..“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”

• 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 Soul 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

• Content of lyrics, band’s openness about drug use, and visual presentation of album covers triggered much controversy

• U.S. religion and social groups back lashed on band after Lennon expressed opinions on Christianity

• Esptein criticized media about the band taking harsh judgment

• Esptian encouraged band’s reactions to controversy remain undisclosed (1966)

• The Beatles marked their last tour in August (1966)

The Breakup and Studio Years

• 1966 - 1970 the band spent in studio recording some of their most sophisticated songwriting

• Reshaped and redefined music style in addressing political, social and cultural revolutions and controversies of 1960s

• Most experimental albums Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

• The Beatles became hallmark of the “hippie” style - flower power anthems

The Breakup and Studio Years

• Esptein died by accidental overdose August of 1967

• Esptein’s death left band feeling disoriented and fearful of the future

• Lennon stated Esptein’s death marked the beginning of the end for The Beatles

The Breakup and Studio Years

• Band signed new label with Apple Studios

• During recording sessions of the infamous White Album relations among the band became openly troublesome

• Starr left the band leaving McCartney drummer

• Lennon’s romantic preoccupation with avant-grade artist, Yoko Ono posed strong tension

• Lennon lost interest in co-writing with McCartney

The Breakup and Studio Years

• McCartney and Lennon competed with one another’s ideas and directions

• Strong conflict between Lennon and McCartney arose with appointment of financial advisor

• Lennon was the 1st of the band to release solo single “Give Peace a Chance” album Abbey Road

• Harrison left the band out of frustration of Ono’s presence and Lennon and McCartney’s disagreements

The Breakup and Studio Years

• Lennon announced his departure from band September 20, 1969

• McCartney publically announced his departure form band April 10, 1970

• All 4 members released solo albums in 1970

• The Beatles released 12 studio albums, 13 EP’s and 22 singles from 1962-1970

• Noted by many as greatest and most influential rock band of all time during and after years active

The Beatles Today

• Lennon was shot and killed in New York City December 8, 1980

• Harrison died of lung cancer November 29, 2001

• McCartney and Starr are the only living members today

• Strongly publicized in today’s media McCartney and Starr actively continuing and progressing their music career