Read on Twitter
A brief history of the Beatles, a thread:
On July 6th, 1957, 15 year old @PaulMcCartney attended a summer church festival in Liverpool where 16 year old @JohnLennon was playing with his band, the Quarrymen.
Paul and John were then introduced to each other by a mutual friend, changing the course of modern music forever.
Paul and John were then introduced to each other by a mutual friend, changing the course of modern music forever.
After seeing how well Paul can play the guitar, John invites him to join his band.
The two quickly become close friends- going over each other’s houses to hang out and play music together.
The Quarrymen begin to perform at clubs in Liverpool, including the Cavern Club, in 1957
The two quickly become close friends- going over each other’s houses to hang out and play music together.
The Quarrymen begin to perform at clubs in Liverpool, including the Cavern Club, in 1957
Paul introduces John to his younger friend, 14 year old George Harrison.
John invites George into his band to play guitar.
John’s mother, Julia, dies in a tragic accident, soon after re-connecting with John. This traumatizes John and will affect him for the rest of his life.
John invites George into his band to play guitar.
John’s mother, Julia, dies in a tragic accident, soon after re-connecting with John. This traumatizes John and will affect him for the rest of his life.
In 1960, John’s band changes their name to “the Silver Beetles” and begin to perform in clubs in the red light district of Hamburg, Germany.
George is deported for being under-age while Paul & drummer Pete Best are deported for nailing a condom to a wall and setting it on fire.
George is deported for being under-age while Paul & drummer Pete Best are deported for nailing a condom to a wall and setting it on fire.
In October of 1961, Paul and John take a trip to Paris for John’s 21st birthday.
It’s here they got the famous “mop-top” haircut that the Beatles would popularize in the ‘60s.
It’s here they got the famous “mop-top” haircut that the Beatles would popularize in the ‘60s.
In 1961, the band changes their name to “The Beatles”
In 1962, they sign Brian Epstein as their new manager.
Ringo Starr is hired to replace Pete Best as the Beatles’ drummer. Fans are angry, George gets a black-eye defending Ringo.
John & Paul continue to write original songs
In 1962, they sign Brian Epstein as their new manager.
Ringo Starr is hired to replace Pete Best as the Beatles’ drummer. Fans are angry, George gets a black-eye defending Ringo.
John & Paul continue to write original songs
The Beatles release their debut single, “Love Me Do” which lands at #17 on the UK singles chart in October 1962.
In January 1963, they release their follow up single, “Please Please Me” which debuts at #2.
In January 1963, they release their follow up single, “Please Please Me” which debuts at #2.
The Beatles record their first LP in less than 13 hours.
Their debut album, Please Please Me is released in March 1963, containing hit songs “Twist & Shout”, “I Saw Her Standing There”, and “PS I Love You”
The album went straight to #1 on the charts and stayed for 30 weeks.
Their debut album, Please Please Me is released in March 1963, containing hit songs “Twist & Shout”, “I Saw Her Standing There”, and “PS I Love You”
The album went straight to #1 on the charts and stayed for 30 weeks.
The Beatles release “She Loves You”.
Upon release, their single shot to #1 and shattered sales records and ushers in an era of “Beatlemania”.
“She Loves You” remains the Beatles’ best selling song of all time.
Upon release, their single shot to #1 and shattered sales records and ushers in an era of “Beatlemania”.
“She Loves You” remains the Beatles’ best selling song of all time.
The Beatles are invited to perform at the Royal Command Performance in the presence of The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.
In November of 1963, the Beatles release their second album, “With the Beatles”, an album that captures the sound of Beatlemania
“With the Beatles” shot to the top of the charts, displacing their own previous record, Please Please Me, at #1
The album remains at #1 for 21 weeks.
“With the Beatles” shot to the top of the charts, displacing their own previous record, Please Please Me, at #1
The album remains at #1 for 21 weeks.
A week after their album went to #1, the Beatles smash records again by releasing their single, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
The song skyrockets up the charts becoming #1 in both England & America.
This marks the first instance in history of an act replacing themselves at #1.
The song skyrockets up the charts becoming #1 in both England & America.
This marks the first instance in history of an act replacing themselves at #1.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand” ignites Beatlemania in the USA
The Beatles arrive in America being greeted by thousands of screaming fans.
