The most influential and famous musical group to emerge in the 1960s
was a quartet from Liverpool, England, known as the Beatles. Members
included John Lennon (1940–1980), Paul McCartney (1942–), George
Harrison (1943–2001), and Ringo Starr (1940–). The band’s first
recording was the tune “Love Me Do,” and it was released in Britain in
October 1962. By 1963, the Beatles were a sensation in England and
adoring fans followed them everywhere. In early 1964, all of their onenight performances had to be cancelled due to rioting.
The Beatles first visited America on February 8, 1964, to appear on
the popular television variety program The Ed Sullivan Show. Seventy
million viewers tuned in, and a new record was set for the most-watched
television appearance. It helped that America’s media publicized the
event. Magazines and newspapers carried photographs, reports, and indepth articles chronicling the lives of the band nicknamed the Fab Four.
The Beatles took America by storm. Seemingly overnight, teenage
boys were sporting long hair just like the Beatles, and teenage girls plastered their bedroom walls with posters and magazine pages of their favorite Beatle. Concerts sold out in record time, and police were required
to keep the frenzy of female fans under control; it was not uncommon
for hysterical teens to faint during a concert. In both Britain and
America, Beatles tunes such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand” sold millions of copies, and the sound of the group could be heard in nearly every
household that included teenagers.
While teens across the country raised the Beatles to a godlike status,
parents and other adults feared the influence the Fab Four wielded over
the younger generation. John Lennon did not help dispel the idea that
his band’s music was an evil influence when he made the comment that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. That one statement led to
record-burning throughout the nation, and adults were more determined than ever to squash Beatlemania.
The Beatles were an unstoppable force throughout the 1960s, however. Their cross-country tour in 1964 only cemented their place in
American culture, as did the five movies they made, the most popular of
which were A Hard Day’s Night and Help! Their appeal lay in more than
just their music. For millions of young people, the Beatles represented
freedom from authority and convention. Each member was charismatic,
and together, they were irresistible to a young America that was embroiled in the unpopular Vietnam War (1954–75). The Beatles, their
music, and their charm provided American youth a much-needed escape
from the harsh realities of the era.
The Beatles stopped touring in August of 1966. They focused exclusively on recording in the studio. In 1970, the Beatles broke up, and
members began to pursue solo projects and careers.