THE BEATLES

MeMBERS

• John Lennon - Guitarist
• Paul McCartney - Lead vocalist & bassist
• George Harrison - Lead guitar
• Ringo Starr - Drums
• All contributed to vocals

FORMATION

• John Lennon formed a group with several friends from Quarry Bank school.
• Paul McCartney joined as a rhythm guitarist that July.
• Invited his friend George Harrison to watch the band, he became lead guitarist
• Stuart Sutcliffe suggested changing the band's name to Beetles
• Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best

POPULARITY IN THE UK

• In Hamburg, Germany, and Liverpool, England, they worked hard and steadily in nightclubs
• Also preformed covers which helped them gain an audience
• 1961 - they were playing to packed houses at the Cavern nightclub in Liverpool, England
• May 1962 - signed a deal with EMI, then the U.K.’s leading music company.
• 1962 - their songs began hitting the British Melody Maker music chart

POPULAR SONGS/ALBUMS

• "Let It Be"
• "She Loves you"
• "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
• "Hey Jude"
• 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'

BRITISH INVASION

• 1964 - 1966 - UK rock and pop bands were popular in the US
• December 1963 - Teenagers were on vacation helped spread Beatlemania in America.
• January 1964 - "I Want to Hold Your Hand" #1 on the Cash Box and Billboard chart
• April 4 1964 - the Beatles held the top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot 100
• CBS - "The British Invasion this time goes by the code name Beatlemania"

MOST INFLUENTIAL

• They helped confer self-identity upon a youthful, music-based culture
• Beatles enormously influenced fashion
• Continues to reach and inspire new generations of listeners
• Inspired people’s music, opinions, fashion, and society worldwide