart Sutcliffe Bassist (1960-1961) (Deceased)
Pete Best Drums (1960-1962)
Filmography
By the time The Beatles were breaking records with their albums and topping charts with their singles, they were also signed to do a movie. A Hard Days Night is a black and white documentary styled, fictional movie focusing on the Beatlemania and their touring lifestyle. It was considered as the best rock and roll movie ever made. Following A Hard Days Night is 'Help! (1965) made with a much bigger budget and in color but failed to match the commercial success of their first movie. Both movies were directed by Richard Lester, known for directing BBC's radio series, The Goon Show and an off-beat short film, The Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film.
In 1967, The Beatles produced and directed their own television film, the Magical Mystery Tour which was Paul McCartney's idea. The film portrayed The Beatles as superheroes with dyed black hair. The film was in color and at that time, BBC-1 only transmit in black and white. It was repeated a few days later on BBC-2 now in colow which received more appreciation.
Following the bombed Magical Mystery Tour is the animated Yellow Submarine in 1968. The Beatles had little involvement neither in the film nor its soundtrack. But, they were pleased with the result of them film.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | World Music Award | World's Best Selling Pop Rock Artists/Group |
| 1997 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Free As A Bird" |
| 1997 | Grammy Award | Best Music Video, Long Form for "The Beatles Anthology" |
| 1997 | Won Grammy Award | Best Music Video, Short Form for "Free As A Bird" |
| 1996 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for Free As A Bird |
| 1996 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Music Video, Short Form for Free As A Bird |
| 1996 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Music Video, Long Form for The Beatles Anthology |
| 1988 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Performer Inductees | |
| 1983 | Brit Award | Outstanding Contribution |
| 1977 | Brit Award | Best British Album for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band" |
| 1977 | Brit Award | Best British Group |
| 1972 | Grammy Trustees Award | |
| 1971 | Grammy Award | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or TV Special for "Let It Be" |
| 1970 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special Let It Be |
| 1968 | Won Grammy Award | Best Contemporary Album for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" |
| 1968 | Grammy Award | Album of the Year for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" |
| 1967 | Annual GRAMMY Awards | Album Of The Year for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
| 1967 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Contemporary Album for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
| 1966 | GRAMMY Awards | Song Of The Year Michelle |
| 1965 | Grammy Award | Best New Artist |
| 1965 | Grammy Award | Best Performance by a Vocal Group for "A Hard Day's Night" |
| 1964 | GRAMMY Awards | Best Performance By A Vocal Group A Hard Day's Night |
| 1964 | GRAMMY Awards | Best New Artist Of 1964 |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Album | The Billboard 200 |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Love | 4 |
| 2006 | The Capitol Albums Vol. 2 | 46 |
| 2004 | The Capitol Albums Vol. 1 | 35 |
| 2003 | Let It Be... Naked | 5 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | Yellow Submarine Songtrack | 15 |
| 1996 | Anthology 2 | 1 |
| 1996 | Anthology 3 | 1 |
| 1995 | Anthology 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | Live At The BBC | 3 |
| 1988 | Past Masters Vol.1 | 149 |
| 1988 | Past Masters Vol.2 | 121 |
| 1987 | Abbey Road | 69 |
| 1987 | Let It Be | 88 |
| 1987 | Magical Mystery Tour | 163 |
| 1987 | Sgt. Pepper s Lonely Hearts Club Band | 141 |
| 1987 | The White Album | 87 |
| 1987 | Yellow Submarine | 180 |
| 1984 | 20 Greatest Hits | 142 |
| 1984 | The Beatles 1962-1966 | 136 |
| 1984 | The Beatles 1967-1970 | 133 |
| Year | Single | The Billboard Hot 100 | Adult Contemporary | Mainstream Rock Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Free As A Bird | 6 | ~ | ~ |
| 1996 | Real Love | 11 | ~ | ~ |
| 1995 | Baby It's You | 67 | ~ | ~ |
| 1995 | Free As A Bird | ~ | 19 | 8 |
| 1986 | Twist And Shout | 23 | ~ | ~ |
News
Announcements
October 04, 2006 The Beatles' "Love" album is released.
Discography
Comprehensive list of the recordings made.
U.S. Albums
 Introducing... The Beatles
1964-01-10 |
 Meet The Beatles!
1964-01-20 |
 The Beatles' Second Album
1964-04-10 |
 A Hard Day's Night
1964-06-26 |
 Something New
1964-06-20 |
 Beatles '65
1964-12-15 |
 Beatles VI
1965-06-14 |
 Help!
1965-08-06 |
 Rubber Soul
1965-12-03 |
 Yesterday... and Today
1966-06-14 |
 Revolver
1966-08-08 |
 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1967-06-02 |
 The Beatles
1968-11-25 |
 Abbey Road
1969-10-01 |
 Hey Jude
1970-02-26 |
 Let It Be
1970-05-18 |
 Please Please Me
1987-07-21 |
U.K. Albums
Please Please Me
1963-03-22 |
With The Beatles!
