BEATLES
Richard Starkey(Ringo Starr) July 7, 1940-
John Winston Lennon October 9, 1940-December 8, 1980
Sir James Paul McCartney June 18, 1942-
George Harrison February 25, 1943-
The Beatles were a pop group that took the world by storm. Their music, clothing, and hairstyles changed the world of the young. They made their first single in 1962, their first album in 1963, their last record in 1969, and broke up in 1970.
Even though the Beatles became famous in 1963, they started playing in Liverpool (where they grew up) in the late 50's, when they were called the Quarrymen. The main line-up in 1958 was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, all playing guitars. Lennon started the Quarrymen in 1957 after being impressed by Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". He invited McCartney to join in October of that year. Harrison joined in 1958. John's friend from art college, Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best joined in 1960.
It was also in 1960 that the Quarrymen (now called the Sliver Beatles) toured Scotland. They changed their name again to the Beatles, and toured Hamburg, Germany. It was here that Stuart met his girlfriend, Astrid Kirrrrcherr. Astrid had influence on the Beatles, such as their famous mop-top hairstyles and their collarless suits. The hairstyle was created when Astrid brushed Stuart's hair from the side with bangs in the front. She did this because she didn't like Stuart's teddy-boy hairstyle. When the other Beatles saw Stuart's new hairstyle, they fell over laughing. But a few days later, George tried the new style, and eventually John and Paul. Pete was the only one that declined. Astrid made a collarless suit for Sutart, and she also made one for the other Beatles, but the seams popped when they sat down.
When the Beatles came home from Hamburg, Stuart stayed behind with Astrid. Sadly, he died of a brain hemorrhage in 1962.The same year, Pate Best was kicked out of the group and Ringo Starr replaced him. Also, that year, they signed a recording contract with producer George Martin and made their first record, "Love Me Do".In 1963, the Beatles had their first number one: "Please Please Me". They toured all over England and also made their first foreign tour in Sweden in October of that year. They played for the royal family at the Prince of Wales Theatre on November 4, 1963. Also, in November 1963, they were becoming popular in America, which they had been trying to do for months.On February 7, 1964, the Beatles' plane touched down at Kennedy International Airpart. Two days later, they made television history. Seventy-three million people watched the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Sho, the record for largest viewing audience in America. On February 12, they performed at the Washington Coliseum. That year, they made their first movie, A Hard Day's Night. The Beatles did their first world tour. People showed their love for the \Beatles by buying records, clothing, posters, and other merchandise to do with the Beatles. The fans also showed their love by screaming at concerts, when they landed at airports, and wherever else they went. Boys copied their hairstyles and their clothing. This craze was called "Beatlemania".
