The Beatles were a pop and rock group from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Throughout their career The Beatles were recognised for leading the mid-1960s musical "British Invasion" into the United States. Although their initial musical style was rooted in 1950s rock and roll and homegrown skiffle, the group explored genres ranging from Tin Pan Alley to psychedelic rock. Their clothes, styles and statements made them trend-setters, while their growing social awareness saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s. After the band broke up in 1970 all four members embarked upon solo careers. Throughout the Seventies, fans hoped for an eventual reunion, while the group members pursued solo careers with varying degrees of artistic and commercial success. Those hopes were forever dashed by the murder of John Lennon in New York City on 8th December 1980.
They are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music and the best-selling musical group in history. In the United Kingdom, The Beatles released more than 40 different singles, albums, and EPs that reached number one, earning more number one albums (15) than any other group in UK chart history. This commercial success was repeated in many other countries; their record company, EMI, estimated that by 1985 they had sold over one billion records worldwide. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, The Beatles have sold more albums in the United States than any other band. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Beatles number one on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. According to that same magazine, The Beatles' innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s, and their influence on pop culture is still evident today.
The Beatles appeared in five motion pictures, all of which featured associated soundtrack albums. The band played themselves in two films directed by Richard Lester - A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965). The group produced, directed and starred in the hour-long television movie Magical Mystery Tour (1967). The psychedelic animated film Yellow Submarine (1968) followed the adventures of a cartoon version of the band. They did not provide their own voices, appearing only in a brief live-action epilogue. Their final film the documentary Let It Be released in 1970, followed the rehearsals and recording sessions for the early 1969 Get Back project and won the Academy Award in 1971 for Best Original Song Score.
During 1965-1969 The Beatles were the subject of their own Saturday morning cartoon series, which loosely continued the kind of slapstick antics of A Hard Day's Night. Two Beatles songs were played in each half-hour show with The Beatles' cartoon counterparts "lip-synching" the actual Beatles recordings. Some of the song performances such as those from A Hard Day's Night, appeared to have been rotoscoped. The regular speaking voices of the characters were not supplied by The Beatles themselves but rather by voice artists Paul Frees and Lance Percival.
7th July 1940: Ringo Starr was born.
9th October 1940: John Lennon is born at Oxford Street Maternity Hospital in Liverpool, England, to Julia Stanley and Alfred Lennon.
18th June 1942: James Paul McCartney is born in Liverpool, England.
25th February 1943: George Harrison was born.
1956: Julia, John Lennon’s mother, bought him his first guitar through a mail order ad. His incessant playing prompts John’s Aunt Mimi to say, “The guitar’s all very well as a hobby, John, but you’ll never make a living out of it.” John forms his first group, the Quarrymen.
6th July 1957: John Lennon meets Paul McCartney at the Woolton Parish Church in Liverpool during a performance by John’s group the Quarrymen. Impressed by Paul’s ability to tune a guitar and by his knowledge of song lyrics, John asks him to join the group.
1st February 1958: Paul McCartney introduces George Harrison to the Quarrymen at a basement teen club called the Morgue. George joins the group.
1st August 1960: The Beatles make their debut in Hamburg, West Germany, with Stuart Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums.
1st January 1961: The Beatles make their debut at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
1st November 1961: Local record store manager Brian Epstein is introduced to the Beatles. He soon signs a contract to manage them.
7th March 1962: The Beatles make their radio debut performing three songs, including Roy Orbison’s “Dream Baby,” on the BBC.
10th April 1962: Stuart Sutcliffe dies of a brain hemorrhage.
1st June 1962: The Beatles audition for George Martin at Parlophone/EMI Records. He agrees to sign the group, but insists that Pete Best be replaced. Within months, Richard “Ringo” Starkey joins the group.
4th-11th September 1962: The Beatles record their first sessions at EMI Studios in London, with George Martin as producer.
11th February 1964: The Beatles begin their first U.S. tour
4th April 1964: The top five slots on the ‘Billboard’ chart are held by the Beatles, a feat never before or since matched.
1st April 1965: John Lennon composes “Help!” the title song for the Beatles’ second film. He later confides that the lyrics are a cry for help and a clue to the confusion and despondency he feels.
27th August 1965: The Beatles spend the evening talking and playing music with Elvis Presley at his Bel air home.
26th October 1965: The Beatles are awarded England’s prestigious MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire). John comments, “I thought you had to drive tanks and win wars to get the MBE.”
29th August 1966: After their concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the Beatles declare this to be their final concert tour.
30th January 1969: The Beatles make their last performance as a group on the roof of the Apple building during the filming of ‘Let It Be’.
10th April 1970: Paul McCartney announces that he is leaving the Beatles due to “personal, business and musical differences.”
The Beatles' First "Stolen" Interview - 1962 (Audio Only)
Michael Brunnock will be performing with his Irish Band "Little Palace" November 5th 8pm Whelans, Dublin November 7th 9pm Headfort Arms, Kells, Co. Meath November 12th 8pm The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath Little Palace will be releasing their New Single "Beekeeper" from their latest album Invitation Time. We all hope to see you there. Keep Music Alive go hear a show.
![Pete and Repeat [New Songs Online !]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/23/s_cf6cb162840e48c4a4d365b2bdd2e3c5.jpg)
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