Beatles 101


*This is still a work in progress :o) It should be done shortly!*


1940 - Richard Starkey is born in Liverpool, England, on July 7.
John Winston Lennon is born in Liverpool on October 9.


1942 - James Paul McCartney is born in Walton Hospital, England, on June 18.


1943 - George Harrison is born in Liverpool on February 25.


1957 - 16 year old John Lennon and 14 year old Paul McCartney meet while the Quarrymen (John's group) performed at St. Peter's in Woolton. Meanwhile, George is playing guitar with a group called the Rebels.

John and Paul perform together as the Nerk Twins around Liverpool.


1959 - George Harrison, one of Paul's friends from school, is added to the Quarrymen, after impressing John by playing Raunchy on his guitar.


1960 - They land a 25 pound a week job in Hamburg, Germany. The group name had changed to Johnny and the Moondogs, the Moonshiners, the Silver Beatles, and finally to just The Beatles. They had five members: John, Paul, George, Pete Best, and Stu Sutcliffe. Pete was the son of the owner of the Casbah Club where the Quarrymen had opened. Stu was one of John's calssmates in art school and had to be taught to play the bass. He really could never play very well, so he spent his first months playing with his back to the audience.


1961 - The lads are back in Liverpool, having improved much on their music (due to the long hours they were expected to play), and they start playing the Cavern Club on Mathew St. They also returned with the famous "mop top", usually credited to Astrid Kirscherr, Stu's girlfriend.

They make their first recording as a back up group for Tony Sheridan (My Bonnie) on a German label.

Raymond Jones visits NEMS, Brian Epstein's record store, and asks for a copy of "My Bonnie." Mystified that a Liverpool group should have any sort of following, Epstein pays a visit to the Cavern Club on November 9th. A month later, he becomes The Beatles' manager, and they cut a demo. They get an EMI contract, and George Martin becomes their producer.

Paul becomes the bass player after Stu decided to stay in Hamburg with Astrid.


1962 - Stu dies of a brain hemorrhage in April. Awhile back, he had been involved in a fight after a Beatles performance, and a teddy boy delivered a heavy blow to Stu's head with his boot. This is what is thought to have led to the brain hemorrhage.

Ringo Starr quits his band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, to replace the fired Pete Best as The Beatles' drummer.

On August 23rd, John marries Cynthia Powell after finding out she had become pregnant.

The Beatles record "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" as their first single for EMI's Parlophone label. "Love Me Do" reaches number 17 on the British charts.


1963 - In February, "Please Please Me" becomes their first number 1 in England. It remained at the top of the charts for 6 months. The Beatles make their first TV appearance on a local show called People and Places.

They begin hitting the charts regularly with songs like "From Me To You," "She Loves You," and "I Want To Hold Your Hand."

The Beatles make their first national TV appearance on the BBC's Thank Your Lucky Stars. Paul meets Jane Asher.

December 29th, while Beatlemania upsets English parents and press, New York's WMCA is the first American station to broadcast a Beatles song, "I Want To Hold Your Hand."


1964 - On January 3rd, the Beatles make their first US television appearance when Jack Paar broadcasts a film clip of the group.

While touring France, The Beatles discover that "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was now a Number 1 hit in America. Arrangements were made immediately for their first US visit.

On February 7th, the Beatles land at Kennedy Int'l Airport in New York to a sea of screaming fans. Originally the Beatles had thought the president or someone must be arriving at the same time, but they soon found out that the crowd was for them. Click here for more info.

On February 9th, The Beatles make their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. Over 70 million viewers were tuned in to find out who these English mop tops were. The lowest crime rate was also reported during The Beatles' appearance.

They also play Carnegie Hall.

In March, they start working on their first feature-length film, A Hard Day's Night.

John's book, In His Own Write, wins Foyle's Literary Prize.

The Beatles occupy the top 5 spots on the US Billboard:
1. Can't Buy Me Love
2. Twist and Shout
3. She Loves You
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
5. Please Please Me

7 other songs are in the top 100.

