The Beatles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Beatles
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The Beatles in 1964.
Clockwise (from top left): John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Liverpool, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1960–1970 |
| Labels | EMI, Parlophone, Capitol, Apple, Polydor |
| Members | John Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison Ringo Starr |
| Past members | Stuart Sutcliffe Pete Best |
The Beatles were a famous English rock band. They started in Liverpool, England in 1960. The main members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Many people believe they are the most successful and important band in popular music history. They helped shape the 1960s counterculture.
The band began by playing skiffle and beat music. They were inspired by American rock and roll from the 1950s. Later, they added sounds from classical music and Indian music to their songs. John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote most of their hit songs together.
Before they became super famous, The Beatles played in clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg. This was for three years, from 1960 to 1963. Stuart Sutcliffe played bass at first. They had a few drummers, like Pete Best. Then, in 1962, Ringo Starr joined the band. Stuart Sutcliffe left, and Paul McCartney started playing the bass.
Brian Epstein was their manager. George Martin produced most of their music. Their first song, "Love Me Do", came out in late 1962. It was a big hit in the United Kingdom. As they got more popular, the media called their huge fame "Beatlemania".
By 1964, The Beatles were known all over the world. They led the "British Invasion" of the United States. They released many best-selling studio albums in the 1960s. The band broke up in 1970. John Lennon passed away in New York City in 1980. George Harrison died in 2001. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr still make music today.
Contents
The Beatles' Journey to Fame
How The Beatles Started
John Lennon and some friends started a band called the Quarrymen in 1956. Over the next few years, the band members changed. By 1960, the group was known as The Beatles. Their first big hit song came out in 1962.
Becoming Number One in the UK
In February 1963, their song "Please Please Me" reached the number one spot on the British music charts. This was the first of a record 15 number one songs in the UK for The Beatles.
The Beatles Arrive in America
The band first came to the United States in 1964. Thousands of screaming American teenagers met them at the airport. The Beatles were so popular that fans screamed everywhere they went. This huge excitement was called 'Beatlemania'.
The Beatles performed live on American television for the first time. This was on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. About 74 million people watched them play. This was about half of the American population at the time. Soon, Beatles songs filled the top 5 spots on the American top 40 chart. No other band has ever done this.
The British Invasion of Music
After The Beatles became so popular in the United States, other British bands also had hit songs there. These included The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Kinks, and Gerry and the Pacemakers. So many British bands became famous after The Beatles. This time was known in America as the "British Invasion".
Changing Their Music Style
In the mid-1960s, The Beatles started to experiment more with their music. This began in 1965 with their album "Rubber Soul". It reached its peak in 1967 with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". This album was named the greatest of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. The magazine also called The Beatles the most important artists ever. Their music, clothing, and attitudes influenced many young people in the 1960s.
Playing for Huge Crowds
The Beatles became so popular that regular concert halls were not big enough. This led them to play the first ever stadium rock concert. It was at Shea Stadium in America, for about 50,000 people.
Why The Beatles Stopped Touring
The Beatles stopped touring and playing live music in 1966. They were tired of audiences screaming so loudly that their music could not be heard. They also felt a lot of pressure from touring. For example, thousands of people would gather outside their hotels day and night. This meant they could never leave their rooms unless they were playing a concert.
The Band Breaks Up
The Beatles broke up in 1970. This was due to the pressures of fame. Also, each member wanted to be more independent in their personal lives and music. In 1973, two album sets were released: "1962-1966" (the "Red Album") and "1967-1970" (the "Blue Album"). These were re-released on CD in 1993.
The Beatles After the Breakup
Continued Popularity Worldwide
The band remained very popular around the world even after they broke up. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, they are the highest-selling recording artists ever. They have sold over one billion records, including albums and singles. Their music is still important and influences many musicians today. Artists still perform cover versions of Beatles songs. People everywhere still listen to their music. Their song 'Yesterday' has been recorded by more artists than any other song. It is also the most played song on radio ever.
Beatles' Creative Works
The Beatles made thirteen albums and twenty-six singles together. They also started their own record label, Apple Records. They made two movies where they acted: A Hard Day's Night and Help!. Later, they made Magical Mystery Tour, a television special. Yellow Submarine was a cartoon movie based on their music. Let It Be showed them working on a new album.
Solo Careers of the Members
After The Beatles broke up in 1969, all four members started their own solo careers.
