Beatlemania

          In this post I will write about the history of one of the greatest bands of all times.

         The Beatles were an amazing rock ‘n’ roll group that began not in the United States, but in a little town in England.  They were each born in the early 1940’s in Liverpool.  All four were in their early twenties when their careers really got started.  Lennon started a band, along with five others called “Quarrymen” named after their high school.  McCartney joined the band in 1957 and Harrison in 1958.  They changed their name to the Beatles in 1960.  John Lennon and Paul McCartney are very nice fellows.  They both agree that they each get by with a little help from their friends.  They were a close group, and around 1960 is when they started to become a hit.

            But what really got the Beatles famous was Brian Epstein.  He became their manager in 1961.  The Beatles were an amazing group, but Epstein helped them rise to fame. The Beatles became famous nationwide fame in 1961 and worldwide in 1964.  After the Beatles made their first United States appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, their albums sold unbelievably fast.   John Lennon once said, “We’re more popular than Jesus Christ now.  I don’t know which will go first, Rock and roll or Christianity.”  All this talk of fame led to the term “Beatlemania”

            The Beatles’ were well liked mainly due to their well written songs and interesting sounds.  Lennon and McCartney wrote most of their songs.  What was different from the Beatles’ songs and earlier rock ‘n’ roll music, was theirs had more meaning.  They had some good song ideas that pleased their audience.  Another crowd-pleaser was their very different choices of sounds used.  They used suggestive imagery and artificial sounds. This was new concept to rock ‘n’ roll, and the fans were definitely curious. Some of their more famous songs include “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “Come Together”, and “Something.”  Their documentary Let It Be, won an Academy Award in 1970.  The Beatles were at the top of their rollercoaster ride.

            The fame was too much for some of the members.  According to John Lennon, “Rock ‘n’ roll was not fun anymore.”  This was one reason for their soon to be break-up.  Two other reasons were business and personal related.  Some were mad that they didn’t get to be the lead singer. McCartney announced the breakup on April 10, 1970.  This was a sad day for the millions of Beatles’ fans.  They each later led their own groups or performed as soloists.  They were each good enough to be put in the spotlight of their own band.

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