Historyguy.com: Biofiles The Beatles
(founded as the Beatles1960; began as the Quarrymen in 1957)
The Beatles- Rock and Pop music band (founded 1960, broke up 1970).
The Beatles were a British rock music band formed in 1960, which became a major part of the so-called "British Invasion" of the United States by rock bands from Britain in the 1960s. Along with the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, and others, the Beatles became extremely popular with young Americans when they first appeared in the early 1960s. The Beatles recorded their first songs in 1962 and 1963, and in early 1964, embarked on their first tour of the United States. They were greeted with a certain degree of hysteria by teenaged (female) fans, and this hysteria was dubbed, "Beatlemania." From that point on, the Beatles were celebrities, and throughout the remainder of the 1960s, the Beatles became trendsetters in America and in their homeland in terms of music, fashion, hair styles, and what today would be called "music videos."
The "Fab Four," as the Beatles were often referred to, included guitarist John Lennon, bassist Paul McCartney, lead guitarist George Harrison, and drummer Ringo Starr. All four Beatles sang, though Lennon and McCartney sang lead on most songs, both Harrison and Starr usually sang lead on at least one song each per album. With each new album, the Beatles renewed their status as musical trendsetters, moving from American-influenced rock in the styles of Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, and other musicians of the 1950s, to embrace more exotic sounds, most notably musical rhythms and instruments from India. The Beatles move from rhythm and blues style music to overtly drug-influenced psychedelic rock, which was imitated by many other bands. The Beatles are also credited as one of the origin bands to record an early heavy metal song, the fast-paced rocker, "Revolution."
The Beatles' creativity and willingness to experiment with different musical styles kept them at the forefront of the music scene, but internally, the personality differences between the four of them slowly tore the band apart. The latter years of the 1960s found the Beatles becoming increasingly argumentative with each other, both over personality issues, and musical philosophies.
By 1970, the Beatles, as a band, was finished. Each Beatle went his separate ways, and all recorded highly acclaimed solo albums. As a business entity, the Beatles continued, with various projects through the years being approved by the musicians or (later) their widows. In 2006, the unique The Beatles: Love-Cirque du Soleil show opened at the Mirage in Las Vegas. The latest of these projects is the "Beatles: Rock Band" video game offered by Xbox. The interactive musical game was released on September 9, 2009, to (typically Beatle-like) popular, financial, and critical acclaim.
After the breakup, each Beatle formed or joined other bands. The Beatles Successor Bands include:
Plastic Ono Band (Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, and, at various times, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, and others: 1969-early 1970s)Wings (McCartney and his wife, Linda McCartney: 1971-1981)
The Fireman (McCartney and Youth: 1993-Present)
The Traveling Wilburys (Harrison, with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne: 1988-1990)
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band (Ringo, obviously: 1989-Present)
The Beatles as imagined on Rock Band Game
Videos of the Beatles
Beatles in the News:The Beatles: Remasters of the universe with sizzling sales --USA Today, Sept. 10, 2009
Fab Four’s ‘Rock Band’ will induce new Beatlemania--Herald.com, Sept. 8, 2009
Abbey Road Leads The Beatles Reissues By Popularity -- Undercover Music News
'The Beatles: Rock Band' Does A Funny Thing... --Video Game Review on MTV.com
Beatles leap into digital age --New Staits Times, Sept. 6, 2009
"Rock Band" unveils 19 songs for new Beatles game--Reuters, August 18, 2009
Copyright © 1998-2009 Roger A. Lee and History Guy Media; Last Modified: 09.10.09
Citation:Lee, R. "Biofiles: The Beatles"
http://www.historyguy.com/biofiles/beatles.html
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Original Beatles Lineup (dates indicate years in the band)
John Lennon - Guitar, vocals, harmonica, piano
Paul McCartney -Bass, vocals, rhythm Guitar, piano
Ringo Starr - Drums and percussion, vocals
George Harrison - Lead guitar
Pete Best - Drums (1960-1962)
Stu Sutcliffe -Bass (1960-1961)
Final Beatles Lineup (dates indicate years in the band)
John Lennon - Guitar, vocals, harmonica, piano (1960-1970)
Paul McCartney -Bass, vocals, rhythm Guitar, piano (1960-1970)
George Harrison - Lead guitar (1960-1970)
Ringo Starr - Drums and percussion, vocals (1962-1970)
Former Beatles Band Members, Album Guest Musicians, and Sidemen
Pete Best - Drums (1960-1962)
Stu Sutcliffe -Bass (1960-1961)
George Martin -Piano and other instruments (1960-1970)-Martin was the producer of all of the Beatles albums, and often accompanied the band on piano and other instruments.
Billy Preston (b. 1946-d. 2006)--Keyboards-- Played keyboards on both the Abbey Road and Let It Be albums in 1969.
Links and Resources on the Beatles
Beatles Rock Band--Official Game Website
John Lennon---Official Website
Paul McCartney--Official Website
George Harrison---Official Website
Ringo Starr---Official Website
The Beatles: Love-Cirque du Soleil -Official website of the popular Las Vegas Beatles entertainment experience.
The Evolution of the Quarrymen
Billy Preston--Wikipedia Article
Billy Preston Official Website
Site Map--revision in progress
