The Beatles And How They Changed Music

Essay, Research Paper

The Beatles Rise to Stardom

The Beatles are a legendary band that underwent numerous changes over the

years. They rose from a little English band to the most famous rock and roll

band in the world. During the 1960?s, the Beatles used war and drugs as

dominant themes in their music. They brought a whole new view of reality to the

American culture.

In the early years, The Beatles struggled with band membership. Ultimately,

the band?s final members were John Lennon, Paul McCarthy, Ringo Starr and

George Harrison. In 1957, John Lennon decided to compose a band, never expecting

to become the greatest rock band of all time. John experienced many band names

and members such as: ?The Blackjacks?, ?The Quarry Men?, ?Johnny &

the Moondogs?, and ?Silver Beetles?. Pete Best was a temporary drummer

that was later replaced by Ringo Starr. Rod Davis was a previous banjo player

who failed quickly. John Lennon collaborated the name, The Beatles, after ?having

a vision when he was 12 years old. A man came to him with a flaming pie and said

unto them ?From this day on you are The Beatles with an A? ? (DISCovering

Biography 3). At this time The Beatles were looked down upon in Liverpool, the

grass roots of The Beatles, while not reacting well to rejection they were

determined to become Liverpool?s top band (DISCovering Biography 3). A local

record store manager noticed and paid close attention to the band. He would

later be The Beatles manager, known as Brian Epstein. Brian arranged an audition

with Decca Records. The turnout was devastational ?the head of

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Decca Records told The Beatles manager, ?Guitar groups are on their way out

Mr. Epstein?(Shotton 73). The Beatles did not let that stop them a few months

later they received an audition with Parlophone Records. George Martin with

Parlophone Records signed The Beatles in the mid-1960?s. ?Love Do Me? was

their first single released on October 5, 1962. ?Please Please Me? topped

the British charts in 1963. Please Please Me stayed at the top of the British

charts for 30 weeks, establishing the group as the most popular rock n? roll

band ever seen in UK (shotton 78). Each single created by The Beatles sold over

a million copies in the UK. As time went on The Beatles were growing rapidly as

composers and instrumentalists, as well as celebrities, appearing on the highest

rated TV show in Britain, ?Sunday Night At The London Palladium?.

Beatlemania was soon to strike everywhere.

?Beatlemania broke out in the British Isles in 1963, the group generated

hysteria at all of their public appearances, musical or otherwise?(legends2).

In 1964, The Beatles conquered the biggest record market, America. Capitol

Records heard ?I Want To Hold Your Hand? and took advantage of the

opportunity. The Beatles appeared on ?The Ed Sullivan Show? in February of

1964. They were a smash it was a performance heard around the world. (DISCovering

Biography 5). Months later The Beatles ranked top five best singles in the US

and Brittian.

The Beatles also touched Americans in other aspects than just playing songs

on records. America was continuously mourning the death of John F. Kennedy and

The Beatles revealed American culture through music(Shotton 97). Americans need

joy and excitement to build up the economy. Rock n? Roll had died in America

until The Beatles

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showed them how to dance again(shotton 99). The Beatles toured America for

the first time in 1964. Touring America meant traveling state-to-state with

millions of fans following to be involved in Beatlmania. ?A Hard Days Night?

and ?Help? were two motion pictures produced by The Beatles. The Beatles

performed in front of 50000 fans at the Shea Stadium in New York (Corbin 189).

Lennon states to the press, ?The Reason why kids are so crazy is that nobody

can face the responsibility of bringing them up. Not even jesus?(Corbin 194).

John had to apologize several times to the press, there became anti-Beatles and

death threats became more common. Brian Epstein died in August 1967 due to drug

overdose. Things would eventually fall apart for The Beatles (The Beatles3). The

band went on to film two more films, ?The Magical Mystery Tour? and ?Yellow

Submarine?, dedicated to Brian.

Outside interest and hobbies started affecting the personal interest in the

band. In 1964, The Beatles began experimenting with marijuana and later used

lots LSD. The behind the scene arguments went public and business arrangements

failed. The Beatles last concert played was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco

on August 29, 1966. The Beatles broke out with the album originally titled Get

Back but later became known as Let It Be, in 1969(DISCovering Biography 11).

Each band member continued on with his or her personal lives outside of The

Beatles. George Harrison and Paul McCartney?s disagreements resulted in George

leaving the band. George returned for the final album Abbey Road in 1969. The

Beatles gave their last public appearance on top of the Apple building on

January 30, 1969.

Each Beatle went down the path of individuality, all still producing music

and instigating the peace movement. John Lennon, the founder of The Beatles, is

one of the

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most influential individual in the music industry. John married Cynthia

Powell in August of 1962 and became the father of Julian. Only a few years later

Cynthia realized, ?John was rough, ready and not her type at all, but had an

irresistible character?(legend2). Soon after John re-married to Yoko Ono in

November of 1966. John released his solo album Imagine in 1970. Imagine spoke

for John as in describing his dream and sent his message across to

listeners(Corbin 214). John performed a charity concert in Madison Square on

August 30, 1972 to support the mentally handicapped. This concert ended John?s

experience with the Plastic Ono Bans. John and Yoko separated in 1973 due to the

press and constant struggles they had gone through. John went to Los Angeles and

became a drunk and a manic depressant (Corbin 217). After being alone for some

time, John realizes he loves Yoko and they have a son, Sean. John later released

another album, Double Fantasy, in 1980. John had begun work on his next album,

?Milk and Honey?, when he was shot in front of his apartment complex in New

York. He died at the age of forty in the Roosevelt Hospital on December 8,

1980(Corbin 267). John Lennon created The Beatles and made music that influenced

the entire world. John Lennon was a leader not a follower, he stuck to his

beliefs and stood by people?s rights (Shotton 216). He touched the souls of

many individuals and can never be replaced. His contributions in the music

industry will live on in memory for many more generations to come.

Legend is only a vague word to describe The Beatles and John Lennon. The

Beatles wanted peace, love, and happiness and they gave it not only to Britain

but also to the world around them. Their music touched everybody?s lives and

gave a new meaning of happiness to America.