| The Beatles' story has been told so many times and in so many different ways--books (many published before the group had even disbanded), films, documentaries--that it hardly needs repeating here. In fact, it would be impossible to relate all the unique details in such a brief space. And you'd have to be a hermit with no access to the media to not already know the story in full detail. |
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In a nutshell: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Richard (Ringo) Starkey were born and raised in Liverpool, England, a small, dismal working class seaport that is unique only in that it's the first place to receive rock 'n' roll records from America. John and Paul began playing in "skiffle" bands as teenagers--and then met one day when Paul saw John fronting a band called the Quarrymen. They were impressed to discover that they both knew how to play--and knew all the words to--Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock," and became fast friends. Paul brought along a younger school chum named George who played a mean guitar, and with drummer Pete Best (and John's art school pal Stu Sutcliffe, who Paul later replaced on bass, though McCartney was capable of playing almost anything), they formed Johnny & the Moondogs, later the Silver Beatles, and, ultimately, the Beatles (a name they based on Buddy Holly's Crickets). |
| They honed their chops playing all-night sets in Hamburg, Germany; then became the most popular band in Liverpool at the Cavern Club. Local record store entrepreneur Brian Epstein became their manager; after every British label rejected them, he convinced comedy producer George Martin to take a chance on them via EMI. |
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They replaced Pete Best with Ringo; they became a phenomenon in Europe...and then became the first British pop act to conquer America, opening the door for the "British Invasion." Bob Dylan introduced them to marijuana. Although their first albums were pop perfection, the influence of both Dylan and drugs slowly but surely became evident--and by the time of Rubber Soul and Revolver, they were transforming pop into Art. |
| Ultimately, the one theme that ran continually through the Beatles' music and career was the theme of love in all its variations, from "She Loves You" to "She's Leaving Home" ("Love is the one thing that money can't buy") to "All You Need Is Love" to the last words they ever recorded as a foursome: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make..." Suffice it to say that for one brief, shining moment, the Beatles made the world actually believe that love could save us all. But to put a new spin on one of their influential contemporaries: We were so much younger then, we're older than that now. |
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We all know that the Beatles said some pretty interesting things through the years. Here's a small collection of cool quotes from the boys: |
"I hope
the fans will take up meditation instead of drugs."
"I now realize that taking drugs was like taking an aspirin without having a headache.
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"Look, I
wasn't saying the Beatles are better than God or Jesus. I said 'Beatles'
because it's easy for me to talk about Beatles. I could have said TV or
the cinema, motor cars or anything popular and I would have gotten away
with it."
"Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewelry."
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"We ice
skate."
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