The Beatles, an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, are widely considered to be the most influential band of all time. The band consisted of four members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They played a pivotal role in shaping the 1960s counterculture and popular music as an art form.
The Beatles' sound was rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock 'n' roll, and they incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. They also explored a wide range of music styles, including folk, Indian music, psychedelia, and hard rock.
The band evolved from Lennon's previous group, the Quarrymen, and built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over three years from 1960. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison had been playing together since 1958 and went through a series of drummers before inviting Starr to join them in 1962. With the help of manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin, they signed to EMI Records and achieved their first hit, "Love Me Do," in late 1962. As their popularity grew, they became known as "the Fab Four" and acquired a devoted fan following known as "Beatlemania."
By early 1964, the Beatles had become international stars and achieved unprecedented levels of critical and commercial success. They became a leading force in Britain's cultural resurgence, ushering in the British Invasion of the United States pop market. They also made their film debut with A Hard Day's Night (1964). However, the band's growing desire to refine their studio efforts, coupled with the difficulties of their concert tours, led to their retirement from live performances in 1966.
During this time, the Beatles produced records of greater sophistication, including the albums Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). These albums marked a significant shift in popular music, both in terms of their innovative musical style and their album-oriented approach to recording. They also reflected the band's growing interest in psychedelic drugs and Eastern spirituality, which had a profound impact on popular culture in the late 1960s.
The success of these albums heralded the album era, as albums became the dominant form of record consumption over singles. The Beatles also pushed the boundaries of album art and music videos, furthering advancements in electronic music. In 1968, they founded Apple Corps, a multi-armed multimedia corporation that continues to oversee projects related to the band's legacy.
After the group's break-up in 1970, all principal former members enjoyed success as solo artists, and some partial reunions have occurred. Lennon was tragically murdered in 1980, and Harrison passed away from lung cancer in 2001. McCartney and Starr remain musically active to this day.
The Beatles are the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of 600 million units worldwide. They hold numerous records, including the most number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart and the most number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band has received many accolades, including seven Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, and an Academy Award. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and each principal member was inducted individually between 1994 and 2015. In 2004 and 2011, the group topped Rolling Stone's lists of the greatest artists in history, and Time magazine named them among the 20th century's 100 most important people. The Beatles' impact on popular culture and music is immeasurable and continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