John Lennon became a famous peace activist in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He wrote successful songs like "Give Peace a Chance", "Imagine", and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". John Lennon passed away on December 8, 1980, outside his home in New York. A part of Central Park in New York and an airport in Liverpool are named in his honor.
The other three Beatles got together in the 1990s to make two new songs. They used demo recordings of two John Lennon songs. Then they added their own new parts. Producer Jeff Lynne helped them so all four members could appear on the songs. The songs were "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love". Both were top 5 hits in the UK in 1995 and 1996.
Paul McCartney started the band "Wings" with his wife Linda. In 1977, his song "Mull of Kintyre" became the biggest selling single in British history. It sold even more copies than The Beatles' singles. Paul McCartney was made a knight in 1997.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr had early success as solo artists. George formed the group the Traveling Wilburys in the 1980s. He was with other rock legends like Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001. Ringo still tours the world with his "All Starr Band". He was made a knight in 2018.
Now and Then: The Final Beatles Song
In June 2023, Paul McCartney announced plans to release "the final Beatles record". They used new technology to get John Lennon's voice from an old song demo. In October 2023, the song was revealed to be "Now and Then". It was released on November 2, 2023. The music video came out the next day. It got over 8 million views in its first 12 hours. The song quickly became one of the most-streamed songs on Spotify. "Now and Then" was played on many radio stations at the same time. This set a record for the most radio stations to play a song at once.
Cool Facts About The Beatles
- They were first called the Quarrymen. They changed their name to The Beatles to honor Buddy Holly and the Crickets. They wanted a "bug related name" too. It was "The Silver Beatles" first, then shortened to "The Beatles".
- Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney are the only living members of the band.
- The Beatles are the best-selling music act of all time. They have sold an estimated 600 million records worldwide.
- Ringo Starr's real name is Richard Starkey.
- Ringo wrote the song Octopus's Garden, which is very popular with children.
- Ringo was the narrator for some of the Thomas the Tank Engine TV series.
- Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the children's song Yellow Submarine.
- The Beatles' last live concert was in 1966. It was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
The Beatles' Albums
- Please Please Me (1963)
- With the Beatles (1963)
- A Hard Day's Night (1964)
- Beatles for Sale (1964)
- Help! (1965)
- Rubber Soul (1965)
- Revolver (1966)
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
- Magical Mystery Tour (1967) (Double EP)
- The Beatles (also known as the "White Album") (1968)
- Yellow Submarine (1969)
- Abbey Road (1969)
- Let It Be (1970)
Compilation Albums
- The Beatles 1962-1966 and The Beatles 1967-1970 (1973)
- Rock and Roll Music (1976)
- Love Songs (1978)
- Rarities (1980)
- Reel Music (1982)
- 20 Greatest Hits (1983)
- Past Masters (1987, two volumes)
- The Beatles Anthology (1995, three volumes)
- The Beatles: 1 (2000)
- Love (2006)
They also sold many singles (45s).
The Beatles' Movies
- A Hard Day's Night (1964), directed by Richard Lester. It also starred Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, Lionel Blair, Victor Spinetti, and Derek Nimmo.
- Help! (1965), also directed by Lester. It co-starred Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, and Roy Kinnear.
- Magical Mystery Tour (1967), an hour-long TV special. It featured Ivor Cutler and Jessie Robins.
- Yellow Submarine, (1968) an animated cartoon movie.
- Let It Be (1970), a documentary film. It showed them making the album with the same name. Producer George Martin and road manager Mal Evans appear briefly. Yoko Ono and Heather McCartney also appear.
Children of The Beatles
- Paul McCartney's daughter, Stella McCartney, is a successful clothing designer.
- John Lennon's sons, Sean Lennon and Julian Lennon, have had successful music careers. Sean has been in several bands like Cibo Matto and Dopo Yume.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Abbey Road Studios main entrance
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The Beatles arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 7 February 1964
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McCartney, Harrison and Lennon perform on Dutch television in 1964
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Apple Corps building at 3 Savile Row, site of the Let It Be rooftop concert
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American soul musician Billy Preston (pictured in 1971) was, for a short time, considered a fifth Beatle during the recording of Get Back.
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Starr and McCartney introduced the video game The Beatles: Rock Band at the 2009 E3 convention.
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A Höfner "violin" bass guitar and Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar, models played by McCartney and Harrison, respectively; the Vox AC30 amplifier behind them is the model the Beatles used during performances in the early 1960s
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The Beatles Monument in Almaty, Kazakhstan
See also
In Spanish: The Beatles para niños
