In 1956 John Lennon formed ‘The Quarry Men’ in Liverpool with his friend Stuart Sutcliffe.
In July 1957 The Quarry Men performed at St. Peter's Church Garden Fete. John met Paul McCartney. Bass player
In February 1959 The Quarry Men played at the Wilson Hall in Liverpool, and George Harrison decided to join them.
The Quarry Men changed their name to The Silver Beetles and in 1960 Pete Best became their drummer. The band's line-up was now John, Paul, George, Pete and Stuart Sutcliffe.
The Beatles in 1961 when they were performing in Hamburg.
Unfortunately Stuart Sutcliffe died in 1962 just before the Beatles became famous after playing in The Cavern Club.
The Beatles were rejected by several record labels before being accepted by a small label Parlophone. This was all arranged by their manager Brian Epstein. Epstein
Also in 1962, Pete Best was replaced as drummer by Ringo Starr. Starr
They released their first single ‘Love Me Do’ at the end of 1962 and their first album ‘Please Please Me’ early in 1963. 1963
Please , please me • 10 HOURS TO RECORD IT • THEY EARN 7.50 POUNDS / 3 HOURS • WHILE RECORDING, LENNON HAD A COLD
Over the next few years ‘Beatlemania’ took over Britain. After playing in the USA, ‘Beatlemania’ took over America as well.
1964
“A hard day’s night” • The lyrics speak about the singer's undying devotion to his lover • how he works so she can buy the things she wants. • The singer sings about his tiredness when he comes home from work, but how the things that his lover does perk him up. up
BEATLES FOR SALE
Beatles for sale • • •
They had little time to compose They use some cover versions Band's visible weariness on the album's cover • Sparking unprecedented demand for their records. Success is a wonderful and tiring thing”
1965
HELP "The whole Beatles thing was just beyond comprehension. I was subconsciously crying out for help“ J. Lennon “ A TICKET TO RIDE”: Slang for having sex in Hamburg, clean bill of health
RUBBER SOUL 1965
PLASTIC SOUL = fake = RUBBER SOLE “WE CAN WORK IT OUT” (recorded during Rubber soul, released as a single= Mc Cartney optimism vs Lennon pessimism. Lennon and Mc Cartney together. Harrison used Indian Sitar, French –like guitar, Greek and Baroque – like piano “NOWHERE MAN”, unrelated to love, meaningful. Mc Cartney worried about John. John
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REVOLVER 1966
Wide critical acclaim • Fascination for Eastern spiritual concepts, Tibetan book of the dead. Forward - thinkimg • Started “psychodelic period”, studio innovator: reverse tapes, varispeeding • Klaus Voorman designed the cover • Mc Cartney reached an equal position • “ Bigger than Jesus”
REVOLVER • “ TAXMAN”, Harrison strong composer. 95% super tax introduced by Wilson • “ ELEANOR RIGBY”, Mc Cartney. Topic of death, taboo subject, came as a shock. Perils of loneliness. • “ TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS” By Lennon.
1967
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Alter ego group to experiment, don’t perform live. Tired of live performance (Tribal rites) after Japan, Philippines and the U.S. experience Mc Cartney dominant force. 3D Sounds Studio composition tool (George Martin) 25, 000 pounds Drug culture, flower power
STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER Lennon’s nostalgia, wrote in Almería PENNY LANE Mc Cartney’s nostalgia Recorded while the album
“WHITE ALBUM” 1968
WHITE ALBUM • • • • • •
Clear minds, no drugs. Stay in India Break – up, different engineers. Ringo left Ono atended the record “ I’M SO TIRED” Paul is dead, miss him “ HELTER SKELTER” Coded messages “ HEY JUDE” Single. To confort Julian Lennon during divorce. Paul visited Cynthia
1969
YELLOW SUBMARINE • Contractual obligation for the film, include 4 new songs • Song written for Ringo to sing it • It’s not about a submarine, it’s an ivorry tower tht they lived in, no contact with reality
ABBEY ROAD
ABBEY ROAD • Blues, progressive rock, medley • After Epstein’s death, Paul “the way we used to”. Lennon had a car accident. “It lacked authenticity, granny songs” • Cover 8 August 1969, 11.30, 10 minutes, stop jaywalking. Abbey Road Studios • “ HERE COMES THE SUN” Harrison in Clapton’s garden. Avoid a meeting/schoollike. Arrested for marijuana, tonsils removed.
LET IT BE 1970
LET IT BE • • •
Recorded before Abbey Road Ill – feeling; back to basis Lennon tired of technical art ífice. Harrison didn’t want to perform live : agreed to perform on the rooftop of Apple • “ LET IT BE” Performed at Linda’s funeral at Trafalgar square in 1998
From 1971 onwards, the band didn’t record together and in 1975, the Beatles were legally disbanded.
LENNON WAS SHOT BY CHAPMAN IN 1980
George Harrison died from cancer in November 2001.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr still occasionally tour and record music.
The Beatles by the numbers • Worldwide album sales top 600 million. • The number of Beatles singles to reach Number 1 on the "Billboard Hot 100" is 21, the most of any band. • "Hey, Jude" enjoyed the longest run on the charts 23 weeks in all. • The number of times "Yesterday" has been covered by other artists is over 3,000, making it the most-covered song of all time.