History Of The Beatles

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The Beatles were formed in Liverpool England in 1960 and went on to become one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music. The band from 1962 consisted of John Lennon who rhythm played guitar and vocals, George Harrison who played lead guitar and vocals, Paul McCartney who played bass guitar and vocals and Ringo Star who played drums and vocals.

Before the Beatles became the fab four we all know and love to this day, it began back in 1957 when John Lennon was in a skiffle group called 'The Quarry Men'. In July of that year whilst playing at the Woolton Parish fete John met Paul McCartney. The two soon became firm friends and began playing music together. The next year a young George Harrison joined the band. They tried a few different names including 'Johnny and the Moondogs', 'Long John and The Beetles' and 'The Silver Beatles' before finally settling on 'The Beatles'. Pete Best joined the band as drummer in 1960.

By 1962 they had sadly been rejected by every record company in England until they were finally signed by EMI's Parlophone label. Pete ...
... Best was fired in favour of the more experienced Ringo Starr. With the new line-up they recorded their first minor UK hit 'Love Me Do'. This went on to reach the top of the US singles chart in May 1964 which at the time was pretty amazing as no British act had ever made much of an impact on the Americans. They then went on to record their first album, 'Please Please Me' which was a mix of original songs by Lennon and McCartney and also some covers.

Beatlemania as it was known hit Britain on 13 October 1963 with a televised appearance at the London Palladium. Then in the February of the following year they appeared on the Ed Sullivan show in the United States which made them a worldwide phenomenon. It is thought at the time the US was a depressed nation due to the assassination of JF Kennedy. The young good looking Beatles came along with a huge stage presence and enthusiasm and caught the eye of the country.

They broke many worldwide records in their career; in 1964 they had the top five places on the billboard hot 100 which is a feat that has never been repeated.

Over the year's group worked in many genres of music ranging from 1950s rock and roll, pop, psychedelic rock and often incorporating other elements in innovative ways such as classical.

They Beatles performed their final live performance on the roof at the Apple studios in London in January 1969. Their final album 'Abbey Road' was also recorded this year. Sadly the band officially broke up in 1970 and any hopes of a reunion were crushed when Lennon was assassinated in 1980.

The Beatles music still sells well today with new fans emerging all the time. There are lots of fan clubs and websites dedicated to the fab four. You can even go on a Beatles London tour with like minded people. The tour takes you too many of the historic places in London such as the famous zebra crossing at Abbey Road and where they played their final rooftop session.
For more information on the Beatles Tour of London or other London Tours check out Brit Movie Tours.