The Beatles changed not only rock and roll, but also the face of all music forever.
☺ John Lennon (1940-1980)
☺ Paul McCartney (1942- )
☺ George Harrison (1943-2001)
☺ Ringo Starr (1940-2003
On July 6, 1957, John Lennon, the leader of a band called the Quarry Men, was introduced to Paul McCartney, through a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan, at Woolton Parish Church, where the Quarry Men were scheduled to perform. Impressed by McCartney's ability to play and tune a guitar, Lennon soon asked McCartney to join the Quarry Men. McCartney accepted. Shortly 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 he auditioned George Harrison. After playing Raunchy Harrison became the newest member of the group. John Lennon’s closest friend Stuart Sutcliffe, on bass guitar and Pete Best the drummer, also constituted the band.
On April 10,1962, Stuart Sutcliffediedin Hamburg of a brain haemorrhage. After several failed attempts at different recording studios, the Beatles were able to land a recording session with Parlophone , but the group' drummer Pete Best had to go. 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 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 the world.
Releasing album after album and motion pictures, The Beatles were indeed on top of the world. But in August 1969 Lennon announced that he wanted a divorce from the group, the band was finished. He insisted, however, that the break up remain quiet. It was kept hidden until April 10, 1970 when McCartney decided to formally dissolve the group. Many blamed the break up of the Beatles on Yoko Ono and Linda McCartney. Others felt that the Beatles had run their course, and it was just their time. Whatever was the cause of their break up, it ended an era but left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
