..“Oh I get by with a little help from my friends..”

1960 – 1970

Introduction and History

• English rock band formed in Liverpool (1960)• Most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts

in the history of popular music• Folk Rock, Psychedelic Pop and Classical

• Influenced social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s

Introduction and History

• JOHN LENNON (rhythm guitar, vocals)

• PAUL MCCARTNEY (bass guitar, vocals)

• GERORE HARRISON (lead guitar, vocals)

• RINGO STARR (drums, vocals)

• Stuart Stucliffe (bass guitar): 1960-1961

• Pete Best (drums): 1960-1962

Formation and Early Years

• 16-year-old singer and guitarist, John Lennon, formed skiffle group “The Quarrymen” with Liverpool school friends (1957)

• 15-year-old Paul McCartney joined Lennon’s band as guitarist after meeting in July (1957)

• McCartney invited 14-year-old George Harrison into the band as lead guitarist (1958)

Formation and Early Years

• Excluding McCartney and Harrsion, Lennon’s school friends left the band (by 1960)

• Lennon attended Liverpool College of Art and met classmate Stuart Stucliffe

• Stucliffe joined band in 1960 and recommended that name change to “The Beetles” as tribute to Buddy Holly and The Crickets

• Later changed to spelling “The Beatles” (1960)

Formation and Early Years

• Lack of permanent drummer was problem for unofficial manager, Allen Williams

• Pete Best was hired as band’s drummer after Williams held an audition in Hamburg (1960)

• Band built status and reputation by performing in clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg

• Stucliffe left band in 1961 to continue his art studies in Germany

Formation and Early Years

• The band encountered Brain Esptein, local record store owner and music columnist, at a frequently visited club for performance

• Band appointed Esptein official manager (1962)

• George Martin signed band to EMI’s Parlophone label

Formation and Early Years

• Martin conducted band’s 1st recording session at Abby Road Studios in London (1962)

• Martin complained of Best’s drumming

• Best was dismissed from the band and English singer, song-writer and actor, Ringo Starr took his place (1962)

• Starr left band “Rory Storm and the Hurricanes” to join The Beatles

Formation and Early Years

• Band established fame with first single “Love Me Do” followed by “Please Please Me”

• Made 1st live TV debut performance on regional news programme Peoples and Places

• Lennon and McCartney established songwriting partnership

• Success grew and Harrison's opportunity as lead vocalist limited

Beatlemania and Touring Years

• Esptein encouraged band to be more professional and commercial performers

• By March 1963 “Love Me Do” and “Please Please Me” hit #2 on UK single chart

• 1st recorded album Please Please Me #1 on British chart (1963)

• Band’s quick popularity spread created a frenzied adulation “Beatlemania!”

Beatlemania and Touring Years

• 1962 - 1966 The Beatles toured internationally, creating world-wide fame

• Preformed on The Ed Sullivan Show with approx. 74 million viewers

• Held 12 spots on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart

• Famous hit singles included “I Want to Hold Your Hand” “Help!” “Maggie Mae” “Let It Be”

• Major Motion Contracts: Help! and A Hard Day’s Night

Beatlemania and Touring Years

• After 4th album band began to struggle with controversy and conflict in commercialism vs. creativity

• Album Rubber Sole proposed a more complex and mature nature of band’s songs and their meaning

• The clash between Lennon’s deep ingenuity and McCartney’s thirst for prominence started to become evident

The Breakup and Studio Years