The Beatles

The Beatles [ Ð Ə b i ː t l z ] is a British musical group, from Liverpool, England. Formed in 1960, and composed of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, it is considered the most popular and influential band in rock history. In ten years of existence and only seven years of recording (from 1962 to 1969), Beatles recorded twelve original albums and composed almost of 200 songs mostly written by the Lennon / McCartney duo, whose success in the history of the recording industry remains unmatched.

After starting with the skiffle, beat music and rock 'n' roll of the 1950s, the Beatles quickly changed their style, feeding on many sources to invent their own musical language. Their technical and musical experiments, their worldwide popularity and their growing political consciousness over the course of their careers extended the Beatles' influence beyond music to the social and cultural revolutions of their day.

After starting in The Quarrymen, Lennon, McCartney and Harrison become popular in Liverpool and Hamburg clubs by rock'n'roll standards, but Lennon and McCartney have also joined forces since their meeting in 1957 to write dozens of original songs, gradually refining their technique. In 1961, Brian Epstein becomes their manager, and presents them to record companies, without success at first. The following year, they recruit drummer Richard Starkey, says Ringo Starr, after signing a contract with Parlophone label whose boss is George Martin, who produces their first success, Love Me Do, and will occupy a prominent place by their side until the end of the group. This title launches their career in the United Kingdom at the end of 1962.

After the rise of the Beatlemania in the United Kingdom and then in Europe, the Beatles were successful in North America from 1964, then quickly worldwide. From the album Rubber Soul, in 1965, the group experimented more and produced today classic albums starting with Revolver (1966), then after having definitively stopped tours and concerts to enter their period called "studio years" Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Band Club (1967) The Beatles (1968) and Abbey Road (1969). After their separation in 1970, the four members pursued a solo career, and all met with success, especially in the immediate years following the end of the band. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the two still alive Beatles, after the murder of John Lennon in December 1980 and the death of George Harrison in 2001.