The Beatles were a rock band originating from Liverpool, England. They are the most critically acclaimed and most successful music band in history. The quartet is composed of John Lennon on rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar and Ringo Starr on drums. They all sang vocals, but the bands composers were John, Paul and George only.
They have been considered as the number #1 selling music band of all time. They released more than 40 different singles, albums and Extended-Plays (EPs) that reached number 1. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks The Beatles as the #1 Greatest Artist of all time.
Origin
1957, John Lennon formed a folk music group called the Quarrymen. Lennon would eventually meet McCartney then a yound Harrison. Except for the 3, people keep coming in and out of the Quarrymen.
The Quarrymen went through a series of names "Johnny and the Moondogs", "Long John and the Beatles", "the Silver Beetles" then eventually "The Beatles". Lennon told many versions of how he came up with the name. In some magazine it even explained that the name "The Beatles" came from a vision of a man who appeared on a flaming pie and said onto them that "From this day on, you are now Beatles with an A". They also got Lennon's friend Stuart Sutcliffe playing bass.
The Beatles toured in the 1960 as the back-up band for Johnny Gentle. During the tour they had no permanent drummer. They were drummerless going to Hamburg, Germany where they are contracted to play in various clubs. But soon they would acquire Pete Best to become their drummer
The Start
In Hamburg, they played for bars 7 hours a day for 7 days a week. This continued until harrison was deported for lying about his age. McCartney and Pete Best got deported as well for starting a fire in their rooms, they were arrested and charged with arson as well. Lennon and Sutcliffe followed them to Liverpool eventually.
They would reunite and go back to Hamburg at April 1961. There they got recruited by Tony Sheridan to be his backing band for recordings on the German Polydor Records label. They would eventually get their own Polydor recording contract.
After several recordings with Tony Sheridan, it was time for them to go back to Liverpool. Sutcliffe, refused to go with them and stayed in Hamburg with his girlfriend. Paul McCartney took over bass after that.
After being rejected by several labels. They would soon find themselves directed at the direction of George Martin who headed Parlophone label at EMI. Martin was not impressed by the band's demos at first but liked them as people instantly. Martin claimed that their talents were still raw but what made the difference for him that day was their wit and humour in the studio.
A Starr Arrives
Martin had a problem with Pete Best for not keeping time. At the same time the other 3 members had growing grudge against Best. This lead to eventually kicking Best out of the band and replacing him with the Ringo Starr. Their first minor-hit was "Love Me Do" which ranked 17 in the UK chart. ("Love Me Do" reached the top of the U.S. singles chart over 18 months later in May 1964.) November 26, they would release their 2nd single and first number one hit.
Beatlemania
The Beatles growing fanbase were composed of mostly teenage women which led to a phenomena known as Beatlemania.
In America, Vee-Jay Records, a small Chicago label, issued the singles as part of a deal for the rights to another performer's masters. Art Roberts, music director of Chicago powerhouse radio station WLS, placed "Please Please Me" into radio rotation in late February 1963 making it the first time a Beatles record was heard on American radio.
Several New York radio stations began playing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on its release. The Beatlemania that had started in Washington spread throughout the whole country. The record sold one million copies in just ten days.
1964, four thousand fans waved The Beatles goodbye for their first trip cross-Atlantic to America. As they prepared to land the pilot radioed ahead and told the boys that there is a huge crowd waiting for them.
Their first live television appearance in America was on the The Ed Sullivan Show on 9 February 1964.
Mid 1964, they toured outside of America and Europe. Going to New Zealand and Australia.
Trouble in the Philippines
The Beatles came here in 1966. They were invited to a breakfast reception in Malacanang by then first lady Imelda Marcos. Their manager Brian Epstein respectfully declined the offer on behalf of the group. The Marcos regime was unaccustomed for taking "no" for an answer. Thus The Beatles and its entourage was left without security and support from the gov't they had to go to the airport without escort.
Studio Years
Their last concert was performed in Candlestick park in San Francisco on August 29, 1966.
They released Revolver in 1966. After that they returned to Abbey Road Studios to begin the 129-day recording sessions for their eighth album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, released on 1 June 1967.
Mid-1968 saw the band busy recording the double album The Beatles, popularly known as The White Album because of its plain white cover. These sessions saw deep divisions opening within the band, even going as far as Ringo Starr walking out. The band proceeded with McCartney recording the drums on the songs "Martha My Dear", "Wild Honey Pie", "Dear Prudence" and "Back in the USSR".
The Breakup
1969, The Beatles recorded their final album, Abbey Road. The completion of the song "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" was the last time all four Beatles were together in the same studio.
John Lennon announced his departure to the rest of the group on 20 September 1969 but was talked out of saying anything about it publicly.
Post-Breakup
All four Beatles released solo albums, including Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, McCartney's McCartney, Starr's Sentimental Journey, and Harrison's All Things Must Pass.
Lennon was shot to death by Mark David Chapman in 1980. And just 6 years ago in 2001 George Harrison would die from cancer.
Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney are still active in the music industry.
Must-Hear Songs
Hey Jude
Get Back
Come Together
Black Bird
Two of Us
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
She Loves You
Here Comes The Sun
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