The death of JFK months before left Americans feeling gloomy, in need of something happy. This makes The Beatles a pleasant & welcome surprise.
The Beatles arrive in America being greeted by thousands of screaming fans.
The death of JFK months before left Americans feeling gloomy, in need of something happy. This makes The Beatles a pleasant & welcome surprise.
The Beatles play "The Ed Sullivan Show" on Feb 9, 1964
A record-shattering 73 million people tune in live to see what the excitement is all about and watch the Beatles play for the first time.
It is one of the largest TV audiences ever and considered a milestone in pop culture.
A record-shattering 73 million people tune in live to see what the excitement is all about and watch the Beatles play for the first time.
It is one of the largest TV audiences ever and considered a milestone in pop culture.
In summer 1964, the Beatles release their third album, “A Hard Day’s Night” along with their first movie of the same name.
It’s the first Beatles album where all songs are Lennon-McCartney originals.
“A Hard Day’s Night” captures the Beatles during the height of Beatlemania.
It’s the first Beatles album where all songs are Lennon-McCartney originals.
“A Hard Day’s Night” captures the Beatles during the height of Beatlemania.
In December of 1964, the Beatles release “Beatles For Sale”.
The album follows their first tour of the US and the world- it marks a departure from the joyful Beatles.
It shows their exhaustion and the concept is that they’re no longer people- they are objects “for sale”.
The album follows their first tour of the US and the world- it marks a departure from the joyful Beatles.
It shows their exhaustion and the concept is that they’re no longer people- they are objects “for sale”.
In the summer of 1965, the Beatles release “Help!” as their fifth album & second movie
The album tops the charts
Few people realize that the song “Help!” is actually John crying out for help, reaching a breaking point from the pressures of fame, business & being in world demand
The album tops the charts
Few people realize that the song “Help!” is actually John crying out for help, reaching a breaking point from the pressures of fame, business & being in world demand
The Beatles play Shea Stadium in New York
The Beatles invent stadium concerts by playing to a record 55,600 fans. The fans were so loud, the Beatles couldn’t hear themselves play.
John calls this moment “the top of the mountain”. After this, Beatlemania begins to turn ugly
The Beatles invent stadium concerts by playing to a record 55,600 fans. The fans were so loud, the Beatles couldn’t hear themselves play.
John calls this moment “the top of the mountain”. After this, Beatlemania begins to turn ugly
The Beatles release their sixth album in December 1965
Seeking to challenge their “Beatle” image, their music is more influenced by pot and Bob Dylan. They sing about working women who drink wine, rather than girls.
The Beatles grow up with “Rubber Soul”
Seeking to challenge their “Beatle” image, their music is more influenced by pot and Bob Dylan. They sing about working women who drink wine, rather than girls.
The Beatles grow up with “Rubber Soul”
The Beatles are on their second world tour. Beatlemania turns to just mania. Fans want to riot, not listen to music
John makes a comment that the Beatles are “more popular than Jesus” sparking outrage & death threats
The Beatles are threatened & forced to leave the Philippines
John makes a comment that the Beatles are “more popular than Jesus” sparking outrage & death threats
The Beatles are threatened & forced to leave the Philippines
The Beatles begin to experiment with LSD.
Acid has an increasing influence on their music, their political views & their motivation to keep being “the Beatles”.
They release their seventh album, “Revolver” in August 1966
Acid has an increasing influence on their music, their political views & their motivation to keep being “the Beatles”.
They release their seventh album, “Revolver” in August 1966
The Beatles decide to quit touring and take a break from music.
John gets a haircut and films a movie in Spain where he begins to write “Strawberry Fields”
George goes to India where he becomes fascinated by their music.
Paul flies to Paris in a disguise to escape Beatlemania.
John gets a haircut and films a movie in Spain where he begins to write “Strawberry Fields”
George goes to India where he becomes fascinated by their music.
Paul flies to Paris in a disguise to escape Beatlemania.
The Beatles release their concept album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in June 1967
The album is a turning point for the Beatles and revolutionizes pop music. It ushers in 1967’s “Summer of Love”.
“Sgt. Pepper’s” is considered to be the best album of all time.
The album is a turning point for the Beatles and revolutionizes pop music. It ushers in 1967’s “Summer of Love”.
“Sgt. Pepper’s” is considered to be the best album of all time.
