When we look at the beginning, it started in 1956, when John Lennon started the group, The Quarrymen. In 1957 Paul McCartney came to the group. They started a cooperate, as composers and a couple of years later, George Harrison completed the group. During the autumn they used the name, "Johnny and the Moondogs." They played often in Liverpool and the people began to like them...In 1959 their name changed to The "Silver Beatles." Then Noone played the drums. George Harrison said he remembered a guy from a club.Thats when Pete Best joined the band. In August 1960 they simplified the name to "The Beatles". They went to Hamburg Germany,it was easier for them to get gigs there. When they came there for the first time, the people said that they had to be a five piece band. They went back to Liverpool and asked a friend if he wanted to play the bass. The guy was Stuart Sutcliffe and he said yes. In 1961 they played often in Hamburg. During a tour they met a singer, Tony Sheridan, who wanted them to make a record. The Silver Beatles said they would play with him. Sheridan´s producer renamed them , "The Beat Brothers",for this occasion. The record was My Bonnie. One of their first public gig was at the Liverpool Club "The Cavern". One of the spectators was Brian Epstein. Epstein had a record store in town and he knew the boys. He was very impressed by their style, and wanted to be their manager. Pete Best didn´t feel comfortable in the band anymore so in 1962 Ringo Starr(Richard Starkey) replaced him. Ringo played in a group called "Rory Storm and The Hurricanes." That same year, Sutcliffe died in Hamburg and Paul McCartney said he would play bass. In October 1962 their first single,"Love Me Do" came out and it was a hit. They were touring the whole country, and with their new song,"Please Please Me" they achieved first place on the hit list. Some of their earlier songs that hit first place was "She Loves You", and "From Me To You." Now the real "Beatlemania" broke out.They visited Sweden for the first time. The USA wanted them. Brian Epstein and their producer George Martin wanted to go there. But The Beatles said: "We´re not going to America until we are number one there!" Instead they went to France, and after a show they recieved a telegram to the hotel: "Capitol Records congratulates you, number one in US charts". After France they went to USA, and they became great success. After the big tour in America they returned to England. There they made their first movie," A Hard Day´s Night."



The year was 1965 and now The Beatles was touring around the world. They also recieved medals from their queen. Help was the name of the new record and their second movie. It was a million dollar seller.In 1965 they played at The Shea Stadium in New York, in front of 55,000 people.They never played for so many people before.



George Harrison was inspired by Indian music. Examples of that you will hear on the record "Rubber Soul". They were now touring in Asia with new songs like "Paperback Writer". They went to the Philippines, but were not happy. It was too much, the "Beatlemania" everywhere and they were getting tired. By the end of 1966 they played at Candelstick Park in San Fransisco. It was their last official gig ever.



Now they have more time to make records.In 1967 they made "Sergeant Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band" and the singles "All you need is Love" and "Penny Lane & Strawberry Fields Forever". They said:"The records are now our performance". Later they produced their own tv-film "Magical Mystery Tour" (also a record).



In 1968 they made "The White Album".In 1969 they did "Let It Be". They thought the recordings would be the last. But "Let It Be" was too sad they did "Abbey Road" (first-realeased).



Their last gig was on the roof to the Apple-building in London. In April 1970 The Beatles were declared dead. The members continued to make music on their own. Their records are still selling, and the new Anthology-records have sold alot.The Beatles are and will remain the most popular musical group ever!