The Beatles were four Liverpool-born musicians, George Harrison, John Winston Lennon, (James) Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey), who replaced Peter Best. They were one of the most famous pop bands of the era, if not of all time. The Beatles were influential in the music and culture of the decade of the 60's and every decade that followed. The Band formed in Liverpool in 1960 and stayed together for ten years. They were discovered in a Liverpool cellar in 1961 by Brian Epstein. They became the symbols of rebellion for the youth of the 60's. The 'British Invasion' was started by The Beatles. The phenomenon of the Invasion was the effect that British bands had on America and the rest of the world in the 1960's.

In March 1963 the Beatles single ‘Please Please me’ was seen in the charts and by June they had reached the top of the charts twice. Their Album, ‘Please Please Me’ was number one in Britain for six months in 1963 and once the following year they held all top five places in the US charts. In 1964 their United States tour was a sell out and ensured them a wider audience. Their second album, ‘With the Beatles’ was released in 1963 but was not released until 1964 in the US as ‘The Beatles Second Album.’ The record sleave displayed the disembodied heads (photographed by Robert Freeman) of the four Beatles floating on a dark background.

Their music was sophisticated and varied, appealing to both young people and adults, and the fans could not get enough; some still can't. Many Bands today still try to achieve the sound of The Beatles. Their early songs were light and fresh, but as the decade progressed, The Beatles experimented with synthesised sounds and unusual instruments and created albums like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

They took the trouble to keep in fashion and changed their style and appeal regularly. In 1962 the Beatles had the early 'mod' look with tight, hip-hugging trousers, turtleneck sweaters and sideburns. When they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 they had 'mop-top' hair and wore collarless Cardin suit jackets and 'Beatle' boots. The older generation were shocked by the way the Beatles looked. Their hair was extraordinarily, even dangerously long. In 1967 they adopted the psychedelic look wearing flower-patterned shirts, epaulette Jackets and flared hipster trousers.

After the group broke up in 1970, each member continued to perform, either in a band or as a soloist. However, rumours always circulated that the group would one day reunite. These hopes were dashed after John Lennon's murder in 1980.

Last updated: June 01, 2003

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The Beatles in August 1969. Their last photo session.

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