The Beatles
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 RaunchyHarrison 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 Sutcliffe died in Hamburgof 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 andthe 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, TheBeatles 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 whenMcCartney decided to formally dissolve the group. Many blamed the break up of theBeatles 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.
