The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool. They are the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band in history with their innovative music and cultural impact helping to define the 1960s. The band consisted of John Lennon (vocals, rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (vocals, bass guitar), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals), and Ringo Starr (percussion, vocals) Lennon and McCartney were the main songwriters and singers, although songs penned by George started showing up more frequently on later albums. Ringo traditionally sang one song on each record. George Martin produced most of the Beatles' records, and was a highly influential part of the band's sound on most of their records.
In 1963, The Beatles were responsible for a craze known as "Beatlemania" in the UK with the song "Please Please Me." Their first album of the same title was recorded in just one day. This fame spread internationally and, in February of 1964, they arrived in the United States. Their first American appearance was on the Ed Sullivan Show, following "I Want to Hold Your Hand" going #1 in the States. With this success, the Beatles released two feature length films within the space of two years: "A Hard Days' Night" and "Help!". The songs from both films were penned by Lennon and McCartney, and albums followed their release. In "Help!", the Beatles were given greater creative freedom, deciding for example to head to the exotic location of the Bahamas simply to shoot one scene.
For years, The Beatles showed an amazing talent for writing hit after hit. In 1966, they ceased performing in concert (apparently they could no longer hear themselves play over the crowds) and began exploring new sounds in the studio. This is especially apparent in albums such as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beatles, sometimes known as "The White Album." The White album has since become notorious via its alleged influence on Charles Manson and is considered the band's most experimental. The strange sounds featured are perhaps due to the growing presence of Yoko Ono (Lennon's wife), as demonstrated by the song 'Revolution 9', and the band's increasing use of hard drugs. The song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" (off of Sgt. Pepper's) was rumored to be an ode to LSD, although the band vehemently denied any link; they instead insisted that it described a drawing made by John Lennon's son, Julian.
After the death of Brian Epstein, the Beatles began to unravel at the seams. The Beatles officially split at the dawn of 1970; Lennon had unofficially quit the previous year and the band had maintained the front of being together to protect their business interests. McCartney, who was the first to announce that he had officially "quit" the band and that they no longer existed, was often blamed for the band's ending although by the end he was the only one willing to carry on and was, by stating the group no longer existed, admitting to the facts.
The Beatles never reunited properly in the 1970s as they never fully recovered from the acrimony associated with their breakup. John Lennon was shot died by a crazed fan in 1980 and George Harrison passed away in 2001. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney continue to make music. Ringo released "Choose Love" and Paul released "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" both in 2005. Paul's latest release is "Memory Almost Full". I grew-up listening to the Beatles. The first album of theirs I owned was "Rubber Soul" which is exactly what the music was. I bought every album from then on to "Let It Be". I can still hear Billy Preston's organ on the title cut, adding the perfect dose of gospel to the swan-song that would signal the end of an era. Find out more at: http://www.beatles.com/
Research info gathered from: www.allmusic.com
Visit my e-zine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blpgspot.com/
In 1963, The Beatles were responsible for a craze known as "Beatlemania" in the UK with the song "Please Please Me." Their first album of the same title was recorded in just one day. This fame spread internationally and, in February of 1964, they arrived in the United States. Their first American appearance was on the Ed Sullivan Show, following "I Want to Hold Your Hand" going #1 in the States. With this success, the Beatles released two feature length films within the space of two years: "A Hard Days' Night" and "Help!". The songs from both films were penned by Lennon and McCartney, and albums followed their release. In "Help!", the Beatles were given greater creative freedom, deciding for example to head to the exotic location of the Bahamas simply to shoot one scene.
For years, The Beatles showed an amazing talent for writing hit after hit. In 1966, they ceased performing in concert (apparently they could no longer hear themselves play over the crowds) and began exploring new sounds in the studio. This is especially apparent in albums such as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beatles, sometimes known as "The White Album." The White album has since become notorious via its alleged influence on Charles Manson and is considered the band's most experimental. The strange sounds featured are perhaps due to the growing presence of Yoko Ono (Lennon's wife), as demonstrated by the song 'Revolution 9', and the band's increasing use of hard drugs. The song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" (off of Sgt. Pepper's) was rumored to be an ode to LSD, although the band vehemently denied any link; they instead insisted that it described a drawing made by John Lennon's son, Julian.
After the death of Brian Epstein, the Beatles began to unravel at the seams. The Beatles officially split at the dawn of 1970; Lennon had unofficially quit the previous year and the band had maintained the front of being together to protect their business interests. McCartney, who was the first to announce that he had officially "quit" the band and that they no longer existed, was often blamed for the band's ending although by the end he was the only one willing to carry on and was, by stating the group no longer existed, admitting to the facts.
The Beatles never reunited properly in the 1970s as they never fully recovered from the acrimony associated with their breakup. John Lennon was shot died by a crazed fan in 1980 and George Harrison passed away in 2001. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney continue to make music. Ringo released "Choose Love" and Paul released "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" both in 2005. Paul's latest release is "Memory Almost Full". I grew-up listening to the Beatles. The first album of theirs I owned was "Rubber Soul" which is exactly what the music was. I bought every album from then on to "Let It Be". I can still hear Billy Preston's organ on the title cut, adding the perfect dose of gospel to the swan-song that would signal the end of an era. Find out more at: http://www.beatles.com/
Research info gathered from: www.allmusic.com
Visit my e-zine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blpgspot.com/
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