The Beatles

**The Beatles** are a rock band from Liverpool, England. Known as the **Fab Four**, their members are rhythm guitarist John Lennon, bassist Paul McCartney, lead guitarist George Harrison and drummer Ringo Starr. At the height of their popularity, they are bigger than Jesus Christ.

## Associated People

Stu Sutcliffe

Pete Best

Brian Epstein

George Martin

Ed Sullivan

Yoko Ono

## Timeline

* **July 6, 1957:** Sixteen-year-old John Lennon, who has a group called the Quarrymen, meets 15-year-old Paul McCartney , who soon is playing with the band.
* **March 1958:** McCartney's friend George Harrison, 15 years old, is brought into the band as lead guitarist.
* **January 1959:** Lennon, McCartney and Harrison are playing together as Johnny and the Moondogs--whenever they can find a drummer.
* **January 1960:** Stuart Sutcliffe, a friend of Lennon's from art school, joins the band. He suggests they call themselves the Beatals.
* **August 1960**: The band settles on the name Beatles. They pick Pete Best to be their permanent drummer. They begin their first stint in Hamburg, Germany, a period that is crucial for their early development and growth as a band.
* **February 9, 1961:** The Beatles make their first appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, which becomes a regular venue for them.
* **Late 1961:** Sutcliffe decides to leave the band to pursue his art career, leaving the band a four-piece.
* **November 1961:** The band meets Brian Epstein, who two months later becomes their manager.
* **January 1, 1962**: The Beatles audition for Decca Records, which famously rejects them.
* **June 1962:** The Beatles sign with EMI's Parlophone label, thanks to the interest of producer George Martin. Martin insists that the Beatles find a new drummer, and Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best.
* **October 5, 1962**: The Beatles' first single, "Love Me Do," is released.
* **November 4, 1963:** The Beatles' appearance on the *Royal Variety Performance* marks the start of Beatlemania.
* **February 7, 1964:** The Beatles land in the U.S. for the first time, greeted by thousands of fans, signaling the start of the British Invasion in American music. Two days later, their performance on *The Ed Sullivan Show* is watched by an estimated 73 million people.
* **1964:** The Beatles star in their first film, *A Hard Day's Night*, and release the accompanying album.
* **1965:** The Beatles clash with the cult of Kali in London, the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas--adventures documented in the film *Help!*.
* **August 15, 1965:** The Beatles perform at Shea Stadium in New York to a record-breaking crowd of 55,600.
* **December 3, 1965:** The Beatles release *Rubber Soul*, considered the first of their classic albums.
* **March 1966:** Lennon's comment that the Beatles are "more popular than Jesus" sparks significant backlash, particularly in the United States.
* **August 5, 1966:** The Beatles release *Revolver*.
* **November 7, 1966:** Lennon meets Yoko Ono, starting a relationship that eventually affects the dynamics of the band.
* **June 1, 1967:** The Beatles release *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band*, a groundbreaking album in terms of its concept, music and cover art.
* **August 27, 1967:** Manager Brian Epstein dies, a significant blow to the group.
* **1968:** The Beatles form Apple Corps, a multimedia corporation.
* **February 1968:** The Beatles travel to India to study Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an experience that influences their music and personal lives.
* **July 1968:** The Beatles voyage in the Yellow Submarine to rescue Pepperland from the Blue Meanies.
* **November 1968:** The Beatles release the self-titled double album commonly known as *The White Album*.
* **January 30, 1969:** The Beatles perform an impromptu concert on the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters in London--their last public performance.
* **September 26, 1969:** *Abbey Road* is released; this is the last album the Beatles record together, although *Let It Be* is released later.
* **April 10, 1970:** Paul McCartney announced the break-up of the Beatles, which was formalized later that year.