The Fabs

The Beatles were an English rock (Rock music) band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful (list of best-selling music artists) and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music.sfnUnterberger2009a From 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the group later worked in many genres (music genre) ranging from folk rock to psychedelic pop, often incorporating classical (classical music) and other elements in innovative ways. The nature of their enormous popularity, which first emerged as the "Beatlemania" fad, transformed as their songwriting grew in sophistication. The group came to be perceived as the embodiment of progressive ideals, seeing their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s (Counterculture of the 1960s).

With an early five-piece line-up of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe (bass) and Pete Best (drums), The Beatles built their reputation in Liverpool and Hamburg clubs over a three-year period from 1960. Sutcliffe left the group in 1961, and Best was replaced by Starr the following year. Moulded into a professional outfit by music store owner Brian Epstein after he offered to act as the groups manager, and with their musical potential enhanced by the hands-on creativity of producer George Martin, The Beatles achieved UK mainstream success in late 1962 with their first single, "Love Me Do". Gaining international popularity over the course of the next year, they toured extensively until 1966, then retreated to the recording studio until their breakup in 1970. Each then found success in an independent musical career. McCartney and Starr remain active; Lennon was shot and killed (Death of John Lennon) in 1980, and Harrison died of cancer in 2001.

During their studio years, The Beatles produced what critics consider some of their finest material, including the album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), widely regarded as a masterpiece. Four decades after their breakup, The Beatles music continues to be popular. The Beatles have had more number one albums on the UK charts, and held down the top spot longer, than any other musical act.sfneveryHit.com2009 According to RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certifications, they have sold more albums in the US than any other artist.sfnRIAA2009a In 2008, Billboard (Billboard (magazine)) magazine released a list of the all-time top-selling Hot 100 (Billboard Hot 100) artists to celebrate the US singles charts fiftieth anniversary, with The Beatles at number one.sfnBillboard2008 They have been honoured with 7 Grammy Awards,sfnGrammy.com and they have received 15 Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.sfnHarry2000app=559-60 The Beatles were collectively included in Time (Time (magazine)) magazines compilation of the 20th centurys 100 most important and influential people (Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century).sfnLoder1998