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In July of 1957, in Liverpool, 'Paul McCartney (I)' met John Lennon. Both were teenagers. Paul impressed John with his mastery of acoustic guitar, and was invited to join Lennon's group, The Quarrymen.
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George Harrison joined them in February of 1958.
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In 1959 they played regular gigs at a club called The Casbah. They were soon joined by drummer Peter Best, whose mother owned The Casbah club.
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The Beatles have their first bookings there - and also help paint and decorate the club.
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After earning 65 euros and being convinced to purchase a musical instrument, John, Paul and George took an interest in his bass playing and had him join the band.
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The Beatles arrived at Hamburg, Germany where they would play 48 shows till October 3. While performing they met there soon to be newest member, Ringo Starr
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The Beatles play their first gig at The Indra in Hamburg - the first of a 48 night stint.
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The Beatles make their first appearance at the Cavern, playing one of the popular lunchtime session
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Bill Harry starts the Mersey Beat magazine recording the vibrant, local music scene. The first issue debuts on 6th July 1961
Harry says he based the name on “a policeman’s beat, not the beat of the music.” -
The Beatles quickly establish themselves as the most exciting group in Liverpool, playing over thirty gigs a month and garnering a loyal following of local fans.
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At a lunchtime show, Brian Epstein watches the Beatles perform for the first time and is immediately impressed.
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The Beatles recorded 15 songs at Decca Records. They were not hired, all though the songs that they recorded that day ended up helping them later.
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The Beatles sign a five-year contract with Brian Epstein.
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The Beatles enter EMI Studios for the first time and record their first single, “Love Me Do” in Studio 3.
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Peter Best was fired from the band as a drummer, and Ringo Starr took his place.
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The Beatles release their first single, Love Me Do. It only reaches #17 in the charts but introduces The Beatles to a national audience.
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The Beatles record Please, Please Me, which producer George Martin rightly predicts will be a #1 hit.
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The Beatles finally got the chance to record their first full album wich was titled "Please Please Me".
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The Beatles release From Me To You, another #1 hit. Everywhere they go, the Beatles are chased by screaming fans.
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The Beatles release their first film and accompanying soundtrack, A Hard Day’s Night.
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The Beatles fly into New York City’s Kennedy Airport for their first US tour - 5,000 screaming fans greet them.
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The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, 73 million Americans tune in to watch - a record at the time.
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The Beatles release their sixth album and most innovative album yet, Rubber Soul. A sitar is used on the song Norwegian Wood, reflecting George Harrison’s growing interest in Indian music.
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Revolver is released. The critics hail the album as another astonishing leap forward and praise the innovative recording techniques in particular.
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The band start work on a new album to be called Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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Sgt. Pepper is released at the height of psychedelia and the Summer of Love. Its cover is designed by celebrated British artist Sir Peter Blake, and is arguably the most famous in pop.
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The Beatles made histroy on the 25th of June by being the first band to be globally transmitted on TV to 400 million people world wide.
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Brian Epstein (the Beatle-Making Prince of Pop) dies following a tragic overdose. He was 32. John Lennon says, “Brian was a beautiful guy.
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The Beatles return to the UK to record ‘The Beatles’ double album now referred to as the White Album because of its plain white cover. The cover was designed by artist Richard Hamilton.
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The Beatles perform together for the last time on the rooftop of Apple Corp's headquarters in London. The performance is cut short by the police following complaints about the noise.
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Abbey Road is released. Despite the tensions within the band, Abbey Road contains some of The Beatles’ most beautiful songs and the album receives universal acclaim.
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The official date of the breakup of the Beatles. Paul McCartney issues a statement to the press announcing that he is leaving The Beatles. The greatest band in the history of music is no more.
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Despite being recorded before Abbey Road, Let It Be is the last Beatles album to be released.
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Imagine album is released in the UK.
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Imagine single is released in the UK.
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On December 8th John Lennon was assassinated by Mark David Chapman
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The John Lennon Peace Monument is unveiled by Cynthia and Julian Lennon in Chavasse Park Liverpool, to mark what would have been John Lennon’s 70th Birthday.
