The Beatles were a very popular rock band

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The Beatles were a very popular rock band in the 1960s. They were from Liverpool, England. The members of the band were

John Lennon (rhythm guitar, keyboards),

Paul McCartney (bass guitar, keyboards)

George Harrison (lead guitar, sitar)

Ringo Starr (drums, percussion)

The Beatles formed in 1958, but did not have their first hit until 1962. In November 1962 their song, 'Please Please Me', reached the number 1 position on the British charts. This was the first of a record 15 British number 1 singles.

The Beatles were so popular that they were attacked by screaming fans everywhere they went around the world. The effect they had on their fans was known as 'Beatlemania'.

The Beatles became so popular that no regular concert venue was big enough for their concerts. This led to them playing the first ever stadium rock concert at Shea Stadium in America to around 50,000 people. The Beatles stopped touring and playing live music in 1965 because they were sick of audiences screaming so loudly that their music couldn't be heard.

They were also sick of the pressures of touring. Among other things, they were so popular that thousands of people would gather outside the hotels they stayed in day and night meaning that they could never leave their rooms apart from when they played a show.

The Beatles broke up in 1970 due to the pressures of fame and each member becoming more independent both in their personal lives and musically.

The band remained very popular all over the world after their break up, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, they are the highest-selling recording artists of all time, and have sold over one billion records, including albums and singles.

Their music remains important, and influences many musicians to this day. Musicians today perform cover versions of their songs, and people everywhere still listen to their music. Their song 'Yesterday' is the most covered song in the history of popular music, as well as being the most played song on radio in history.

The Beatles made thirteen albums and twenty-six singles together. They also started their own record label, Apple Records. They made two movies, A Hard Day's Night and Help!, where they appeared as actors. Later they made Magical Mystery Tour, a television special. Yellow Submarine was a cartoon movie based on their music.

After the Beatles broke up in 1969, all four members started their own solo careers. John Lennon became a very famous peace activist in the late 1960s and early 1970s, writing very successful songs including "Give Peace a Chance", "Imagine", and "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" which has become one of the world's most well known Christmas songs.

Paul McCartney went on to form the band "Wings" with his wife Linda, which became one of the most popular bands of the 70s. In 1977 his song, "Mull of Kintyre", became the biggest selling single in British history, outselling even the Beatles singles.

George Harrison and Ringo Starr had early success as solo artists but were less successful later on. George formed the super group "The Travelling Wilburys" in the 80s with fellow rock legends Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. Ringo still tours the world with his "All Starr Band

John Lennon was murdered on December 8, 1980 outside his home in New York. Part of Central Park in New York and an airport in Liverpool are named in his honor.

The other three Beatles got together in the 1990s to make two new records. They used demo recordings of two John Lennon songs, and added their own new parts with the help of producer Jeff Lynne, so all four members could appear on the songs. The songs were "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" which were both top 5 hits in the U.K. in 1995/96.

Paul McCartney was knighted in 1997, as was producer George Martin in 1996. George Harrison died of cancer on November 29, 2001. Ringo Starr & Paul McCartney are (out of the "classic" line-up) the only living members left.