On July 6th, A Hard Day's Night premieres in London.


1965 - On February 11, Ringo marries Maureen Cox.

July 29, The Beatles' second film, Help!, premieres in London.

In August, The Beatles play Shea Stadium, in front of 55,000 screaming fans (the largest crowd at the time ever assembled for a rock show). They took in $304, 000 , the largest gross in the history of show business for the shortest concert - only 20 minutes!

The Beatles meet Bob Dylan, who turns them onto pot.

In October, they receive MBE's at Buckingham Palace, from the Queen. The Beatles joked that MBE actually stood for Mr. Brian Epstein.

In December, they take their last tour of Britain.


1966 - January 21, George marries model Patty Boyd. They met on the set of A Hard Day's Night, in which Boyd played an extra. (Her only line in the movie is, "Prisoners?!?")

In June/July, The Beatles take their last tour of America, marking their last tour ever. Their last appearance was in San Francisco's Candlestick Park on August 29th.

In December, work begins on one of their most famous albums, Sgt. Pepper.


1967 - On August 27th, the boys meet with transcendental mystic, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in North Wales. On the same day, Brian Epstein dies of an apparent suicide, at age 32.

The legendary Sgt. Pepper is released.

Magical Mystery Tour, a 3rd movie, becomes a TV special.
December 7th sees the grand opening of the Beatles' Apple Shop, a clothes boutique that doesn't quite make it.

On December 25th, Paul and Jane announce their engagement.


1968 - In February, Apple Corps. is founded. The Beatles also take a trip to India to spend time learning from the Maharishi.

The White Album is released.

On July 17th, Yellow Submarine, the 4th movie of the required 5, premieres.

In August, Jane leaves Paul after finding him in bed with Francie Schwartz.


1969 - In March, John marries Yoko Ono (they originally met at her art exhibit), and they stage a bed-in in Amsterdam as a honeymoon. They carry on press conferences from their bed at the Amsterdam Hilton to publicize some of their anit-war feelings.

Paul marries Linda Eastman on March 12. The couple met at a press conference for Sgt. Pepper, and hit it off. While George and Patty were at the McCartney wedding, their home was raided, and they became the targets of a drug bust.

In October, the infamous Paul Is Dead rumor starts. Click here for more info.


1970 - April 10th, Paul announces that he's left The Beatles, after several long battles, including one over finances (thank you Allen Klein). He releases his first solo album, McCartney, a week later.

May 20 is the world premiere of Let It Be in London. The album that accompanied the movie is to be their last album released.

On December 30th, Paul takes court action to end the Beatles' partnership.


1971 - On August 1st, George stages a concert for Bangla Desh in New York, to raise money for the starving people of that country.

After a nasty courtroom battle, a London judge grants Paul's request to dissolve the Beatles' financial empire and their musical partnership. On August 3rd, Paul announces he's formed a new band called Wings, which includes his wife Linda.


1972 - John's group, the Plastic Ono Band, makes a benefit appearance in New York for "One-to-One."


1973 - On July 10th, John, George, and Ringo record together for the first time in four years, cutting John's "I'm the Greatest" for the Ringo album.

In September, Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine go to Lagos to record Band On The Run, which finally earned the group critical acclaim.

Yoko wins custody of her 8 year old daughter Kyoko from her ex, Tony Cox. He decides to flee with the child.


1974 - In September, John is ordered to leave the U.S. by immigration authorities. His visitor's visa expired, and he appealed.

In November, George begins his first solo tour of America.


1975 - Patti Boyd, feeling neglected by George's fascination with the far east, leaves him for his best friend, Eric Clapton. Clapton had been in love with Patti for quite awhile, and wrote one of his most famous songs, Layla, for her.

Ringo and Maureen file for divorce.

On January 9th, the last legal links between the Beatles are dissolved in court. George's album Extra Texture is the last album to be released on the Apple label.

On October 9th, John's 35th birthday, Sean Ono Lennon is born.


1976 - On January 26th, the Beatles' EMI contract expires.

