The Beatles were a rock and pop band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). Although their initial musical style was rooted in 1950s rock and roll and skiffle, the group worked with different musical genres. After the band broke up in 1970, all four members embarked upon successful solo careers.
The Beatles were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music, selling over one billion records internationally.
FORMATION
n March 1957 John Lennon formed a skiffle group called The Quarrymen. Lennon met Paul McCartney on 6 July 1957 and agreed to join the group a few days later. On 6 February 1958, George Harrison was invited to watch the group. Harrison joined the Quarrymen as lead guitarist . After original Quarrymen drummer Colin Hanton left the band in 1959, the band had a high turnover of drummers. Lennon's friend Stuart Sutcliffe joined on bass in January 1960. The band changed their name to "The Beatles" in 1960.
CAVERN CLUB AND BRIAN EPSTEIN
The band returned to Liverpool, and on Tuesday, 21 February 1961, they made their first lunchtime appearance at The Cavern Club. From 1961 to 1962 The Beatles made 292 appearances at the club. On 9 November 1961, Brian Epstein saw The Beatles for the first time in the club. The Beatles signed a five-year contract with Brian Epstein on 24 January 1962. The Beatles returned to Hamburg from 13 April to 31 May 1962, where they performed at the opening of The Star Club. Upon their arrival, they were informed of Sutcliffe's death from a brain haemorrhage.
BREAKUP
In March 1970, the Get Back session tapes were given to American producer Phil Spector, who had produced Lennon's solo single "Instant Karma!". Spector's Wall of Sound production values went against the original intent of the record, which had been to record a stripped-down live performance. McCartney was deeply dissatisfied with Spector's treatment of "The Long and Winding Road" and unsuccessfully attempted to halt release of Spector's version of the song.
POST- BREAKUP
Lennon and McCartney never recorded together again. John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman on 8 December 1980 in New York City. In 1988, The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After this George Harrison died in a car accident.
STUDIO ALBUMS
- Please Please Me (Parlophone, 1963)
- With The Beatles (Parlophone, 1963)
- A Hard Day's Night (Parlophone, 1964)
- Beatles for Sale (Parlophone, 1964)
- Help! (Parlophone, 1965)
- Rubber Soul (Parlophone, 1965)
- Revolver (Parlophone, 1966)
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Parlophone, 1967)
- Magical Mystery Tour (U.S./Canada only. Released as a Double EP in the UK) (Capitol, 1967)
- The Beatles ("The White Album") (Apple, 1968)
- Yellow Submarine (Apple, 1969)
- Abbey Road (Apple, 1969)
- Let It Be (Apple, 1970)
PICTURES
