The Beatles
British rock-and-roll quartet the Beatles (from left): George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon, 1963.
the Beatles
British rock group
Also known as: Fab Four, the Silver Beetles
Written by
James E. Miller
Director of Liberal Studies (1992-2013) and Professor of Political Science, Graduate Faculty, New School for Social Research, New York City. Author of The Passion of Michel Foucault; Flowers in the...
James E. Miller
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they he extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
Dec. 27, 2025
•History
Top Questions
Who were the members of the Beatles?The principal members of the Beatles were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Other early members included Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best.
How did the Beatles become a band?The Beatles were formed around the nucleus of members John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who first performed together in Liverpool, England, in 1957. They performed with a changing cast of accompanists and under a changing list of band names before settling on their final members and name.
What was Beatlemania?Beatlemania was the name given to the popular frenzy surrounding the Beatles after the band’s first appearances on British television in 1963. When the Beatles appeared on American television in 1964, Beatlemania also erupted in the United States. Mass media created the conditions for the collective frenzy that was Beatlemania.
What was the Beatles’ first hit?The Beatles’ first hit was the song “Love Me Do” in 1962, which peaked at number 17 on the U.K. singles charts. The song was released by the record label Parlophone but had been recorded before the band was signed.
When did the Beatles break up?The Beatles formally disbanded in the spring of 1970, about a month after the release of their final album, Let It Be. All four members went on to produce more music individually or with other groups.
News • Sean Ono Lennon Says Younger Generations Could Forget the Beatles • Dec. 24, 2025, 12:48 AM ET (Billboard Canada) The Beatles’ ‘Anthology 4’ Debuts in Top 10 on 5 Billboard Album Charts • Dec. 5, 2025, 2:22 AM ET (Billboard) In 'Wings,' Paul McCartney recounts the making of his post-Beatles band • Dec. 3, 2025, 7:39 AM ET (NPR) The Beatles Chart Multiple New Top 10 Albums More Than 50 Years After Splitting • Dec. 2, 2025, 3:13 AM ET (Forbes)The Fab Four. John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The Beatles were four young musicians from the working-class seaport city of Liverpool, England, who accomplished nothing less than changing the course of rock and roll and transforming youth culture. From 1962, the year that Ringo Starr joined up with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, until 1970, the year the quartet split up, the Beatles served as the global polestar for the hopes and dreams of the generation that came of age in the 1960s.
Making their name with traditional, perfectly crafted pop songs such as “She Loves You” and “I Saw Her Standing There,” they soon began experimenting with more challenging instrumentation, introspective lyrics, and music genres ranging from folk and country to chamber ballads and psychedelia. As such, the Beatles were rock music’s leading innovators in the 1960s. Songs such as “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” not only became immortal pop songs but also changed the nature of songwriting.
Perhaps more remarkable than the Beatles’ phenomenal success during the band’s short run is their enduring popularity with generations born decades after the band’s breakup. One of the most profoundly influential musical acts in history, the group inspired too many rock and pop artists to possibly list.