In May, Paul starts his first American tour with Wings.

In July, John wins his immigration battle.


1977 - In May, New live Beatle albums are released: Live at the Hollywood Bowl and Live at the Star Club, Hamburg. Both albums had been recorded in the 60's.


1978 - In August, George becomes a father to Dhani, with his future wife, Olivia Arias.

Sgt Pepper comes back on Billboard, opening at 104 with a bullet.

The movie, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, a comedy based on Beatlemania, is released.


1979 - Paul McCartney is awarded a rhodium disc by the publishers of the Guinness Book of World Records for having 3 entries in the book:
1. The most successful composer of all time
2. The record number of gold discs
3. The world's most successful record artist

1980 - In January, Paul is jailed in Tokyo for 10 days because marijuana was found in his suitcase. These are the only nights he was ever away from Linda.

John comes out of his seclusion and records his first album in 6 years, Double Fantasy.

On December 8th, John is brutally shot outside the Dakota in New York City where he lived, by a crazed fan, Mark David Chapman. John dies in the ambulance on his way to the hospital.


1981 - Ringo marries co-star Barbara Bach, from his film Caveman.


1982 - Paul releases Tug of War, which is produced by George Martin.


1983 - Yoko releases the rest of the songs that John recorded during the sessions for Double Fantasy. The new album is called Milk and Honey.


1985 - Michael Jackson buys the Beatle music catalog from ATV, Inc. for over $40 million. He owns 51% of all the copyrights. Usually, songwriters receive $1.50 in royalties per album, the Beatles only earn 1 cent per album.


1987 - Beatles' albums begin to be released on CD at the rate of about 1 different LP per month. This increased the sale of CD players.

Sgt Pepper celebrates its 20th anniversary. This is significant because the first line on the album goes: "It was 20 years ago today, that Sgt Pepper taught the band to play." The album subsequently heads a Rolling Stone magazine list of the most important records released over a 20 year period.

The remaining Beatles sue EMI/Capitol for permitting Nike athletic shoes to use an original recording of "Revolution" in a TV commercial. Shortly afterward, Michael Jackson permits George's "Something" to be used in a car ad.

George releases Cloud Nine, his first LP in over 6 years.


1988 - The Beatles are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January. Paul refuses to attend, issuing a press statement that he still has financial differences with George and Ringo.


1989 - George joins with Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne of Electric light Orchestra, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Ringo Starr (on some numbers) to form the Traveling Wilburrys.

Ringo puts together his All-Starr Band which includes, Joe Wals, Nils Lofgren, and occasionally Todd Rundgren.


1989/1990 - Paul begins a world tour which will take 8 months. He was allowed to perform again in Japan, his 1980 ban being lifted.


1991 - Yoko releases a boxed set collection of her songs which receives mixed reviews.

Paul write his opera, Liverpool Oratorio which is performed in England by a symphony orchestra. He also performs on MTV's Unplugged. Both performances are released on tape/CD.


1994 - The CD Beatles Live at the BBC is the first unreleased Beatles' material to be released in 2 decades.


1995 - Paul, George, and Ringo begin work on the Anthology. This anthology, which uses unreleased tracks by John, allows all four Beatles to once again sing together.


1996 - In June, George Martin is honored with knighthood and becomes Sir George Martin. He is also honored with a Grammy.

The Beatles Anthology is released in fall.

Paul is honored with knighthood.


1997 - The Beatles are honored with 3 Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performace by a Duo or Group, Best Music Video Short Form, and Best Music Video Long Form.

Flaming Pie is released by Paul, as well as Standing Stone.


1998 - On April 17th, Linda McCartney dies after a long battle with breast cancer, at age 56.

In June, Ringo releases Vertical Man.

In October, the album Linda had been working on, Wide Prairie is released.

On November 3rd, the Lennon Anthology is released. This is a four-CD boxed set containing several out-takes of John's songs.


**Scheduled for re-release in September '99 is the Beatles first movie, A Hard Day's Night.


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