The Beatles were formed in the late 1950s by John Lennon
(1940-1980),
who met Paul McCartney
(1942- ) and asked him to join. Paul brought
George Harrison
(1943- ) and John brought in his friend from art school,
Stu Sutcliffe on bass. Before their first trip to Hamburg in 1960, they
recruited drummer Pete Best. Stu Sutcliffe left the group in Hamburg, to
stay with Astrid Kirscher and the band desserted Pete Best, after their
deal with Parlophone records came through in 1962, in favour of Ringo
Starr
(1940- )
(real name Richard Starkey).

Their first single Love Me Do, made top 20
(no 17) in Britain and the follow
up, Please Please Me went to number one. An album of the same name
followed, along with yet more hit singles, incluing She Loves You, From Me
To You and I Want To Hold Your Hand. All were number one hits and at
the end of 1963, the Beatles released their second album, With The Beatles.

In 1964 they broke big in America with I Want To Hold Your Hand and
achieved record viewing figures on the Ed Sullivan show. They returned to
Britain later in the year and began filming their first movie, A Hard Days Night.
Their next album became the soundtrack to the movie and included the
number one singles Can't Buy Me Love and A Hard Days Night. At the end
of the year they released their fourth album Beatles For Sale.

They filmed and released, their second motion picture, Help! in 1965. The
soundtrack album and single of the same name were both British number
one hits. Their next album, Rubber Soul, showed a more contemporary,
even Indian, style and was released in the latter half of 1965.

1966 saw the Beatles last concert in Candlestick park, San Fransisco,
whilst the Beatles sound approached maturity with songs such as Paperback
Writer. A return to the studio to yielded the critically acclaimed Revolver.
Their double A-sided single Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane
(recently
voted #2 in Q Magazine's 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time poll) failed to
reach number one in Britain, being kept off by Englebert Humperdinks
ghastly Please Release Me.

On June 1, 1967, a monumental musical event occured. It was, of course,
the release of the ground-breaking Beatles album Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts
Club Band, an album which influences musicians to this day. After the tragic
death of their manager, Brian Epstein, the Beatles produced their third film,
Magical Mystery Tour, and a soundtrack EP of the same name. The film
was shown on the BBC on Boxing Day - many people failed to see the point.
Not only that, but the Beatles also performed All You Need Is Love to
thousands of people, the world over, via satellite live from Abbey Road Studios.





1968 saw the release of the eponomously titled The Beatles better known
as the White Album. Ringo left the group during the sessions, and this led
to McCartney filling in on drums for Back in the USSR and Dear Prudence.
The single Hey Jude
(recently voted #5 in Q Magazine's 100 Greatest
Singles Of All Time poll) was not included on the album, but, clocking in
at seven minutes, became the longest UK number one to date.

After the tension of the White Album sessions, the Beatles reassembled at
Twickenham film studios, trying to produce a film showing them composing,
rehearsing and finally performing new material. The sessions broke into
arguments, and the band decided to retreat to Apple's Saville Row studios.
The sessions culminated in a rooftop concert, and eventually, after much
overdubbing and production from Phil Spector, the album Let It Be,
released in 1970. This was to be the Beatles final live performance together.

The group reconvened at Abbey Road later in '69 to record what was to be
their last album. In the end, Abbey Road was eventually released before
Let It Be. The Beatles continued working on Let It Be with Phil Spector,
and, although John had left in November of '69, the Beatles split wasn't
made public until Paul walked out of sessions on April 10th, 1970.

John flew to Toronto in December '69 to play at a festival with Klaus
Voorman, Alan White and Yoko. This line-up eventually evolved into the
Plastic Ono Band, who John employed to play on his first three solo albums.

Paul released his debut solo album, McCartney, in May 1970, which had
been recorded in secret, booking studios under the name of Paul Ramon.
He went on to form Wings with Denny Laine, Denny Seiwell and his wife,
Linda, in 1971.

George released his highly successful solo album, All Things Must Pass in
late 1970 and went on to perform at 1971's Concert for Bangladesh at
Madison Square Gardens, producing a Grammy award winning album
featuring performances from George, Ravi Shankar and Bob Dylan.
George also provided guitar on John's 1971 album, Imagine.

Ringo debut solo album was a collection of old musical numbers, entitled
Sentimental Journey, featuring arrangements from George Martin, Paul
McCartney, Bee-Gee Maurice Gibb and Quincy Jones. His next album
was a collection of blues covers, Beaucoup of Blues, after which he went
on to produce the highly successful album, Ringo in 1973. Ringo featured
performances from all four ex-Beatles. Ringo also played on John's Plastic
Ono Band.