1963-11-22 |
 A Hard Day's Night
1964-07-10 |
 Beatles for Sale
1964-12-04 |
 Help!
1965-08-06 |
Rubber Soul
1965-12-03 |
Revolver
1966-08-05 |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1967-06-01 |
The Beatles
1968-11-25 |
 Yellow Submarine
1969-01-17 |
Abbey Road
1969-09-26 |
Let It Be
1970-05-08 |
EPs
 Twist and Shout
1963-07-12 |
 The Beatles' Hits
1963-09-06 |
 No. 1
1963-11-01 |
 All My Loving
1964-02-07 |
 Souvenir of Their Visit to America
1964-03-23 |
 Long Tall Sally
1964-06-19 |
 Extracts From the Film 'A Hard Day's Night'
1964-11-04 |
 Extracts From the Album 'A Hard Day's Night'
1964-11-06 |
Beatles for Sale, No. 2
1965-06-04 |
 The Beatles' Million Sellers
1965-12-06 |
 Magical Mystery Tour
1967-12-08 |
Singles
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 1963-05-27 | From Me to You |
| 1963-09-16 | She Loves You |
| 1963-12-26 | I Want to Hold Your Hand |
| 1964-01-16 | Love Me Do / I Saw Her Standing There |
| 1964-03-02 | Twist and Shout |
| 1964-03-16 | Can't Buy Me Love |
| 1964-03-23 | Do You Want to Know a Secret |
| 1964-03-27 | Cry for a Shadow |
| 1964-04-27 | Love Me Do |
| 1964-05-21 | Sie Liebt Dich |
| 1964-06-25 | Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand |
| 1964-07-06 | Ain't She Sweet |
| 1964-07-20 | And I Love Her |
| 1964-08-20 | I Should Have Known Better |
| 1964-08-24 | Matchbox |
| 1964-11-23 | I Feel Fine |
| 1965-02-15 | Eight Days a Week |
| 1965-03-11 | Rock and Roll Music |
| 1965-04-19 | Ticket to Ride |
| 1965-09-13 | Yesterday |
| 1965-10-11 | Boys |
| 1965-12-06 | We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper |
| 1966-02-21 | Nowhere Man |
| 1966-05-30 | Paperback Writer |
| 1966-08-08 | Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby |
| 1967-02-13 | Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane |
| 1967-07-17 | All You Need Is Love |
| 1967-11-27 | Hello, Goodbye |
| 1968-03-18 | Lady Madonna |
| 1969-05-05 | Get Back |
| 1969-06-04 | The Ballad of John and Yoko |
| 1969-10-06 | Something |
| 1970-05-11 | The Long and Winding Road |
| 1976-05-31 | Got to Get You Into My Life |
| 1976-06-01 | Back in the U.S.S.R. |
| 1976-11-08 | Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da |
| 1978-08-14 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / With a Little Help From My Friends |
| 1982-03-22 | The Beatles' Movie Medley |
| 1994-03-20 | Baby It's You |
| 1995-12-04 | Free as a Bird |
| 1996-03-04 | Real Love |
Compilations and other releases
 1962-1966
1973-04-02 |
 1967-1970
1973-04-19 |
 Rock 'n' Roll Music
1976-06-07 |
 Love Songs
1977 |
 Rarities
1980-03-28 |
 Reel Music
1982-03-22 |
 20 Greatest Hits
1983-05-13 |
 Past Masters, Volume One
1988-03-08 |
 Past Masters, Volume Two
1988-03-08 |
 The Early Tapes of the Beatles
1993-05-18 |
 Live at the BBC
1996 |
 Anthology 1
1995-11-21 |
 Anthology 2
1996-03-19 |
 Anthology 3
1996-10-29 |
Yellow Submarine Songtrack
1999-09-13 |
 1
2000-11-14 |
 Let It Be... Naked
2003-11-18 |
 The Capitol Albums, Volume 2 (Help!)
2006-04-11 |
 Love
2006-11-20 |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Chosen "The Icon of the Century" in a poll made by Variety to mark its 100th anniversary.
- Their album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was voted the 2nd Greatest Album of All Time in a major music poll organized by the book of "British Hit Singles and Albums" and music website NME.com, while their set "Revolver" came at 3rd (June 2006)
- Ranked 2nd in the UK Top 10 list of Most Popular Bands Of All Time (July 2005).
- Their song "She Loves You" was ranked 3rd in a poll held by "Uncut" magazine of the 100 Songs, Movies, TV Shows and Books that "Changed the World" in the opinion of musicians, actors and industry experts (August 2005).
- Johann Sebastian Bach was one of their musical influence which can be heard on Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever where they used the piccolo trumpet and a Mellotron, respectively.
Reviews
External Links
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