Introduction To Beatles
The Beatles were undoubtedly the most influential band of the century. The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. It consisted of John Lennon (John Winston Lennon) , Paul McCartney (James Paul McCartney), George Harrison, Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey).
In a course of 8 years, they changed not only rock and roll, but
also the face of all music forever. On July 6, 1957, John Lennon was introduced to Paul McCartney,
through a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan. Lennon soon asked
McCartney to join the Quarry Men, the band that John had leaded during that time, for John was impressed by McCartney's ability to play and tune a guitar.McCartney accepted. After
McCartney joined the group, he began to recommend an old school
friend to Lennon. Lennon refused to even audition this friend
because he was only 14. However Lennon finally relented, and on
February 6, 1958 (19 days short of his 15th birthday) he auditioned
George Harrison. After playing Raunchy Harrison became the
newest member of the group.
The group went through several names. They adopted names such as the Johnny and the Moondogs, The Silver Beetles, The Beatals, The Silver Beatles, and eventually The Beatles. As well as several names, the band went through several members, the more noteworthy of these would be John Lennon's closest friend Stuart (Stu) Sutcliffe - born June 23, 1940, Edinburgh, Scotland, dead April 10, 1962, Hamburg, Germany - (on bass guitar) and Pete Best - born 1941, Liverpool, England - (the drummer before Ringo).
In 1960, the Beatles went to Hamburg, Germany to play. Thinking
they would get rich and famous they instead they found dirty clubs,
long hours, filthy living arrangements, and swarms of easy woman.
They played through the night, and slept behind a movie screen in a
theatre. Throughout their stay in Germany they gained a lot of
knowledge of performing but that is all the gained. They never saw
the money they were promised. Their stay in Germany ended abruptly
when George (then 17) was deported for being under age.
Toward the end of 1961, Brian Epstein, whose family owned the furniture/record store NEMS, began to hear about the Beatles and their record My Bonnie, on which they performed as the backup group for another English performer Tony Sheridan. Brian checked into the record, and ordered some to sell. To Epstein's surprise, the records sold as fast as he could put them on the shelves.
Eventually he decided to go see this group for himself. When he arrived at a club known as The Cavern he was amazed at what he saw. Liverpool was full of guys like that at the time, but the Beatles had something else - charisma. By January 1962, Brian was officially their manager, putting the boys in suits, but keeping their long hair, gave them a look different from any other group around.
After several failed attempts at different recording studios, the Beatles were able to land a recording session with Parlophone. There was only one problem, the group' drummer Pete Best had to go. Not wanting the task of firing a friend the group asked their manager Brian Epstein to perform the task. Many have called them cowards, others thought they were jealous of his good looks, in truth, he didn't have the talent required of the group.
The Beatles asked Ringo Starr, drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to join the group. Unfamiliar with this new drummer, Beatles producer George Martin refused to allow Ringo to drum and a session drummer named Andy White played for the group. Andy's career with the Beatles was short lived as the group insisted on Ringo for all future recording and performances. With Ringo at their side the Beatles went on to conquer Great Britain. The craze that they caused was nothing Britain had ever experienced.
The Beatles were undoubtedly the most influential band of the century. The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. It consisted of John Lennon (John Winston Lennon) , Paul McCartney (James Paul McCartney), George Harrison, Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey).
In a course of 8 years, they changed not only rock and roll, but
also the face of all music forever. On July 6, 1957, John Lennon was introduced to Paul McCartney,
through a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan. Lennon soon asked
McCartney to join the Quarry Men, the band that John had leaded during that time, for John was impressed by McCartney's ability to play and tune a guitar.McCartney accepted. After
McCartney joined the group, he began to recommend an old school
friend to Lennon. Lennon refused to even audition this friend
because he was only 14. However Lennon finally relented, and on
February 6, 1958 (19 days short of his 15th birthday) he auditioned
George Harrison. After playing Raunchy Harrison became the
newest member of the group. The group went through several names. They adopted names such as the Johnny and the Moondogs, The Silver Beetles, The Beatals, The Silver Beatles, and eventually The Beatles. As well as several names, the band went through several members, the more noteworthy of these would be John Lennon's closest friend Stuart (Stu) Sutcliffe - born June 23, 1940, Edinburgh, Scotland, dead April 10, 1962, Hamburg, Germany - (on bass guitar) and Pete Best - born 1941, Liverpool, England - (the drummer before Ringo).
Toward the end of 1961, Brian Epstein, whose family owned the furniture/record store NEMS, began to hear about the Beatles and their record My Bonnie, on which they performed as the backup group for another English performer Tony Sheridan. Brian checked into the record, and ordered some to sell. To Epstein's surprise, the records sold as fast as he could put them on the shelves.
Eventually he decided to go see this group for himself. When he arrived at a club known as The Cavern he was amazed at what he saw. Liverpool was full of guys like that at the time, but the Beatles had something else - charisma. By January 1962, Brian was officially their manager, putting the boys in suits, but keeping their long hair, gave them a look different from any other group around.
After several failed attempts at different recording studios, the Beatles were able to land a recording session with Parlophone. There was only one problem, the group' drummer Pete Best had to go. Not wanting the task of firing a friend the group asked their manager Brian Epstein to perform the task. Many have called them cowards, others thought they were jealous of his good looks, in truth, he didn't have the talent required of the group.
The Beatles asked Ringo Starr, drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to join the group. Unfamiliar with this new drummer, Beatles producer George Martin refused to allow Ringo to drum and a session drummer named Andy White played for the group. Andy's career with the Beatles was short lived as the group insisted on Ringo for all future recording and performances. With Ringo at their side the Beatles went on to conquer Great Britain. The craze that they caused was nothing Britain had ever experienced.
