The Beatles

British rock band The Beatles are one of the most well-known and liked bands in the world. They are known for their evolving style, both in music and fashion, and are responsible for setting a number of trends that have been followed by bands that have come after them.

The band was formed in Liverpool in 1960, although the original line-up changed a number of times before settling on the iconic members of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The band’s original sound was rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock and roll, a style that they stayed with until their later more experimental years. The Beatles were largely responsible for turning popular music into an accepted art form and were a strong force during the counterculture movements that took place during the 1960s. They made heavy use of classical music elements in their music, which is particularly notable in their later works when they began heavy experimentation of sampling, particularly with string instruments.

The primary songwriters were Lennon and McCartney, with Harrison and Starr only having a few writing credits on the songs. The band’s sound was solidified by their manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin, both of which spent long hours in recording studios with the band to mould them into a professional act. The band’s popularity wasn’t limited just to the United Kingdom and they were one of many bands responsible for the ‘British invasion’, an event which describes the American markets becoming influenced by British bands, something that had not happened before up to that point. The Beatles’ music remains popular today and is regularly played on classic rock radio stations.